Members of the Adoption Board

Chair of the Adoption Board: Irene Pärssinen-Hentula, Manager, Finnish Supervisory Agency 

Deputy Chair of the Adoption Board: Taija Jokimaa-Frusti, Senior Officer, Finnish Supervisory Agency

The Section for International Matters must include a representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, experts in legal issues related to international adoption and practical intercountry adoption operations as well as a child welfare expert. During the term of the Adoption Board 2022–2027, the Section was strengthened with experts in international social work and development research. 

Representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Anu Lepistö, Senior Specialist (Legal Affairs), Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Helinä Heikkinen, Senior Specialist (Legal Affairs), Ministry for Foreign Affairs)

Member representing expertise in legal issues related to international adoption: Outi Kemppainen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Legislative Affairs, Ministry of Justice (Joanna Grandell, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Justice)

Member representing practical expertise in the field of international adoption: Anja Wikstedt, Adoption Curator, All Our Children Finland (Jenni Heinonen, Adoption activity coordinator, All Our Children Finland)

Member representing child welfare expertise: Julia Kuokkanen, Senior Specialist, Central Union for Child Welfare (Miia Pitkänen, Director, Socca - Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare in the Southern Finland Region)

Eeva-Maria Nieminen, Senior Officer, Finnish Immigration Service (Leena Turku, Senior Officer, Finnish Immigration Service) 

Tiina Muinonen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Susanna Hoikkala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) 

Maija Jäppinen, Assistant Professor, Social Work, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Political Science, Department of Social Sciences (Saana Raittila-Salo, doctoral researcher, Social Worker, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Political Sciences, Institute of Social Sciences) 

Member representing child welfare expertise: Päivi Sihvo, Social Worker, Länsi-Uusimaa Social and Crisis Emergency Service (Anna Klingenberg-Peltola, Social Work Manager, City of Vantaa, Department of Health Care and Social Services)

Member representing adoption counselling expertise: Maria Jensen, Social Worker, City of Helsinki (Maija Vihervirta, Development Manager, Save the Children Finland)

Member representing expertise in child growth and development: Elina Kontu, Professor of Psychology, University of Tampere, Faculty of Social Sciences (Saara Salo, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Psychotherapist, University of Helsinki / Pilke-Clinic)

Expert in medicine: Krista Liskola, MD, PhD, Child Psychiatrist, Chief of Department, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa HUS (Paula Häkkänen, Doctor of Medicine, Head Physician for Promoting Health and Wellbeing, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa HUS)

Irja Hemmilä, Senior Officer, Finnish Supervisory Agency (Tanja Kankuri, Chief Physician, Finnish Supervisory Agency)

In addition to the members of the above-mentioned sections:  

Jenny Nyman, Executive Director, Adoptioperheet ry (Lotta Ventelä, Communications and Administration Officer, Adoptioperheet ry)  

Jaakko Rautavaara, Aikuiset adoptoidut ry, Domestic Adoptions (Riikka Holmström, Aikuiset adoptoidut ry, domestic adoptions)  

Anu-Rohima Mylläri, Aikuiset adoptoidut ry, International Adoptions (Parvathi Willberg, Aikuiset adoptoidut ry, international adoptions)  

Aulikki Haimi-Kaikkonen, Senior Social Worker, City of Helsinki (Saara Leinonen, Adoption Coordinator, City of Helsinki)  

Salla Hari, Director for Adoption Program, Interpedia ry (Ilona Kalliola, Executive Director, Interpedia ry)  

Piia Savio, Executive Director, Simpukka ry, Finland for All Families (Sofia Lindqvist, Finland for All Families)  

Merita Lepojärvi, Intercountry Adoption Director, Save the Children Finland (Bianca Kupari, Adoption Coordinator, Social Worker, Save the Children Finland)  

Juha Jämsä, Executive Director, Rainbow Families Finland (Vilppu Järvinen, Rainbow Families Finland)