For the last 20 years I have worked for inter-governmental organizations engaged in humanitarian assistance, development, conflict prevention and conflict management.  My expertise is within the field of external relations, including media relations, public information, advocacy, donor relations/fundraising and community communication, but I am also thoroughly familiar with program and project management in humanitarian operations, as well as with being in charge of offices in donor capitals and at organizational headquarters.  I have been working at senior UN level since 2002 and my assignments have included the positions of UNHCR Deputy Representative to the UK, Officer-in-Charge of major UNHCR field operations, and interim Head of Communication and Media Relations Section at the OSCE Secretariat. 

       Before starting my international career, I was a journalist working for Finnish TV and radio.  I started as reporter and in 1980 I got a position as Foreign News Editor at YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation.  My career at YLE included being Diplomatic Correspondent, Central Europe Correspondent (based in Vienna), and Head of the Foreign News Desk.  I have also been working for Swedish TV4 and for Swedish Radio. For ten years I was a lecturer in the History of the Middle East at Helsinki University, Finland.