Mervi Nikander

Mervi Nikander currently serves as the Executive Director at Finnish Red Cross Lapland since January 2023 and as the Head of Economic Growth and Development for Kemin kaupunki since August 2021. Previously, Mervi held the position of Director of Economic Development for the City of Kemi for a brief period in early 2021 and acted as the Director of External Relations, Strategy Manager, and Program Manager at the Regional Council of Lapland from 2010 to 2021, focusing on EU Structural Funds and regional economic monitoring. Earlier experience includes serving as a Senior Adviser at Lapin lääninhallitus from 2007 to 2009, a Program Coordinator at Päijät-Hämeen liitto from 2005 to 2007, and an Amanuenssi at the University of Lapland from 1998 to 2000. Mervi Nikander holds a Master of Social Sciences in Sociology from the University of Lapland and has studied at Umeå University.