The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux Trust oversees funding and governance of the Institute’s activities. Its executive board, elected for three-year terms, began their term in March 2024. Comprising five members and five deputies, they will serve until the end of 2026.
The board members bring expertise from both Finnish and Benelux arts and cultural sectors, with many having extensive backgrounds in arts administration and funding.
I am happy that the foundation has a new board whose varied expertise supports the mission and goals of our new strategy. For the upcoming three years we are focusing on strengthening our funding and striving for a more inclusive and fair field for arts and culture. We at the Institute are grateful for their dedication and the invaluable support they bring to our organisation.
– Director of the Institute, Laura Boxberg.
Executive Board
Paula Raitis, Chairperson, Director of Human Resources
Paula Raitis is the newly appointed Chairperson of the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux Trust. Raitis works as the Director of Human Resources at Porvoon seurakuntayhtymä. Her career encompasses diverse roles in publishing, communications, and administration. She has been appointed to the Trust’s board by Suomen Merimieskirkko ry, where she holds the role of Vice-Chairperson of the board.
“The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux is currently thriving and I hope that the future holds even more flourish and growth, in spite of the challenging situation. The brilliant employees and strong networks lead to an array of exciting projects – this makes me truly happy!”
Fun fact: I am a passionate baseball spectator and a loyal fan of the team Hyvinkään Tahko. Yellow at heart!
Martti Kivistö, Vice-Chairperson, LL.D., trained on the bench
During his professional career, Martti Kivistö worked for copyright organisations for more than 30 years before retiring in autumn 2023 from his position as Director of Strategy at Teosto. Kivistö’s work included lobbying for music authors in Finland and on an EU level, as well as promoting the overall conditions of the cultural sector. He continues to work on culture and copyright matters and has also written non-fiction books and articles on copyright issues.
“The future development of public funding is currently a matter of concern for everyone in the cultural sector. Cultural institutes are also facing planned cuts in state subsidies. In order to safeguard their operating conditions, the level of public funding must be secured hand in hand with efforts to develop the institutes’ fundraising and create the capacity to adapt their activities if the situation so requires.”
Fun fact: I am skilled in two-handed touch typing. Acquired with great effort in a typing course, this skill has over the years proved to be a valuable asset for someone working with words.
Lieven Ameel, Member, Senior Lecturer
Lieven Ameel is a university lecturer in Comparative Literature at Tampere University in Finland. Ameel has published widely on experiences of space, narrative planning, and urban futures.
“My hope is that the Institute may continue its important work at the crossroads between art, science, and society, and between Finland and the countries of the Benelux. Since my own field of expertise is literature, I am looking forward to seeing future collaboration that involves literary authors and translators. But I am also looking forward to learning more about developments in other artistic fields.”
Fun fact: I am also a Finnish to Dutch translator. My most widely read translated book is probably Mauri Kunnas’ The Vikings are coming! (Daar komen de vikingen!).
Antti Wihanto, Member, Honorary Consul for Belgium
While considering studies in architecture, Antti Wihanto took the path of business studies at the ‘Turku School of Business’, which is now part of the University of Turku. Over the years, Wihanto has been a member of several boards in the fields of business, culture and sports. Since 2006, he has acted as an honorary consul to the Embassy of Belgium, with matters involving Belgium and its citizens in his region.
“I am looking forward to great cooperation and learning with and from the other Finnish institutes, regarding the sharing of resources and information, as well as making new connections with artists and partners in the Benelux.”
Fun fact: As I am perhaps slightly “’more outspoken” for a regular Finn, I sometimes find myself in places that have absolutely nothing to do with my merits. Whether it be standing next to a nice car chatting with Jay Leno (I had no idea who he was at first!) or spending an afternoon with the president of the UAE in a private grandstand at a boat-race in Abu Dhabi, or spending the day in the Finnish archipelago with another ruler from another notable Gulf-country, talking casually about Finnish education and sports academy systems and then later finding out they are now fully in deep co-operation with Finland on these very topics!
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, Member (Finnish Cultural Foundation), President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi has had a unique career combining indigenous rights advocacy and global business. Näkkäläjärvi is a third term elected member of the Sámi Parliament in Finland and a member of the Inari municipal council from the Greens’ list (ind.). She worked as the Head of Yle Sápmi, the Sámi-language operations of the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle in 2012–2016.
Näkkäläjärvi holds an MSc in Economics from the Helsinki School of Economics and an MSc in Media & Communications (with Distinction) from the London School of Economics. She wrote her LSE MSc dissertation in 2017 on the freedom of speech of the Sámi in Finland.
Näkkäläjärvi yoiked and acted in the short film The Killing of Čáhcerávga that was part of the artwork representing Finland in the Venice Biennale 2019. In 2018 and 2019, she yoiked in and consulted the feminist concert series Blood, porn and propaganda, GODDAMMIT! that was awarded with the Phenomenon of the Year award in the 2020 Ethnogala.
Her mother tongue is Northern Sámi.
Iiris Kivimäki, Deputy member (Suomen Merimieskirkko), expert, corporate fundraising
In her own words, Iiris Kivimäki is a “certified book freak” who gets plenty of energy from political and cultural dialogues. Kivimäki’s interests include volunteering at the Finnish Seamen’s Mission. In addition to her work in Corporate Fundraising and Communication, she is in the process of writing a PhD.
“I believe more actions and means for solidarity are needed in European cultural life.”
Fun fact: I once bought a gothic style wrought iron music stand at a flea market in Antwerp and carried it to the aeroplane in two pieces without any extra costs – thanks to the true music lovers at security.
Petri Lahesmaa, Deputy member, senior consultant, EU affairs
Petri Lahesmaa was born in the beautiful city of Turku, Finland. Nowadays, Lahesmaa works as a public affairs consultant and entrepreneur in EU affairs.
“Architecture, design, modern art, chamber music, gym and Belgian beer – yes, please! These are all things I hold dear to my heart. After 25 years I still feel the same about my city of residence: Bruxelles Ma Belle.
The board members’ primary tasks include taking good care of administration and the management of finances. These matters seem to be in very safe hands with the team. Naturally, I am also quite curious about the Institute’s cultural programme.”
Fun fact: I am a skilled negotiator. Several years ago I managed to convince the Electrabel customer service that the monthly electricity bill of 144 000 euros cannot be meant for me.
Marja Rislakki, Deputy member, ambassador
Marja Rislakki is a retired Career Diplomat and Ambassador who now works as a consultant. Rislakki has worked in the Finnish diplomatic missions in Madrid, London, Brussels and Beijing. Most of her foreign postings, however, have been in Brussels, first as Minister Counsellor at the Finnish Embassy in Belgium and later on three different occasions serving at the Finnish Permanent Representation to the EU. She was the Finnish Ambassador to China 2015–2017 and Ambassador and the Finnish Permanent Representative to the EU 2015–2021 until her retirement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux does excellent and important work in enhancing the cultural ties between Finland and the Benelux countries. As the Institute is facing new economic challenges, we as board members need to find new solutions to make sure the good work of the Institute will continue and flourish also during the years to come.”
Fun fact: I am a mother of three boys and a grandmother of three, who loves to play board games, go mushroom picking and enjoy an easy life at the cottage in the Finnish lake district. At the same time I am an enthusiastic EU nerd, who attentively follows foreign and EU policies.
Riikka Thitz, Deputy member, Master of Arts, curator
Riikka Thitz is a Helsinki-based curator of contemporary performance and visual arts. Thitz currently works as the curator of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Stage for Contemporary Performance programme. Riikka holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Exhibition Studies from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki (2021) as well as a Master of Arts double degree in Euroculture (2008) from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. Together with harpsichordist Marianna Henriksson and choreographer Anna Mustonen, she is a founding member of artist-run arts association i dolci.
“I am looking forward to being involved in the arts and culture sector of the Benelux area, which is very inspiring and dear to me both personally and professionally.”
Fun fact: I grew up on the biggest inland island of Finland and I’m at my happiest in and on the water.”
Leena Malkki, Deputy member (Finnish Cultural Foundation), university lecturer
Dr. Leena Malkki is a historian and political scientist specialised in terrorism and political violence. Malkki’s areas of interest include terrorism in Western countries, disengagement from terrorist campaigns, resilience to political violence, lone actor terrorism and leaderless resistance, the development of Finnish counter-terrorism policy and counter-radicalisation programmes in European countries. Dr. Malkki has lived in the Netherlands for various stages of her research career.
Dr. Malkki is currently the Director of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Helsinki.
“The Institute is a really important anchor for cultural cooperation between Finland and the Benelux countries. It has been a real delight to see how it helps artists find new audiences and flourish – and how much the institute has been able to accomplish with its relatively limited resources.”
Fun fact: My favourite Dutch word is “hebbedingetje” which means something that is nice to have but does not really have any practical purpose. There is no similar word in Finnish and we use the Dutch word in our family instead.
You can find more information about our Strategy for 2024-2026 on the Institute page.