About Us

BoD and management

We are a special-assignment company of the Finnish state (51%) and the Tampere University Foundation (49%). The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the state ownership steering of FVR. The key mechanisms for corporate governance include the Annual General Meeting, the selection of the board members, independent company analysis and ownership strategy, the selection and remuneration of management, the development of good governance, and the promotion of corporate sustainability in alignment with the UN Global Compact.

Board of Directors

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Chairperson of the Board of Directors
​​​​​​M.D., Ph.D., title of docent 

Liisa-Maria has served as a specialist in internal medicine, clinical instructor, and supervisor of doctoral dissertation researchers in the field of cardiology at Turku University Hospital. She was also the Chief of Emergency and Acute Care at the Helsinki University Hospital District between 2000 and 2004. She served as Senior Medical Adviser of the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities from 2004 to 2009. At the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, she has held various leadership positions from 2010 to 2021, most recently as Director General of Strategic Affairs. She currently serves on the staff of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry as Chief Specialist. She is also the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies as well as Medical Adviser for the Patient Insurance Centre.

Positions of trust:
Chairperson of the Finnish Heart Association starting January 1st, 2025

Juhani Eskola

INDEPENDENT
M.D., Ph.D., professor

After graduating as a physician, Juhani served as a general practitioner, pediatrician, and physician of infectious diseases from 1975 to 1991, and then as the Director of the departments of Infectious Disease Control and Vaccines of the National Public Health Institute of Finland from 1991 to 1999. He worked in France between 2000 and 2004 as the Director in charge of the clinical development of vaccines for the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. After returning to Finland, he served as Deputy Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Finland, later the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, from 2005 to 2013 and as Director General from 2014 to 2018.

Positions of Trust:
​​​​​​Board member: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, 2008–2013. Chairperson of the Management Team: Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, 2009–2015. Board member: International Vaccine Institute, 2009–2015. Member: WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Immunizations (WHO/SAGE), 2009–2015. Board member: Alko Oy, 2015–2019. Board member: Soste Ry, 2021-2024

Saara Hassinen, Healthtech Finland
(part of Technology Industries Finland)

VICE Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Master of Science (Chemical Engineering)

Saara serves as Director of the Branch Groups and Associations Unit at Technology Industries Finland and as CEO of Healthtech Finland.

In the past, she has acted as department head at the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland from 1993 to 2009, CEO of Finnish Bioindustries FIB, and CEO of SalWe Oy from 2009 to 2016.

Positions of Trust:
Board member: Instrumentarium Science Foundation 2020–

Sirpa Jalkanen, University of Turku

M.D., Ph.D., Research Director, Professor, Academician

After a postdoctoral period at Stanford University, Sirpa has served as Research Professor at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare as well as Professor of Immunology, Academy Professor, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku. In addition, she has led the Medicity unit of the University of Turku and two Centres of Excellence at the Academy of Finland. She currently serves as Director at the InFLAMES Flagship. Sirpa has received several esteemed accolades for her work. She has been one of the founders of two biotech companies: BioTie Therapies and Faron Pharmaceuticals.

Positions of Trust:
Chairperson of the Board: Cancer Foundation Finland and Emil Aaltonen Foundation. Board member: Association of Finnish Foundations, Science Foundation of the Microbiologists of Turku. ​Board member: Orion Oy, 2009–2019 and Chairperson of the Research Committee, 2010–2019. Board member: Tampere University of Technology, 2010–2018. Vice President and President: Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, 2008–2012.

Kirsi Komi

INDEPENDENT,
MASTER OF LAWS

Kirsi is a board professional, who has served on the board of directors of several Nordic public, state-owned and private companies. During her legal career, Kirsi has worked mainly for Nokia Corporation during 1992-2010 in global roles, last as General Counsel & Executive Board Member of Nokia Siemens Networks.

Positions of Trust:
Member of the Supervisory Board: Finnish Cultural Foundation 2024-. Chair: Liikennevirta Ltd. 2021-. Chair: Docrates Cancer Center 2011-. Vice chair, chair and chair of nomination committee: Directors’ Institute Finland 2015-2023. Board member: Humana AB 2017-2023. Board member: Metsä Board Plc. 2010-2022. Chair: Finnish Red Cross Blood Service 2010-2020. Chair and member of the board: Lindström Invest Ltd. 2017-2020. Board member: Martela Plc. 2013-2019. Board member: Finvera Plc. 2013-2019. Board member: Bittium Plc. 2015-2018. Board member: Citycon Plc. 2011-2018. Chair: Veikkaus Ltd. 2016-2017. Vice chair and chair of the audit committee: Patria Plc. 2011-2016.

Timo Lepistö

INDEPENDENT,
MASTER OF LAWS

Timo is a board professional and Senior Advisor, with long experience of various corporate leadership positions both as CEO and on boards, as well as membership in the boards of foundations and associations. Before his duties as an independent board professional, Timo has worked e.g. as CEO of Nordic Morning Corporation during 2005-2017.

Positions of Trust:
(Only relevant current positions) Board member: Save the Children Finland 2023-. Chair of the board: DigiFinland Ltd. 2019-. Board member and chair of the audit committee: FCG Finnish Consulting Group Ltd. 2020-.

Tapio Visakorpi, University of Tampere

M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Cancer Genetics

Tapio is Vice President for Research at the Tampere University (2022–). Previously, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (former Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences) between 2017 and 2021. He has been Professor of Cancer Genetics at the Tampere University since 2002.

Positions of Trust:
​​​​​​Board member: The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa 2024-. Board member: Finnish Cancer Institute 2023-. Board member: Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Tays Foundation. ​​​Board member: Finnish Medical Foundation 2012–2017 and Chairperson 2013–2017. Board member: Cancer Foundation Finland, 2013–2021. Governing board member: Biocenter Finland, 2013–2022; Chairperson 2018–2019. Board member: Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, 2008–2010.​​​​

Leadership Team

Ilkka Haukijärvi

Chief Executive Officer
Ph.D., information systems

Ilkka has worked in various line-management leadership roles as well as demanding projects and project management positions e.g. at the University of Tampere. He has extensive experience in managing strategic and operational changes in organizations, developing capabilities, and in day-to-day management of operational activities.

Positions of Trust:
Board member: Pharma Industry Finland, starting 1.1.2025

Satu Grönberg

HEAD OF PEOPLE
M.SC. (ECON.)

Throughout her career, Satu has worked in diverse positions related to the development of operations and people management in international operating environments, for example at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. Before moving to FVR, Satu worked as a consultant in her own company with the mission of contributing to business success with employee wellbeing.

Harri Leiviskä

Chief Financial Officer
M.Sc. (Econ.), MBA

Harri has worked in diverse management and leadership positions in finance and  business operations in global companies, e.g. as CFO of Suunto from 2009 to 2018 and as CFO of AstraZeneca Finland from 2005 to 2009. He has also held several managerial and leadership positions at Nokia Mobile Phones and Nokia Networks in Finland and Singapore between 1996 and 2005.

Positions of Trust: Board Member and Chairperson of the Audit Committee: VTT, 2015–2022.

Arto Palmu

Chief Research and medical Officer
M.D., Ph.D., University lecturer in clinical epidemiology

Arto worked as Research Manager at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) from 1995 to 2022 and as Senior Assistant and Acting Professor of Epidemiology at the Tampere University from 2003 to 2008. Arto’s expertise includes register-based studies, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, and pragmatic vaccine trials. Palmu has received significant accolades for his work.

Katja Volanto-Lumppio

HEAD OF RESEARCH SERVICES
M.SC. (BIOLOGY)

Katja has worked in versatile clinical research and operational front-line positions in international companies, e.g. in Bayer’s oncology unit during 2018-2024, and in a leadership position of ICON CRO’s Nordic monitoring organization during 2012-2017. In addition to managerial positions, her versatile field of duties has included the development, training and implementation of operational processes.