Aapo Paunonen

Aapo Paunonen is a skilled CNC Miller from Finland. A passionate advocate for vocational education, Aapo dreams of inspiring the next generation of CNC machinists, and to bring his industry in Finland to the next level.

Drawn to hands-on learning and precision work, he joined Savon Vocational College, choosing an apprenticeship over traditional education. There, he quickly developed a deep passion for metalworking and CNC technology. One of his teachers encouraged him to enter Taitaja 2022, Finland’s national skills competition, an experience that fueled his determination to compete at the highest level. In 2023, he qualified for WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where he represented Finland in CNC Milling and earned a Medallion for Excellence. Currently, he is preparing to compete at EuroSkills Herning 2025 next September.

Beyond the Competition, Aapo values the global connections and shared passion among skilled professionals. His experiences at WorldSkills opened career opportunities, leading him to work for a WorldSkills Champion who had competed at WorldSkills London 2011 and later founded a successful company.

Currently, Aapo is pursuing a specialist vocational qualification with the goal of teaching and mentoring future professionals. He strongly believes vocational education offers endless opportunities for growth, including pathways to higher education. As a WorldSkills Champions Trust representative, he hopes to challenge outdated perceptions of vocational training and encourage young people to follow their passions.

“It’s passion, not duty, that makes people great at what they do,” Aapo says, embodying the spirit of lifelong learning and excellence in skilled trades.