Thursday, March 16, 2017

WOMEN SPECIAL .........WOMEN WITH A MISSION (9)

WOMEN WITH A MISSION (9)

Nordic Goal

Nina Vaskunlahti Finnish Ambassador

Reached India: September 2016

Credentials: Ambassador to Turkey

What she loves in India: Yoga lessons

Ambassador Nina Vaskunlahti, who has been in the foreign service for 32 years, knows that moving around the world is part of a diplomat's life. Still, India has been daunting. “The size of India with its 29 states is a challenge and I have to prioritise my work and travel,“ she says.

She is focused on taking Indo-Finnish relationship to a new level, with stronger ties between the political establishments, businesses and civil society of the two countries. She also spends time in Helsinki talking about India.

“It is an exciting time to be in Delhi when the country is making its way forward,“ she says. She wants to make Finland, a small Nordic nation, more visible in India amidst fierce competition from other bigger countries.

When Vaskunlahti joined the foreign service in 1984, there were 11 women and 4 men in her batch. Today 10 of her women classmates hold senior positions in diplomatic service. “Most of them are married with kids and have made it to ambassador posts,“ she says proudly about the Nordic enabling environment where gender equality is promoted in all walks of life.


She is married to Dr Andreas Herdina, who lives in Helsinki. But Ambassador Vaskunlahti is happy that they meet regularly and get to spend time together in Helsinki, Delhi or somewhere in between. from other bigger countries.

When Vaskunlahti joined the foreign service in 1984 there were 11 women and 4 men in her batch. Today 10 of her women classmates hold senior positions in diplomatic service. “Most of them are married with kids and have made it to ambassador posts,“ she says proudly about the Nordic enabling environment where gender equality is promoted in all walks of life.


Ishani Duttagupta

ETM5MAR17

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