Partner Program – Nordic Innovation Series: Diplomats in Dialogue

This first event in the National Nordic Museum’s Nordic Innovation Series – “Diplomats in Dialogue” – will bring together Anniken Krutnes, Norway’s Ambassador to the United States, and Mikko Hautala, Finland’s Ambassador to the United States, for an in-person conversation about sustainability and green transition, technology, security, Arctic issues, society and education. Eilert Hanoa, CEO of Kahoot!, and Mårten Mickos, CEO of HackerOne, will co-moderate.

Discount code for World Affairs Council members: WAC21

A reception on The Fisherman's Sun Terrace follows the program. If you only want to attend the reception, please register here.

The program “Diplomats in Dialogue” will be available for an online audience to watch at a later date via the National Nordic Museum's website.

About the panelists:

An expert in security policy, law of the sea and Arctic issues, Ambassador Krutnes has served with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since beginning as a trainee in 1994. In her previous position with the Ministry, she served as Deputy Director General of the Department of Security Policy. Before that, she was Norway’s Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs.

Ambassador Krutnes has had postings in several European countries, including ambassadorship of the Netherlands and Luxembourg. She was recently a member of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State behavior in cyberspace in the context of international security.

She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Oslo and a Master of Science in Economics and Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics, and has also studied international management at Universittá Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy. Ambassador Krutnes is a Commander of the Norwegian Order of Merit, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands). She is married and has three adult children.

Mikko Hautala became Ambassador of Finland to the United States in September 2020. Prior to that (2016-2020), he served as Ambassador of Finland to Russia. In 2012-2016, Ambassador Hautala worked as Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the Republic of Finland. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy Head of Mission to the Embassy of Finland to Russia, located in Moscow. Ambassador Hautala has also served as Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007-2011) as well as First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the European Union in Brussels (2002-2007).

In the beginning of his career, Ambassador Hautala served as Attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki (2001-2002) and as Attaché at the Embassy of Finland in Kyiv, Ukraine (1998-2001). He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 2001. In August 2020, Hautala was awarded (“Ambassador Prize”) by the Confederation of Finnish Industries for his excellent work in promoting the interests of Finnish companies in Russia. During his career, he has received several civil and military decorations both nationally and internationally.

Ambassador Hautala was born in 1972 in Seinäjoki, Finland. He holds degrees in Master of Political Science (M.Pol.Sc) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), both from Helsinki University. He currently holds the military rank of Captain (RESVT).

Ambassador Hautala is, in addition to the native Finnish, fluent in English, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. He likes to read and think. He is married to Heli Hautala, who is also a career diplomat. They have two sons.