Nina Suomalainen

Thematic expertise: Conflict prevention & management, rule of law & justice, national minorities, political parties & parliaments, communications, strategic leadership

Regional/country-specific expertise: South-East Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa (Rwanda, Sierra Leone)

Languages: English, French, Swedish; basic skills: Russian, Spanish; mother tongue: Finnish

Nina Suomalainen is an international conflict management professional, with over 25 years of professional experience in political processes, strategic management, dialogue facilitation and communications and rule of law and justice in international post-conflict contexts. In her previous position 2018-2022 she worked as Executive Director of Justice Rapid Response in Geneva with focus on investigations on war crimes and human rights violations, and transitional justice processes. From 2015 to 2018, she served as Head of Mission at OSCE Mission to Skopje, leading a field operation of 150 staff focusing on inter-ethnic relations, early warning and conflict prevention. Previously she has served as Deputy Head of OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as senior adviser to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and as an adviser to the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as well as Senior Development Policy Adviser at Finn Church Aid. Ms Suomalainen is also involved in national and local politics in her native country Finland and serves currently as elected City Councillor in her home town Helsinki. 

Ms Suomalainen has a Master of Political Science degree from Åbo Akademi University in Turku, with a major in International Law.