Heidi Backman appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture

The Government appointed Director Heidi Backman, M.Soc.Sc. as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture on 12 June. The appointment is for a five-year term beginning on 4 August 2025.

Heidi Backman has a long a wide-ranging career in educational and cultural administration.

She worked in the Finnish National Agency for Education from 1994–2013 as director and in various senior advisory positions in education.

From 2013–2021, she worked as Director of Education and Culture of the City of Kauniainen, with responsibility over education and culture matters for the whole city. In particular, her responsibilities included early childhood education and care, primary and lower secondary education, general upper secondary education, and cultural and leisure services, including sports and youth services, the library and the adult education centre. 

Since 2021, Backman has worked as Director of University Services at Åbo Akademi University. Her responsibilities have included research, education, personnel, ICT and facilities management services as well as communications, and community relations and partnerships.

The Permanent Secretary is the most senior public official at the Ministry. The Permanent Secretary is tasked with managing, developing and supervising the operations of the Ministry and its branch of government and with coordinating operations with other ministries and branches of government.

The Ministry of Education and Culture received 26 applications for the position.

Inquiries:
Anita Patoluoto, Human Resources Manager, tel. +358 295 330 175