She has for many years worked at the Åland Islands Peace Institute, both as information officer and researcher, but has recently been on leave to focus on her doctoral studies in political science at Åbo Akademi University.
Now Susann Simolin returns to the Peace Institute as its new Director.
– It will be interesting and exciting to have the opportunity to lead the Peace Institute. Our focus on self-government, minorities, demilitarisation and neutralisation is well established and I want to continue to develop our work, says Susann Simolin and adds that the Institute has an important role to play.
– We contribute with up-to-date knowledge in our fields here at home and in the neighbouring area and are a strong resource for international actors who want to know about Åland and the Åland example.
Susann Simolin, born and raised in Åland, has lived in Sweden for about ten years where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Gothenburg and worked as a journalist at Göteborgs-Posten. After moving home to Åland in 2008 and starting to work at the Peace Institute, she has also completed a master’s degree in political science at Åbo Akademi University. As of 2021, she has been mostly on leave from the Peace Institute for doctoral studies in political science at Åbo Akademi University.
Roger Nordlund, Chairman of the Board of the Peace Institute, is very pleased with the recruitment:
– It has been a positive process with many talented applicants and we are now happy to announce that we will soon have a new Director in place.
Susann Simolin will begin to settle into the new role in January 2024 and in mid-February she will officially replace Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark as Director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute.
