The primary function of the position of Executive Vice-President is strategic leadership for all UArctic’s academic activities in education, research, and regional development. The role brings a new platform for collaboration, enabling UArctic to deepen its engagement with international partners while driving impactful initiatives that address critical challenges in the Arctic.
“I am thrilled to welcome Jouko to the core leadership of UArctic. His combined experience from ten years of leadership in the University of Oulu, a large and successful northern research university, and almost as many years on the Board of UArctic is exceptional. He will be a significant addition to our team,” UArctic President Lars Kullerud says.
Having served as the Rector of the University of Oulu in Finland since 2015, Jouko Niinimäki brings a decade of university leadership experience and broad insights from academia to his new position in UArctic. Jouko Niinimäki is currently on his third term on the Board of UArctic where he has also served as a Vice-Chair. Over the past nine years, he has played a key part in the strategic development of UArctic. He has been introduced to the breadth of UArctic’s activities, its governance, and many of the network’s members and stakeholders.
“We have only one Arctic, and its state impacts the entire world. I am truly inspired to join the UArctic team and contribute to shaping the future of the global Arctic. The collaborative work of our 200 member universities and institutions represents a powerful global force in safeguarding and advancing Arctic sustainability through education, research, innovation, and communication, both within and about the Arctic," Jouko Niinimäki says.
Niinimäki will step down from the UArctic Board on April 1, 2025 when his work as UArctic Executive VP formally begins.
More information:
Lars Kullerud
UArctic President
president@uarctic.org
Outi Snellman
UArctic Secretary General
outi.snellman@uarctic.org