Board

The board of the University of Vaasa 2026–2029

• Mari Kiviniemi, former DSG of the OECD, former Prime Minister of Finland, former Managing Director of the Finnish Federation of Commerce (Chair)
• Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State (Vice-Chair)
• Jenni Hiltunen, Student, University of Vaasa (2026–2027)
• Susanna Kultalahti, Senior University Lecturer, University of Vaasa
• Hannu Laaksonen, Professor, University of Vaasa
• Liisa Mäkelä, Professor, University of Vaasa
• Hannu Mäntymaa, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Finland
• Timo Rothovius, Professor, University of Vaasa
• Eriikka Söderström, professional board member (2026–2027)
• Marja Vettenranta, Subject Area Administrative Manager, University of Vaasa

Contact information
Secretary to the Board: University Lawyer Samu Leskinen
Contact person: Executive Assistant Emmi Karjaluoto / emmi.karjaluoto(at)uwasa.fi

Jenni Hiltunen

Jenni Hiltunen represents the students on the board.

Mari Kiviniemi

Mari Kiviniemi also served as the Chair of the Board of the University of Vaasa in the previous term (2022–2025). She has had a distinguished political career before transitioning into leadership roles within business and public organisations. Kiviniemi was a Member of Parliament from 1995 to 2014 and served as the Prime Minister of Finland from 2010 to 2011. She has also held the positions of the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development (2005–2006) and the Minister of Public Administration and Local Government (2007–2010). From 2014 to 2018, she worked as a Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, after which she served as the Managing Director of the Finnish Commerce Federation until 2024. Currently, she is a Board Member of Metsä Board Corporation and a member of the International Advisory Panel of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Kiviniemi holds a Master’s degree in Political Science. She was born in 1968.

Susanna Kultalahti

Susanna Kultalahti is a Senior University Lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Vaasa and responsible for the bachelor’s degree programme in management. Kultalahti’s doctoral dissertation in management received an international Highly Commended Award in the annual Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards dissertation competition in 2016. Her dissertation was also granted the Research Act of the Year award at the University of Vaasa in 2016. For her teaching, she has received both domestic and international recognition. She has taught and supervised theses at the bachelor's and master's levels and worked in various administrative bodies, such as the management group of the School of Management and the Assurance of Learning working group for the AACSB accreditation. Kultalahti also served as a member of the university board in the previous term (2022–2025). She is a Doctor of Science (Economics) and a professional teacher. She was born in 1985.

Hannu Laaksonen

Hannu Laaksonen has served as Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Vaasa since August 2017. He graduated as a Master of Science in Technology from Tampere University of Technology in 2004 and earned his Doctor of Science degree from the University of Vaasa in 2011. Laaksonen has over 20 years of research and work experience in smart grids, microgrids, and flexible energy systems. He has previously worked as a researcher at Tampere University of Technology, VTT in Vaasa, and as a doctoral researcher at the University of Vaasa. After completing his doctoral studies, Laaksonen spent six years (2011–2017) in research and product development roles at ABB in Vaasa. Currently, he also leads the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Master’s Program in Smart Energy Transition. In recent years, he has been listed among the world’s top two percent of most influential researchers, according to a ranking published by Stanford University. Laaksonen was born in Vaasa in 1977.

Liisa Mäkelä

Liisa Mäkelä has served as Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Vaasa since December 2017. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vaasa in 2002, earned her Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration (Management) in 2009, and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) in 2016. Mäkelä’s research focuses particularly on employee well-being in various work contexts, leadership, and international careers. She has previously held other research and teaching positions at the University of Vaasa, worked as a Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Gothenburg. Currently, Mäkelä also leads the Human Resource Management performance unit. She was born in Tampere in 1972.

Hannu Mäntymaa

Hannu Mäntymaa is the Managing Director of Wärtsilä Finland Oy and Head of the Wärtsilä Marine Voyage Services business unit. He has built a long and diverse career at Wärtsilä, working in areas such as business development, product development, manufacturing, international trade, and leadership. Mäntymaa currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce and holds board positions – both as member and chair – in several Wärtsilä subsidiaries. He graduated with a Master of Science in Technology from Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University), specialising in Industrial Engineering and Management, in 2003. Mäntymaa was born in Vaasa in 1977.

Timo Rothovius

Timo Rothovius is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Vaasa. He is a distinguished researcher in his field and also the chair of the Finnish Shareholders' Association. Rothovius also served as a member of the university board in the previous term (2022–2025). He is a Doctor of Science (Economics). Rothovius was born in 1962. 

Jarno Syrjälä

Under-Secretary of State Jarno Syrjälä has had a distinguished career as a diplomat. Since 2023, he has served at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as the Under-Secretary of State responsible for international trade. Previously, Syrjälä was Finland’s Ambassador to Beijing (2017–2021), Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East (2013–2017), and Head of Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2010–2013). He has also gained diplomatic experience in Berlin, Washington, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Jakarta. After his ambassadorship in Beijing, Syrjälä took a leave of absence from the Ministry to help establish the China Office of Finnish Industries Oy. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vaasa and received the Alumnus of the Year Award in 2023. Syrjälä was born in 1964.

Eriikka Söderström 

Eriikka Söderström is an experienced board professional with a long career in senior management positions in international technology and industrial companies. She currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of publicly listed companies Metso, Kempower, Bekaert, and Amadeus IT Group. Previously, she served as a board member of Valmet and Comptel. Before transitioning to a full-time board professional, Söderström worked as the Chief Financial Officer at F-Secure from 2017 to 2021, at Kone from 2013 to 2016, at Vacon from 2009 to 2013, and at Nautor in 2008. Söderström has strong ties to the University of Vaasa. She was a member of the Board of Directors in 1992–1993, served as the Secretary General of the Student Union of the University of Vaasa from 1991 to 1993, and obtained her Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vaasa in 1993. She was born in 1968.

Marja Vettenranta

Marja Vettenranta is the Subject Area Administrative Manager in administrative sciences at the Study and Education Services of the University of Vaasa. She has worked at the University of Vaasa since 1994. Vettenranta also served as a member of the university board in the previous term (2022–2025). In addition, she was a member of the university collegium from 2014 to 2021 and its vice-chair from 2018 to 2021. Vettenranta holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Sciences. She was born in 1968.