After an impressive career as a senior executive at the European Commission, University of Helsinki alum Salla Saastamoinen will start as the University's first Executive in Residence this September. In her new role she wishes to establish contacts between the University, public policy-makers and European networks.
After earning a Licentiate of Laws degree at the University of Helsinki, Salla Saastamoinen worked at the European Commission for more than three decades, advancing from specialist duties to the senior leadership of the Commission. Her latest position was Deputy Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), where she has also served as Acting Director-General. Previously she served in similar positions as Deputy Director-General of the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and as Acting Director-General of the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers. Now she is returning to the University of Helsinki in an entirely new role.
"This feels inspiring and invigorating. I like new beginnings. Even though I'm returning to a familiar place, the University, Helsinki and Finland have surely all changed in the last 30 years that I have spent working in Brussels and the European Commission," surmises Saastamoinen.
New task of bridging research and decision-making
The role of Executive in Residence is new at the University of Helsinki, and its relevant practices will be defined in the course of the inaugural year. Of key importance in Saastamoinen's role is to make her experience of EU decision-making, legislation and administration available to the University community, from the senior leadership to research groups and students. Her duties will involve strategic guidance, networking and introducing students to EU law.
One of the key objectives is to enhance the use of research-based knowledge in decision-making, also known as science for policy activities.
"The University of Helsinki generates research-based knowledge that can contribute greatly to Finnish and European decision-making. Salla Saastamoinen's extensive experience of decision-making in the EU and of the boundary between science and policy-making offers us a new opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between researchers and policy-makers. At the same time, we have the chance to formulate an entirely new operating model for the University with the Executive in Residence position. We are delighted to have Salla join us in this work," says Vice-Rector Hanna Snellman.
The interface between research and decision-making is familiar to Saastamoinen from her previous career: "In many of my prior positions I have served as something of an interpreter or bridge-builder. I have brought together research, expertise and policy objectives to enable different parties to better understand each other."
For her, the multidisciplinary nature of the University of Helsinki offers special opportunities for this. Since major societal issues do not respect disciplinary boundaries, the knowledge needed to support decision-making should be gathered from research across multiple fields.
Because of her background in the EU, she also wishes to consolidate connections between the University of Helsinki and the European Commission, the European Parliament and Finland's Permanent Representation to the EU.
"I would like to serve as a mediator or facilitator of sorts, bringing together different people, establishing connections and introducing people to each other. New ideas often spring from such interaction," Saastamoinen says.
Contact with the University of Helsinki sustained over the years
During her years in Brussels, Saastamoinen kept in contact with the University of Helsinki. For example, she was involved in establishing the University's alumni activities in Brussels. The local alumni community organised events, supported the EU-related studies of University of Helsinki students and arranged excursions to Brussels.
In her new position, Saastamoinen wishes to highlight international career opportunities to students and junior researchers. She encourages Finns to boldly apply for positions in the EU.
She pinpoints the feeling of meaningfulness as the most important aspect of her long career: "I can say that, throughout my career spanning three decades, I've had the feeling that I can make a difference in my work. I've been able to start every workday convinced that I can make a little contribution to the grand scheme of things."
Now the University of Helsinki can profit from this experience and expertise this academic year. Saastamoinen says that the role of the Executive in Residence will take shape and be defined in greater detail according to the decisions made and needs emerging at the University:
"Actually, this is one of the most intriguing elements of this position. Instead of following a ready-made model, we are designing a whole new one."
