PEOPLE / AVARANA
Annamari Tornikoski
Human rights, governance and international affairs
ABOUT ANNAMARI
Policy expertise backed by programme leadership
I help organisations navigate international and institutional questions, make informed choices and turn plans into manageable programmes and working processes.
I bring around 20 years of experience in government, the United Nations, international organisations and civil society. Most recently, I was a Senior Adviser in the Political Department of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, leading work on business and human rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and the human rights-based approach in development cooperation. I also managed grant processes for international human rights partnerships, involving funding decisions totalling €28.5 million in 2022–2026.
Earlier, I managed UNDP's inclusive governance programme in Bhutan and International IDEA's constitution-building programme in Myanmar. These roles involved working with public institutions, political actors, civil society and international partners, while managing teams, partnerships and changing programme priorities. My experience also includes Amnesty International, the Sigrid Rausing Trust and research and advisory work for European institutions.
I am used to working at both policy and operational levels: advising decision-makers, leading collaborative processes, handling difficult institutional questions and following through on delivery.
WHERE I CAN HELP
Practical areas of support
Lead planning processes, develop objectives and results frameworks, organise partnerships and support programme teams through change.
Programme design and management
Prepare targeted briefings, country or institutional analysis, and advice on international policy developments.
International and policy analysis
Human rights and responsible business
Advise on practical approaches to human rights risks, human rights-based development and institutional policy or practice.
Governance and partnerships
Facilitate strategic discussions, clarify responsibilities and support cross-institutional cooperation and funding processes.
I hold an MSc in Human Rights (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.
LET’S TALK