Leading a museum is about change management. Society and the University are changing, and the museum must respond to new challenges. Externally, the work of a director is composed of meetings, negotiations and administration work. In terms of content, what is central in my work is nevertheless the continuous development of a museum that creates something new. This occurs through fascinating interaction between colleagues, researchers and other individuals representing a diverse spread of fields, conditions and professions. As a team player, I am more than at home on this kind of playing field.

My first development project as director of the Helsinki University Museum was the three-year planning and realisation of the Helsinki Observatory, University Museum’s Centre for Astronomy. The renovated observatory opened to the public in September 2012. It is situated on Tähtitorni hill in the observatory building, completed in 1834, which was designed by the German architect Carl Ludvig Engel.

Helsinki University Museum is responsible for the nationally important cultural history collections of the university. Only a small fraction of its 55 000 exhibits are on display in exhibitions or in other university buildings. The University’s art collection, approximately 1 200 works, is nevertheless on display almost in its entirety. The majority of the collections are stored in repositories.

Helsinki University Museum provides knowledge of the history of the University and science and learning through the staging of exhibitions and events. On the University’s 375th anniversary, March 26, 2015, the museum opened a permanent exhibition in the University Main Building: The Power of Thought­ – The Story of the University of Helsinki 1640–2015.

My best memories of the University of Helsinki are connected with the exuberant student life at the student organisations Eidos and Kronos. I was even the chairman of the latter.