Laura Hirvi has been the director of the Finnish Institute since 2015. Before that, she received her PhD in Ethnology from Helsinki University where she worked as a researcher, and acted as a visiting researcher at the University Santa Barbara in the USA through an ASLA Fulbright-programme. Hirvi grew up in a Finnish-German family, and therefore the cultures of both countries are familiar to her. It is her calling to improve cross-border dialogue through her work at the Finnish Institute.

Suvi Wartiovaara has been a part of The Finnish Institute’s team since 1993. She works as the director’s assistant and is also responsible for the literature programme. Born in Helsinki, Suvi studied to be a certificated translator in Savonlinna, and later, she also studied political science at the University of Helsinki. In the year 1992 she moved to Berlin, where she enjoys the open and colourful metropolitan feeling every single day. Suvi believes in culture to build bridges, and thus in the institute’s role in this mission.

Mika Minetti has lived in Berlin since 2010 and studied at the Freie Universität Berlin during the 1990s. The Tampere native is co-founder of the Galerie Musterzimmer in Berlin and worked as a journalist, photographer and copywriter in Berlin and Helsinki before taking up his job at the Finnish Institute in Germany. Minetti received his Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Helsinki (2000) and completed the Master's programme "Human Rights and Democratisation" at the University of Padua, receiving his European Master's degree (EMA) in 2002. He has published two books: "Hiekkalaatikkojengi" (2012) and "It Happened in Berlin: Art, Love & Fashion" (2017), an art book with personal insights into the intimate moments of Berlin's art world as well as its vibrant nightlife.

Marion Holtkamp is responsible for the work related to press and public relations at the Finnish Institute. She got to know Finland as an au pair. Marion graduated from the University of Göttingen in the fields of Scandinavian and Finno-Ugrian studies. By a scholarship, she also attended Åbo Akademi-University in Finland. After several years at the University of Kiel, she joined the team of the recently founded Finnish Institute in Germany. One of Marion’s passions, which also makes her enjoy working at the Finnish Institute, is its multilingualism.

Gabriela Oprotkowitz holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and has worked at the Finnish Institute since 2002 as financial and administrative manager. Gabriela is responsible for accounting, salary payments, and everything administration-related, and therefore gives the rest of the team the opportunity to focus on cultural work. She is a true original Berliner and loves to work in her home city. She has fond memories of the months spent at summer university in Mikkeli, Finland, during her studies.

Mikaela Mäkelä completed her Bachelor’s degree in Art History and continued her Master’s degree in Marketing. She is fascinated by the integration of creative and commercial aspects and their respective opportunities. Mikaela has previously worked mostly with Finnish fashion and design and has taken part in organising the Turku Design Festival. She always has multiple projects going on simultaneously and lives by the motto “Making things happen since 1991!”. Mikaela is a enthusiastic art consumer and wants to integrate her positive art experiences as a part of her work.