The University Collegiate Council has selected Mayor of Naantali Laura Leppänen, Senior Vice President Veli-Pekka Nurmi, Deputy Director-General Ilkka Salmi, and Managing Director Anne-Mari Virolainen as external members of the University Board of the University of Turku for the four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026.
The University Board is the highest executive organ of the University of Turku. The term of office of the current Board will end at the end of 2025. The University Collegiate Council is responsible for selecting the external members of the new Board from outside the University Community.
According to Professor Jyrki Heino, Chair of the University Collegiate Council, the selection process placed emphasis on academic, societal, economic, and international experience, as well as networking skills and an understanding of the business sector.
“The aim of the Collegiate Council was to bring together individuals whose areas of expertise complement each other. The selection process highlighted that many influential figures in society and the business sector have been willing to devote their time and expertise to the University of Turku,” says Heino.
The external members of the University Board for the term beginning on 1 January 2026 are:
- Laura Leppänen, PhD, Mayor of Naantali
- Veli-Pekka Nurmi, Docent, DSc (Tech), Senior Vice President, TVO
- Ilkka Salmi, Deputy Director-General, European Union, Master of Laws
- Anne-Mari Virolainen, MSc (Econ), Managing Director, Pharma Industry Finland.
Ilkka Salmi has been a member of the University Board during its current four-year term.
The operating environment of universities has experienced rapid and unpredictable changes in recent years, and this is likely to continue.
“The University Collegiate Council is confident that the newly selected members of the University Board are well positioned to positively develop the operations of the multidisciplinary University,” says Heino.
“I also wish to thank the current Board and especially the two-term Chair of the Board Ritva Viljanen, who was not available for a further term, for good collaboration.”
Board appoints its chair from among its external members
The University of Turku holds elections in October–November to elect personnel representatives for all its multi-member decision-making bodies, including the Board. Student members of the decision-making bodies are elected in the Student Union's own elections.
The new Board selects its chair from among the external members.
The University Collegiate Council represents the whole University and it is the largest elected organ of the University. Of the members, 10 represent professors, 10 represent other teaching and research personnel and other staff, and 10 represent students.
According to Heino, the selection process of the external board members is a good example of university democracy in action: the entire University Collegiate Council participated in the selection process, including 30 deputy members in the initial stages.
