STAFF

Esa Kokkonen

Director

Tel. +358 50 516 9111 (mobile), +358 3 5656 6945

I have served as Director of BIF since 1998. During this time, I have gained strong knowledge of non-profit organization management, and planning and management of international cooperation projects. Furthermore my areas of expertise include European regional and external cooperation policies and instruments, as well as administrative, economic and cooperation structures in the   Baltic Sea region. I hold M.Pol.Sci (Int.rel.) from the University of Turku, Finland, and I have also studied international relations and international law at the University of Michigan, USA.

At the Institute, I am responsible for overall management and direction, strategic management and planning, as well as budgeting. Creation and development of international networks with stakeholders from various sectors of society is also a key element of my work. I lecture frequently on Baltic Sea cooperation and international project management issues.

Minna Hanhijärvi

Deputy Director

Tel. +358 50 556 4228 (mobile)

My responsibility is to ensure development of innovative ideas into fully-fledged projects as well as to create BIF project services. Since the beginning of 2010, I am responsible for managing the eCitizen II project.

My knowledge in project management derives from more than ten years experience in international cooperation tasks in Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Baltic Sea Region and Finland.

Working with partners around the world and as a member of a multicultural team here in Tampere keeps up the spirit of international cooperation.

My passion is to learn more about team management, organizational psychology and intercultural interaction.

Johanna Leino

Project Manager

Tel. +358 50 556 4229 (mobile)

I graduated as a Master of Administrative Sciences from the University of Tampere. During my studies,  I studied and worked in Poland for 1,5 years. I am interested in international cooperation and eager to develop myself continuously. 

I joined the Baltic Institute of Finland in 2003 and have since been involved in design and management of several EU-funded and other international projects, including “Challenge of eCitizen” and "VBN InnoReg". Currently I am leading the "BSR InnoReg" project that is co-financed by the EU's Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013.

Julia Lihhatsjova

Project Manager

Tel. +358 50 554 9899 (mobile)

I have been working in the Baltic Institute of Finland since February 2007.  As a member of the BIF Russia Team I am involved in all the cooperation task with Russian partners including at the moment the IPR St Petersburg and AQM projects.

I have graduated from the St Petersburg State University from faculty of History.  In addition, I have the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Programme in International Business at TAMK. I have studied also at ESCE - Higher school of International business in Paris.

Originally I am from Estonia. I am fluent in Russian (monther tongue), English, French and I now some Finnish and Estonian. I like to communicate and work closely with people from different cultures and countries.

Johanna Vannes

Project Manager

Tel. +358 50 516 0536 (mobile)

In 2005, I graduated from the University of Tampere with a higher university degree in linguistics and international relations including study periods in Germany and the UK. I also have a specialist vocational qualification in product development.

My strengths encompass know-how in national and international development work and project management; experience from planning and executing in-service training programmes for teachers; experience from designing and implementing web-based courses; technical knowledge of creation of websites and online platforms; and extensive language skills.

I became a member of staff at the Baltic Institute of Finland in September 2009.

Johanna Argillander

Office Manager

Tel. +358 50 555 6577 (mobile)

I joined the Baltic Institute of Finland in Spring 2010. My task is to assist in financial and overall management of projects.

Previously I have been working in international projects at the Academy of Finland and at the Finnish Institute of Marine Research.

My educational background is in marine biology. I hold a Masters degree from the University of Helsinki including studies at the universities of Jyväskylä and Kiel, Germany.

I enjoy working and cooperating with different people in an international environment.