Biographical note

Dr. Petri Virtanen is currently working as the CEO of the Finnish Itla Children’s Foundation and the Professor of Administrative Science at the University of Vaasa. Previously, Dr. Virtanen served as Project Director at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, responsible for the public sector leadership program, and Professor of Administrative Science at the University of Tampere. He has also worked in consultancy (as a CEO of Net Effect Ltd., a Helsinki-based consultancy company working mainly for government institutions) and as a civil servant (as a Head of Unit in the Ministry of Finance). Dr. Virtanen is an Adjunct Professor at three universities (the Universities of Lapland, Tampere and Helsinki). His book, Intelligent Public Policy (co-authored with Jari Stenvall), has been available by Springer since December 2017. 

Marika Tammeaid is a Solution-Focused Coach, developer and leadership trainer, currently working as the Director of Development at the Finnish Itla Children’s Foundation, subordinate to the Finnish Parliament. Previously she was responsible for designing and leading the “Route for renewal” public sector leadership training courses at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. Marika Tammeaid, M.Soc.Sci., has worked for a long time as Development Manager and Special Advisor in the Ministry of Finance and State Treasury as well as the Director of Nordic Council of Ministers Representation in Estonia. She has contributed in several international development and assessment projects. On a continual basis, Marika Tammeaid teaches solution-focused thinking and practice in the centers of continuing education at the University of Helsinki and the University of Oulu.