Yoko Alender

Yoko Alender (born 13 June 1979) is an Estonian architect and politician, member of the XIII, XIV and XV Riigikogu, publisher, educator. Yoko Alender is standing as a candidate in the June 2024 European Parliament elections on the Reform Party list.

Biography Yoko Alender studied at Tallinn 7th Secondary School 1986–1989, Estonian School in Stockholm 1989–1995, Södra Latin Gymnasium in 1995–1999. From 1999–2010 she studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, graduating as a Master of Architecture, and from 2022 she continues her doctoral studies in alternative identities of architects.

In 2001–2004 she was a founding member and member of the board of the production company Kultorg OÜ; in 2005–2006 she was a founding member and member of the board of the architecture and production company ZiZi & YoYo OÜ, architect-project manager; in 2006–2007 she was the architect-project manager of Urbanmark OÜ.

From 2008 to 2012, she worked at the Tallinn Cultural Heritage Authority as the head of the Department of Heritage Protection and Milieu Areas. From 2012 to 2014, she was an architectural and design advisor at the Ministry of Culture. In 2019, he was also the Vice-Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Riigikogu.

In the 2014 European Parliament elections in Estonia, Yoko Alender received 1,633 votes, and in the 2019 European Parliament elections in Estonia, she received 1,739 votes.

Other activities Yoko Alender has worked as an event and creative project organiser, project manager and spokesperson, publisher and trainer.

She was one of the founders and a member of the board of the Estonian Institute of Buddhism, established in 2001. Together with her father, she was a co-writer and singer of the song "My Childhood Hero" (a cover of the Finnish band Miljoonasade's song "Lapsuuden sankarille"), recorded by the band Vanemõde. She is married to Priit Juurmann, aka DJ P. Julm. Yoko's children are Kaarel Bo, Herta Ing, Uma Chantal and Dag Ferdinand.

Together with her husband, Yoko has helped to establish Tallinn venues FHoone, Frank, Frank Underground, Tabac and Fono.