I have been given the opportunity to participate in the development of the museum sector through different organisations and through various positions of responsibility. Of these, the most important has undoubtedly been a six-year term on the board of the Finnish Museums Association, which offered a genuine view over the broad and heterogeneous field of Finnish museums and the possibility to influence legislation, the promotion of the interests of other museums and continuing education in the sector alike. I was also able to participate in the construction of the first assessment model for the museum sector.

It is a fine thing that the museum sector already has a long history of international activity, in which Nordic cooperation has held a particularly valuable position. My own international networking has primarily been museum networking and is especially connected with European historical or city museums. Some these networks were inherited from my predecessor. Maintaining them has been important to me, and I feel I have gained useful peer-learning opportunities and the possibility to acquaint myself with good practice and leadership in the sector. Through networks it is possible to assess the state of one’s own museum and its place in the museum world – while simultaneously building up the image of Finland and Helsinki. I am more than happy to encourage the museum’s employees to actively build their own international contacts and give presentations at conferences. After all, it is often the case that fruitful cooperation between museums begins through personal contacts.

Positions of responsibility:

• Finnish Museums Association, board member and vice chairman 2005–11
• Member of the representative body of the Helsinki University Museum Foundation
• Member of the representative body of the Foundation for the Museum of Finnish Architecture 2004–, vice-chairman 2010–15
• Board member of the Kunsthalle Foundation 2006–08
• Member of the Cultural Heritage Committee 2008–13
• International Association of Museums of History (IAMH), Administration Council member 2009–
• Member of the Helsinki City History Committee 2005–13