ABOUT US
A family company with global reach — built on experience, driven by safety, and inspired by curiosity.
Our Roots
Pekka-Pietari, originally from Finland and with a deep love for the sea, established Akela in 2008. With over 30 years of international expertise in the maritime, safety, and technology sectors, he has successfully executed complex projects and advised government authorities, international agencies, and energy companies operating in the marine environment. He has lived and worked across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
His educational background includes an M.Sc. degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Helsinki, with his Master's thesis completed at BASF AG in Germany and post-graduate work at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. After early success in scientific research, he chose the business world where he has found great fulfilment in managing complex projects and building high-performing professional teams.
The foundation of Akela was built on this extensive hands-on experience with leading organisations in the maritime and safety training industries. Those experiences shaped our understanding of what truly works when it comes to protecting people and the environment.
We are deeply grateful to our former employers and current partners who have supported our journey — their trust and collaboration have been essential in building Akela into the company it is today. Pekka thanks all his former employers and current partners and customers for the chances to excel, reach for challenging targets and aim to make a difference.
Today Akela continues to work with innovative people and develops new concepts for training. We have formed several key partnerships that combine international expertise with local knowledge and skills.
Our Mission
At Akela, our focus is on Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) innovations — especially in offshore, maritime, safety & survival training, and oil spill recovery.
We help our customers improve workplace safety, enhance their methods and skills, and protect the environment. Whether it's training crews for emergency response on an offshore platform, developing comprehensive safety curricula, or implementing cutting-edge simulation systems, our goal is always the same: to make people safer and more capable.
Every project we take on is guided by the belief that practical, hands-on training saves lives — and that investing in people is the most effective way to protect both human life and the natural world.
Global Reach
Projects across four continents
People First
Safety through skilled professionals
Innovation
Cutting-edge HSE solutions
Our History & Family Story
Akela is a true family company. Pekka-Pietari, originally from Finland, met Kirsten — the artistic and warm-hearted South-African beauty who is the captain of Pekka's heart — in 1991. They fell in love so hard and deep that nothing would or could keep them apart. Together with their now adult children Kai and Mia, Kirsten has been a dedicated support and has been instrumental in balancing Pekka's sometimes ardent and impulsive nature with calm wisdom and steady guidance.
Kai has grown into an accomplished naval architect and is about to marry his dear childhood friend Vivienne, who is finalising her MBA studies in innovation management. Mia has chosen to pursue a career and studies in architecture, with a passion for developing lovable and human-centred spaces in cities.
The family has lived on four continents and across four nationalities. The children have grown up alongside the company, and this shared global journey continues to bring a genuinely international perspective to everything Akela does.
Why "akela.band"?
You might wonder about our domain name — akela.band. When Akela was founded, the .band top-level domain had just become available. It was a happy coincidence: the name "Akela" resonated with us for many reasons, and .band captured the idea of a group of people working together — a band of professionals united by a shared mission. Plus, it's memorable!
Akela was once thwarted by IBM's domain ownership in 2008. With a touch of humor, we thank the original domain owner for their "NO", which led us to creatively brand as akelaband.com and now, newly, as akela.band.
Inspired by "The Last Lecture"
Our approach to life and business has been deeply influenced by Professor Randy Pausch and his famous "The Last Lecture". In 2008, the Akelaband website featured his inspiring lecture. Despite battling terminal cancer, he imparted wisdom on pursuing childhood dreams, working hard, and enabling the dreams of others. Sadly, he passed away just three months after Akela's founding. His powerful message — never give up on your dreams — continues to resonate with everything we do at Akela. We believe in building something meaningful — not just a business, but a legacy of positive impact.
The Apple Juice Story (2009)
In 2009, shortly after founding Akela, we organised a small apple juice fundraising initiative for the local school. Pekka had the idea to turn ripening apples into juice and sell it to raise funds for the school community. With generous donations and hard work, they pressed and sold over 3300 bottles. What started as a weekend project turned into a wonderful community event that brought families together and raised meaningful funds. This heartwarming initiative continued for years and taught us an important lesson that still guides us: small actions, done with heart, can make a real difference. Cheers to apples and shared juice!
The Name "Akela"
The name Akela comes from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book — Akela is the wise leader of the wolf pack, respected for his experience, fairness, and ability to guide others through challenging terrain. In the Cub Scouts tradition worldwide, "Akela" is the name given to the pack leader — the trusted mentor who helps young people develop skills and confidence.
The name carries beautiful meanings in different languages and cultures — derived from Swahili, Old German, Hebrew, and Hawaiian, it symbolizes nobility, happiness, luck, charm, and intelligence. For us, it perfectly captures what we strive to be: trusted guides who help our clients navigate complex challenges with confidence and skill.