Decision-making

Dr. Janne Taalas has served as CEO of CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation since May 2021. He has almost 25 years of experience in the Finnish Foreign service specializing in multilateral diplomacy and peace mediation related issues. He worked as the Special Envoy to 2020 Afghanistan Conference, the Ambassador of Cyber Diplomacy, the Finnish Ambassador to Rome, the Deputy Permanent representative (Ambassador) in the Finnish Mission to the United Nations in New York, and as the Director of Policy Planning.

Dr. Taalas has Ph.D. and M.Phil. degrees from the University of Oxford (St Antony’s College) and Master of Science in Economics and Master of Social Sciences degrees from the University of Jyväskylä, as well as University Diploma in Development Studies from the University of Kent.

Dr. Taalas is married with a son and daughter.

LinkedIn X

Hanna Klinge serves as Deputy CEO since May 2021. Prior to this, she served as Acting Executive Director (January 2020 – April 2021). Ms Klinge joined CMI in January 2018 as the Advisor to Executive Director and the principal lead on strategic partnerships.

Hanna Klinge’s background is in international relations, primarily in managing strategic partnerships, large scale projects and people. Prior to joining CMI Ms Klinge worked as Country Director at the British Council Finland leading its work in Finland. The broad institutional portfolio included several international capacity building programmes, policy dialogue initiatives, and publications. Ms Klinge is experienced in forging strategic partnerships and alliances across public, private and third sectors. She has specialized in social development and innovation, equality and inclusion issues, and social enterprise. Ms Klinge has studied and worked in Greece, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. She holds an Executive Master in International Negotiation and Policy-Making from Geneva Graduate Institute, and a MA in Cultural Studies and Social Sciences from Helsinki University. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK).

Areas of expertise: Process design, method development, PME, crisis management, civ-mil, foreign and security policy

Biography: Oskari Eronen is the Chief Programme Officer of CMI since June 2024. He succeeded Ville Brummer, who is on leave from his position.

Eronen has previously led CMI’s Asia Programme and Policy & Learning activities and the Programme Management Office, responsible for development of effective methodologies for mediation, including planning, monitoring, evaluation. He joined CMI in 2012.

Mr. Eronen has previously worked at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs as Adviser for Security and Development as well as in several research positions related to international peace and security, with a focus on civil-military affairs. He has over 15 years of experience in conflict management and peace mediation, and is specialized in process design, effectiveness and learning. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (Political Science) from University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

LinkedIn X

Born: February 6, 1969, Helsinki

2025 – Chief Marketing Officer, ICEYE

2018 – 2023 Artistic Director, Helsinki Festival
2015 – 2017 CEO and Co-founder, Sync Project
2014 – 2017 Director’s Fellow, MIT Media Lab, MIT
2012 – 2013 Executive Vice President, Design, Nokia
2009 – 2011 Senior Vice President, Design, Nokia
2007 – 2009 Co-founder and CEO, Dopplr

Education

1996 M.Phil, Philosophy, Columbia University
1992 M.A. Master of Arts, Philosophy, Columbia University
1991 B.A. Bachelor of Arts, Columbia. Major: Philosophy and Economics.

Veera Heinonen is an experienced senior civil servant, journalist and political analyst with a high level understanding of international political and economic affairs. A strong communicator with a good track record as a manager, having successfully led teams in both the diplomatic and media and environments.

Career

Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra 2013-present
Director, Democracy and Participation 2021-present
Director of Communications and Public Affairs 2013-2021
Office of the President of the Republic of Finland 2012-2013
Director of Communications, Spokesperson for the President
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland 2006‐2012
Director of Communications 2010-2012
Press Counsellor, Embassy of Finland in London 2006-2010
Finnish Financial Daily Taloussanomat, Sanoma Group 1998‐2006
London Correspondent, 2004‐2006
TV News Producer for Channel 4 financial news, 2003
News Editor, 2000‐2003
Financial Journalist, 1998‐2000
Finland’s National Broadcasting Company, Yleisradio, 1997‐1998
Financial Journalist for Morning TV news
Reuters Helsinki bureau 1995‐1997
Financial Journalist
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland 1994
Assistant at the EU Secretariat
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland 1993
Department for External Economic Relations, University trainee
Executive directorships
Board member, ProCom Finnish Association of Communication Professionals January 2018-present
Board member, Finland Promotion Board 2014-present
Chair, Finland Promotion Board 2010-2012
Chair, The Finland-America Educational Trust Fund 2010-2012
Board member, Finnish‐British Chamber of Commerce 2006-2010

Education

Sanoma WSOY Group and Mercuria Business School management degree, February 2002‐September 2004
Master of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 1990‐1995
Undergraduate studies, University of Delaware, Department of Political Science, August 1989‐January 1990
Langley High School, Mclean, Virginia, 1986‐89, Advanced Studies Diploma

Kari Lautjärvi has ranked as a leading advocate in Finland in the areas of corporate and finance law. He continues a corporate advisory practice as Founder and Partner at Pro Veritas Oy. Kari has a wide interest in international law & politics as well as in corporate responsibility,

Curriculum vitae

Born 1955
Member of the Board since 2021-  (Member of the Board of Crisis Management Initiative ry since 2013)

Education and qualifications

Laamanni (Lagman), 2017

Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
University of Helsinki, 2015
Master of Laws (LL. M.),
Harvard Law School, 1986
Trained on the bench, 1982-1983
Master of Laws (LL. M.),
University of Helsinki, 1981

Career

Founder and Partner, Pro Veritas Oy
Dittmar & Indrenius, Partner, 2011 –2020
(after a distinguished career as a partner in other leading law firms)

Professional memberships and positions of trust

Chairman of the Finnish Bar Association´s Foundation, 2015-
President of the Finnish Bar Association,
2004-2007; (Vice President, 2001-2004, Board Member 1998-2001)
Councillor in the International Bar Association (IBA),
2004-2007 Co-Vice Chair of IBA Professional Ethics Committee,
2007-2008 Head of the Finnish delegation of the Council of Bars
and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), 2001-2007
Member of CCBE Corporate Social Responsibility Committee,
2012 – Member of the Council in the International Legal Assistance
Consortium (ILAC), 2012 –

Aleksi Neuvonen is a futurist and a social entrepreneur. He currently works at Demos Helsinki, Finland’s first independent think tank.

Curriculum vitae

Born 1975
Member of the Board of CMI since 2010.
Content Director and co-founder, Demos Helsinki since 2005
Lecturer, Aalto University 2009 – 2013
Lecturer, University of Helsinki, 2005-2009
Researcher, Finland Futures Research Centre, 2002-2004
Research assistant, VTT Group for Technology Studies, 2000-2001
Member of the board, Ruohonjuuri oy, since 1999
Chairperson, Dodo ry, 2005-2007

Experience

Mabel van Oranje is a serial entrepreneur for social change, committed to advancing equality, freedom and justice. She has founded, led and advised numerous network organisations, campaigns and initiatives promoting international human rights and development.

Most recently, she has played a catalytic role in the global movement to end child marriage, including the creation and growth of three backbone organisations: the Girls First Fund, Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, and VOW for Girls.

An experienced movement-builder, Mabel has worked on a wide range of issues – including the 1990s Balkan wars, international criminal justice, independent media, HIV/AIDS prevention, natural resource transparency, European enlargement and foreign policy, drug policy reform, girls’ education, and democracy innovation.

Mabel is currently a board member of Fondation Chanel, More in Common, and VOW for Girls (Chair). She is an advisor to the Better Politics Foundation, Co-Impact’s Gender Fund, Global Witness, and the Graça Machel Trust. Mabel is also a co-founder and Chair Emeritus of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Kai Sauer is the Finnish Ambassador in Berlin. He is the former Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Security Policy, at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Career

1995-1997
Political Department, MFA
1997
Economic Department, MFA
1998
Department for Press and Culture, MFA
1998-2000
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Zagreb, Croatia
2000-2003
1st Secretary, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN, New York
2003-2004
Senior Adviser to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Harri Holkeri, UNMIK, Kosovo
2004-2005
Head, Strategic Analysis and Research Unit, UNMIK, Kosovo
2005
Director, Unit for the Western Balkans, MFA
2005-2007
Senior Adviser to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, President Martti Ahtisaari, UNOSEK, Vienna
2007-2010
Director, Unit for UN and Global Affairs, MFA
2010-2014
Ambassador of Finland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN
2014-2019
Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, New York
2019-2023
Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Security Policy, MFA
2023-
Ambassador of Finland to Germany

Education

Master of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland, 1995
Studies at University of Hamburg & FU Berlin