New Deputy Directors General appointed to Department for Asia and Oceania and to Political Department

On Thursday 27 August, the Finnish Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Antti Vänskä to the post of Deputy Director General of the Department for Asia and Oceania and Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Miia Rainne to the post of Deputy Director General of the Political Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Both appointments were made for a fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

Deputy Director General, Department for Asia and Oceania

The Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Antti Vänskä to serve as Deputy Director General of the Department for Asia and Oceania for a fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

Vänskä currently serves as Ambassador, Special Envoy for Reconstruction of Ukraine. His previous posts include Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Singapore, Deputy Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Washington DC and Special Adviser for International Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office.

Vänskä joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1996. He holds the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.

Deputy Director General, Political Department

The Government promoted Counsellor Miia Rainne to the public office of Counsellor for Foreign Affairs starting on 1 September and appointed her to the post of Deputy Director General of the Political Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for a fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

Miia Rainne currently serves as Director of the Unit for UN and General Global Affairs. Her previous posts include Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations in New York and Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister Foreign Affairs.

She has also worked at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU in Brussels and at the Embassy of Finland in Islamabad.

Rainne joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2006. She holds a Master of Social Sciences degree.