Haukkala appointed new director of International Institute for Advanced Security Studies in Finland

The International Institute for Advanced Security Studies has appointed Hiski Haukkala as its new director. The board made the announcement during their meeting on Monday, as stated in a press release.

Haukkala has previously served as Chief of Staff to President Sauli Niinistö from 2021 to 2024. He has also worked as a senior researcher at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as a foreign policy advisor to the President. Haukkala holds a PhD in political science.

The International Institute for Advanced Security Studies selects its director for a term of five years. The next term is set to begin at the start of the new year and will run until the end of 2029. A total of 21 candidates applied for the position.

This change in leadership comes as the previous director, Mika Aaltola, was elected as a representative for the National Coalition Party in the European Parliament during the spring elections. Until the end of the year, the position will be temporarily filled by the institute’s deputy director, Mikael Mattlin.

Corrected information was issued on August 19 at 19:24, clarifying that Haukkala is a professor of international politics, not a professor of international law, as was previously stated.