At its first meeting on 18 December 2025, the University of Helsinki Board elected Antti Vasara, DSc (Tech), as its Chair. Docent Mari Pantsar, PhD, was elected Deputy Chair.
The Board will serve a four-year term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029.
"I thank my fellow Board members for their trust. It is a great honour to serve as Chair of the University of Helsinki Board. I am looking forward to working with the Board and the University's senior leadership. Together we will shape the University's future, contributing to a better world," says Antti Vasara.
Antti Vasara, Dsc (Tech), has chaired the boards of companies including SemiQon and QMill. He currently serves as Special Envoy for Technology for the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, championing Finland on the international stage. He also advises the EU Commission on Quantum Strategy. He will serve as CEO of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland until June 2025.
Docent Mari Pantsar, PhD, chairs the Board of One Planet and is a Board member of the Finnish National Theatre. She was previously Director at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. She also served on the University of Helsinki's Board during the previous term from 2022 to 2025.
University of Helsinki Board 2026-2029
Antti Vasara, Chair
Mari Pantsar, Deputy Chair
Thomas Hackman
Aku Houttu (student member, 1 January 2026-31 December 2027)
Hanna Korsberg
Teemu Kovanen (student member, 1 January 2026-31 December 2027)
Sanni Lehtinen
Anne Lepistö
Minna Palmroth
Juha Tuominen
The University of Helsinki Board has 10 members, including six drawn from the University community and four from outside it. The chair and deputy chair are selected by the Board from among the external members.
