The Atlantic Council of Finland has a Chair, two Vice-Chairs, a Board of Directors and a Secretary General.
The first Chairman of the Council was Minister (Hon.), Ambassador Mr. Jaakko Iloniemi (1999-2001). He was succeeded by Minister (Hon.), Ambassador Mr. Paavo Rantanen (2002-2004), Director of the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA, Dr. Risto E. J. Penttilä (2005-2008) and Minister (Hon.) Mrs. Liisa Jaakonsaari (2009-2023).
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S 2 0 2 5
Chair of the Board
Mr. Jyrki Katainen, Former Prime Minister of Finland and Vice President of EU Commission, Head of Group Public Affairs, Nordea Bank
Vice-Chairs
Mr. Jari Haapiainen, Senior Adviser in EU, Foreign, Security and Defence Policy, Parliamentary Group of the Centre Party of Finland
Mr. Esa Rautalinko, President and CEO, Patria
Members of the Board
Ms. Minna Aila, Executive Vice President (Konecranes)
Dr. Tuomas Forsberg, Professor of International Relations
Mr. Jani Kokko, MP, Parliament of Finland
Ambassador Klaus Korhonen, Strategy Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Mr. Janne Kuusela, Director General, Defence Policy Director, Ministry of Defence of Finland
General Jarmo Lindberg, MP, Parliament of Finland; Former Chief of Defence and Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces
Ms. Laura Saarikoski, Professor of Practice (Journalism), Journalist, CEO at The Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (1st May 2025 ->)
Ms. Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo, State Secretary to Minister of Finance of Finland
Mr. Stefan Wallin, Senior Advisor, Former Minister of Defence of Finland
Captain (Navy) Kaarle Wikström, Director of Public Affairs, Defence Command, The Finnish Defence Forces
Secretary General
Ms. Terhi Suominen, M.Pol.Sc.
