State Secretaries appointed to Ministers

On Wednesday 19 June, the Government appointed Master of Science Olli-Poika Parviainen as State Secretary to Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo, Doctor of Philosophy Minna Kelhä as State Secretary to Minister of Education Li Andersson, and Doctor of Political Science Pilvi Torsti as State Secretary to Minister of Employment Timo Harakka. Their term, starting on 19 June, is the same as that of the ministers.

At the same plenary session, State Secretaries Parviainen and Kelhä also made an affirmation of office.

Before this appointment Olli-Poika Parviainen has served as Member of Parliament and Deputy Mayor of the City of Tampere. He has also been an entrepreneur.

Minna Kelhä comes to the Ministry of Education and Culture from Parliament, where she has served as Secretary-General of the Left Alliance Parliamentary Group since 2016. Her previous positions include Development Manager at the Centre for Gender Equality Information of the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Special Adviser at the Ministry of Education and Culture, and researcher at the University of Helsinki.

Pilvi Torsti comes to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment from Parliament, where she served as Member of Parliament of the Social Democratic Party in 2017–2019. Before that Torsti has served as Member of Parliament and worked as a start-up entrepreneur and CEO of HEI Schools, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, and university researcher and lecturer at the University of Helsinki, where she also holds the title of Adjunct Professor. She is the founder of a United World College in Mostar and served at the Helsinki City Council in 2012–2017. She will now resign from the Board of Directors of the Port of Helsinki.

A State Secretary assists the minister in matters relating to political steering and preparatory work. They also assist and represent the ministers in the drafting of policy outlines and in inter-ministerial coordination, harmonising of policy positions, implementation of the Government Programme in the minister's administrative branch, and handling of EU and international affairs.

Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, tel. +358 295 160 300, Prime Minister’s Office