New heads of mission appointed

At the presidential session on 25 April, the President of the Republic appointed the following persons to serve as heads of missions: Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Bern; Pekka Voutilainen, Hanoi; Jukka Siukosaari, Copenhagen; Riina-Riikka Heikka, Nairobi; Olli Kantanen, Stockholm; Eevamari Laaksonen, Pristina; Minna Laajava, Los Angeles.

Embassy in Bern, Switzerland

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Okko-Pekka Salmimies to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Bern, starting on 1 September 2025.

Salmimies is currently Head of Mission at the Consulate General in Los Angeles. He has previously served as Visiting Senior Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in 2020–2021, Team Finland Ambassador in Helsinki in 2016–2020, and Head of Mission at the Permanent Delegation of Finland to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Finland's Permanent Representative to UNESCO in 2013–2016.

Okko-Pekka Salmimies joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1997. He holds a Master's degree in Political Sciences.

Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Pekka Voutilainen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Hanoi, starting on 1 September 2025.

Voutilainen is currently Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in Doha. His previous positions include Senior Adviser for Trade and Development in 2019–2022, Finland’s Ambassador to Riyadh in 2014–2018 and Head of Mission in Ankara in 2018–2019.

Pekka Voutilainen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1988. He holds a Master of Laws degree, trained on the bench.

Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jukka Siukosaari to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Copenhagen, starting on 1 September 2025.

Siukosaari is currently Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in London. His previous positions include Secretary General at the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland in 2018–2021, Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in Tokyo in 2016–2018, and Finland’s Ambassador to Buenos Aires in 2012–2016.

Jukka Siukosaari joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1995. He holds a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Riina-Riikka Heikka to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Nairobi, starting on 1 August 2025.

Heikka will transfer to her post from the Embassy of Finland in Kathmandu, where she has worked as Head of Mission since 2022. Before that, she served as Director of the Unit for Civil Society at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Her career in the diplomatic service includes posts in the Embassy of Finland in Washington, Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE in Vienna, and Permanent Mission of Finland to NATO in Brussels.

Riina-Riikka Heikka joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2003. She holds a Master of Laws degree.

Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Olli Kantanen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Stockholm, starting on 1 September 2025.

He is currently Director General of the Department for Euro-Atlantic Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He has previously served as Director General and Deputy Director General of the Department for Europe in 2018–2024 and as Finland's Ambassador to Riga in 2014–2018.

Olli Kantanen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1994. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.

Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo

At its session on 24 April, the Government promoted Counsellor Eevamari Laaksonen to the public office of Counsellor for Foreign Affairs, starting on 1 September 2025. The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Laaksonen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Pristina, starting on 1 September 2025.

Laaksonen is currently Director of the Unit for Civil Society at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She has previously served as Head of the Unit for Global Communications in 2017–2022.

Eevamari Laaksonen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2000. He holds a Master of Arts degree.

Consulate General in Los Angeles, United States

At its session on 24 April, the Government promoted Counsellor Minna Laajava to the public office of Counsellor for Foreign Affairs, starting on 1 September 2025. The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Laajava to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Consulate General in Los Angeles, starting on 1 September 2025.

Laajava is currently the Director of the Unit for Security Policy and Crisis Management at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. During her term of office, Finland's NATO membership process and NATO integration were main priorities. Previously, Laajava has served i.a. as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland in London in 2017–2021, at the Unit for Security Policy and Crisis Management, and in the Embassies of Finland in Paris and Stockholm.

Minna Laajava joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2003. She holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences (Political Science) from the University of Helsinki and a Master of Science in European Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.