Mikko Annala

We are a think tank that holds itself accountable for leading societal transformations.

As Chief Development Officer, Mikko is responsible for leading the development of new instruments and priority initiatives that push our mission forward. This means spotting and developing opportunities that impact the evolution of our partners and our own, while also aligning resources, capacities and impact to maintain a relentless focus on our ethos: that only together can we fight for a fair, sustainable and joyful next era.

Before this position, Mikko was the interim Managing Director, overseeing the operations, organisational priorities, and wellbeing of our 75-member team. He was also our Chief Revenue Officer and the team lead of Demos Helsinki’s Transformative Governance team.

Mikko’s work has contributed to making governance an integral part of the global field of public innovation. He led Demos Helsinki’s stream on governance innovation from 2014 to 2023, helping governments, intergovernmental organisations, and cities to identify and lead ambitious societal agendas. These efforts include new ways of governing despite strategic uncertainty, building capacity and tolerance for experimentation in public administrations, and supporting governments with real options for building state capacity. His work has been awarded and given recognition in arenas such as the World Government Summit, OECD conferences, UN-Habitat, the World Smart City Expo and various government events.

After working hours, you can often find Mikko hosting excellent tea parties with his daughter. Recurring discussion topics include current princess fashion and evaluations of animal cuteness.