Skip to content      

Maria Kaisa Aula


Born in 1962, Tervola
Home town Viitasaari

Education

High School graduation 1981
Master of Political Science, University of Helsinki 1987
Licentiate in Political Sciences, University of Helsinki 1990
ASLA-Fulbright Scholarship, Harvard University, J. F. K. School of Government 1989-1990

Other academic qualifications
Diploma Käpylä College of Music, 1985


Languages

Finnish - mother tongue
Swedish - good
English - very good
German - satisfactory

Employment

Journalist, Pohjolan Sanomat newspaper, summers 1982-1983
Journalist, Suomenmaa newspaper, summers 1984, 1986
Deputy Legislative Secretary of the Parliamentary Faction of the Centre Party of Finland 6.10.1986-28.2.1987
Researcher at the Research and Development Department of the Finnish
Broadcasting Company 15.3.1988-30.6.1989
Freelance journalist for Suomenmaa newspaper 1.9.1989-31.8.1990
Researcher at the Research and Development Department of the Finnish
Broadcasting Company 1.7.1990-30.11.1990
Assistant of the Department of Political Sciences of the University of Helsinki 1.1.1991-31.3.1991
Member of Parliament 22.3.1991-18.3.2003

  • Member of the Education and Culture Committee, the Environment Committee, the Finance Committee and the Grand Committee of the Finnish Parliament
  • Chair of the Finance Committee of the Finnish Parliament 1999-2003 Special Adviser (Political Affairs) at the Prime Minister´s Office 15.3.1993-31.8.1994 Special Adviser at the Prime Minister´s Office 22.4.2003-31.8.2005 (of which part spent on maternity and childcare leave)

Ombudsman for Children 1.9.2005-31.8.2010

Other positions held

President of the Co-operation Organisation of Finnish Youth Organisations 1985-1986
President of the Finnish State Youth Council 1.1.1991-31.8.1995
Member of the Administrative Board of Finnish Broadcasting Company 14.05.1991-31.12.2005
Member of the Council on Natural Resources (body of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) 30.06.1991-30.06.1995
Deputy President of the Centre Party of Finland 18.06.1994-15.06.2002
Member of the Press Subsidies Committee of the Ministry of Transport and Communications 1.1.1995-31.12.2003
President of the Council of the Finnish Youth Organisations 1.1.1995-31.12.2000
Member of the Supervisory Board of the Co-operative Bank of Finland 1.1.1995-31.12.2002
Member of the commission on the comprehensive reform of legislation on education 26.1.1995-19.3.1996
Member of the national Advisory Council for Youth Affairs (consultative body attached to the Ministry of Education) 1.9.1995-31.8.1999
Member of the commission for the reform of the language act and related legislation (Ministry of Justice) 26.08.1999-31.5.2001
Member of the National Delegation against Racism, Xenophobia and anti-Semitism (established by the government in 1994) 27.4.2000- 27.4.2002.
Chairperson of the State Audit Office 1.1.2001-31.12.2003
Member of the State Treasury Advisory Board 1.4.2003-1.11.2004
Chairperson of the Central Union for Child Welfare 1.1.2004-31.12.2006
Member of the governing board of Veikkaus (lottery association) 1.9.2004-31.12.2005

Current positions

Member of the board of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) jäsen 1.1.2006-
Deputy chairperson of the supporting foundation of the Union of Front Veteran Soldiers 30.10.1995-
Member of the ethics council of Veikkaus (lottery association) 1.1.2006-
Member of the board of TEKES  1.8.2007-
Chairperson of Liikenneturva 1.1.2008 -

 

Husband, Seppo Pietiläinen, M.Sc (Tech.)
Children Anni and Lauri (2003)

Interests: gardening in summer, interior furnishing in winter, classical music, and following research into politics and media communications.