Dear Association,
It is with great pleasure that the International Baccalaureate (IB) Board of Governors announces the appointment of Mr Olli-Pekka Heinonen as the next Director General of the IB. Mr Heinonen will commence his appointment on 1 May 2021.
Mr Heinonen most recently served as the Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education. The core tasks of the Agency are to develop education and training, early childhood education and lifelong learning. It prepares the national core curricula for general education and early childhood education, and the requirements for vocational and competence-based qualifications. The Agency also takes part in preparing education policy decisions and supports the development and promotion of internationalisation within the Finnish education system.
The Agency prepares the national core curricula for general education and early childhood education, and the requirements for vocational and competence-based qualifications. It also takes part in preparing education policy decisions and supports the development and promotion of internationalisation within the Finnish education system.
Prior to leading the National Agency for Education, Mr Heinonen held various positions in the Finnish Government, including State Secretary and Minister of Education and Science, as well as senior commercial roles in the Finnish National Broadcasting Company.
Widely recognized globally in education, Mr Heinonen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of educational systems development and innovation to the IB. He is engaged actively with the OECD and other international organisations in contributing views on the future of education, including the sharing of best practices, personalised and lifelong learning, the impact of technology and the development of educators. He is a regular speaker in global education forums.
His vision for global education is strongly aligned with the vision and values of the IB. He brings broad leadership and team-building experience and a focus on developing organisations to operate effectively in a changing environment.