New executive directors appointed at the Research Council of Finland

On 6 June 2024, the Board of the Research Council of Finland appointed executive directors for three new units at the Research Council’s Administration Office. The appointments are for a five-year term from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2029.

Emilia Katajajuuri, LLM, was appointed Executive Director of Operations Management. Katajajuuri joins the Research Council of Finland from Tampere University Foundation, where she has been Director of Operations Management and Administrative Services.

Jussi Vauhkonen, DSS, was appointed Executive Director of Funding Opportunities. Vauhkonen has been Director of Development at the Research Council of Finland since 1 October 2022.

Floora Ruokonen, DSS, was appointed Executive Director of Impact and Science Policy. Ruokonen has served as the Research Council’s acting Vice President for Research since 8 January 2024.

The appointments are part of an organisational reform

The organisation of the Research Council of Finland’s Administration Office is being reformed. The reform will simplify and streamline the structure and management system of the Administration Office. The new organisation will become operational as of 1 September 2024.

The aim of the reform is to strengthen the overall steering and management of the Research Council of Finland, enable more long-term planning of funding instruments and invest in monitoring and evaluating the impact of funded research.

In addition, the aim is to strengthen the Research Council’s communications and public relations, support knowledge-based management and increase the use of data to support operational planning and science policy expertise.