Speaker: Elina Valtonen MP (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finland)

Chair: Professor Richard English (Queen's University Belfast)

The Harri Holkeri Lecture Series celebrates the contribution of the late Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri to the Northern Ireland peace process.  His aim of transforming conflict and promoting social justice in Northern Ireland and across the world is shared by the Mitchell Institute.  

We are honoured to partner with the Embassy of Finland, London, on the Harri Holkeri Lecture Series.  The event is co-hosted by the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and the Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Directorate at Queen's University Belfast.

About the Speaker

Elina Valtonen is the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs and a Member of Parliament in her fourth term.  A mother of two, Elina is also a passionate player of ball and board games such as basketball and chess and has a Masters in Technology and in Economics; with majors in computer science, applied mathematics and financial economics.

Prior to entering politics, Elina worked for 10 years in the financial sector in London and in different Nordic countries.  She started he career as a programmer and have gathered experience as an entrepreneur, a business angel, a tourist guide, a journalist and selling lottery tickets.  As a child Elina lived in Germany with her family for some years.

In 2018, she published her book Vapauden Voitto (Otava, 2018), on reforming the Nordic welfare model.  She has co-authored several societal reports such as The Future of the Euro – The alternatives for Finland (2014) and The Life Account – A Social Security Reform (2013).

The image has been used courtesy of a Creative Commons license.

About the Chair

Professor Richard English is Director of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security, and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast, where he is also Professor of Politics.  His books include Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA (2003), Does Terrorism Work? A History (2016) and Does Counter-Terrorism Work? (2024). 

He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.  In 2018 he was awarded a CBE for services to the understanding of modern-day terrorism and political history.  In 2019 he was awarded the Royal Irish Academy's Gold Medal in the Social Sciences.

Harri Holkeri

Harri Holkeri (1937-2011) played a prominent role in the Northern Ireland peace process, helping to forge the Good Friday Agreement.  As a member of the Mitchell Committee, working with Senator George J. Mitchell and General John de Chastelain.

Harri Holkeri facilitated the decommissioning of illegal weapons in Northern Ireland.  His skills as negotiator and consensus-builder were crucial in the multi-party peace negotiations.  He was awarded the title of Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1999 for his achievement and impact in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Harri Holkeri was Prime Minister of Finland from 1987 to 1991.  He was a well-respected political figure, serving as Party Leader of Finland’s National Coalition Party from 1971 to 1979.  He was a Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1978.  During his time as Prime Minister, he headed a coalition formed by his party and the Social Democrats.  Holkeri held a number of positions at the international level and made a significant contribution to addressing global issues.  He was Vice-President of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Parliamentarians from 1974 to 1975 and President in 1976.  He was also a member of the Nordic Council from 1975 to 1978 and he was President of the United Nations General Assembly from 2000 to 2001.

Harri Holkeri held the Finnish Honorary Title of Valtioneuvos for his national and international achievements.  This honorary title of the highest class was awarded in 1998 by the then President of the Republic of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari.

Harri Holkeri Lecture Series

We have hosted 9 Lectures in the series to date.  Speakers have included:

9^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

6 June 2024

Pekka Haavisto MP

The New European Security: Lesson’s Learned from Finland’s Road to NATO

8^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

24 April 2023

Dr Anne Anderson

Perspective; Conscience; Integrity: Reflections From a Career in Diplomacy

7^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

21 May 2019

Bertie Ahern

Peace Process - In Light of Brexit Issues

6^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

29 May 2018

President Michael D. Higgins

Remembering, Forgiving, Forgetting and Imagining

5^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

9 May 2017

Tarja Halonen, Former President of Finland

Reflections on Women and Peace-building

4^th Harri Holkeri Lecture

23 May 2016

Arlene Foster, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland

Women, Leadership and Peace-building

3^rd Harri Holkeri Lecture

22 April 2015

Senator George J. Mitchell

Reflections on Brokering Peace in Divided Societies

2^nd Harri Holkeri Lecture

29 May 2014

Ambassador Akbar S. Ahmed

Islam, Peace-building and Conflict Transformation

1^st Harri Holkeri Lecture

21 May 2013

Martti Ahtisaari, Former President of Finland

Egalitarianism in Conflict Resolution