Veli-Mikko Niemi appointed as new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
On Thursday 4 August, the Government appointed Director General Veli-Mikko Niemi as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. His term as Permanent Secretary will begin on 15 August 2022 and run for five years. The Permanent Secretary directs, develops and monitors the work of the Ministry and the activities within its branch of government.
Niemi has worked as Director General of the Department for Communities and Functional Capacity at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health since 2020. In 2014–2017, he worked as Director General of the Ministry’s Department for Promotion of Welfare and Health. After that, he worked as Director General reporting directly to the Permanent Secretary and as Director of the International Affairs Unit. Niemi worked as Director of Food Safety at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007–2014 and as Deputy Director General in 2002–2007. Before that, he held various expert positions at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the European Commission. Niemi holds the degree of Licentiate of Veterinary Medicine.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the planning, guidance and implementation of health and social policy in Finland. The Ministry’s task is to promote the good health and functional capacity of the population, healthy environments for life and work, and gender equality. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has a duty to secure sufficient health and social services and a fair standard of living at the various stages of people’s lives.
For more information on the duties of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, see the Ministry’s website at https://stm.fi/en/senior-civil-servants
A total of 5 candidates applied for the post.
Inquiries:
Jaana Koski, Director General, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi