Advisory boards on information management in public administration

Pursuant to section 7 of the Act on Information Management in Public Administration (906/2019), the Ministry of Finance is responsible for arranging cooperation relating to information management in public administration and to the production of information and communication technical services.

The objective for cooperation set in the Act on Information Management in Public Administration is to promote the implementation of the objectives of the Act and to utilise information pools and information and communication technology to develop public administration practices and service production methods. The key objective of this interactive cooperation is to bring development work and measures undertaken in different places into alignment and, thus, reduce the amount of overlapping work and costs, and to improve understanding, for example, of the impacts of reforms.

In order to achieve these objectives, advisory boards monitor changes and developments in digitalisation, information management, and information and communication technical services in public administration. The advisory boards assess the impacts of these changes on the tasks of public administration and on service and administrative structures. This work leads to the creation of joint objectives, policies and proposed approaches to promote operations and interoperability as well as to compile and maintain the knowledge base required for decision-making.

Strategic Advisory Board on Information Management and Digitalisation in Public Administration

The objective of the Strategic Advisory Board on Information Management and Digitalisation in Public Administration (VN\13391\2020) is to strengthen the sustainability of public finances by improving the productivity of publicly funded services. The objective is to improve public services and make them more efficient by promoting the digital transformation of public administration and good information management as well as to promote the formation of information policy objectives.

The advisory board’s priority is to support the planning and decision-making of authorities by formulating joint objectives for the development and information management of public services and administration as well as for the efficient production of services. The advisory board discusses proposals for key legislative amendments concerning the production of services and information management. The utilisation and interoperability of shared information pools and the steering of services are promoted by identifying development needs and establishing joint objectives and practices that support those objectives.

The advisory board serves as a strategic-level working group, which coordinates and assesses areas for development relating to information management and the digital transformation.

Advisory Board on Information Management in Central Government

The Advisory Board on Information Management in Central Government (VN\13408\2020) supports the planning and decision-making of the authorities by forming joint objectives for the development of central government services and activities, for information management and for the production of services. To succeed in this task, the advisory board monitors the development of the central government’s information and communication technical services and discusses and aligns joint central government development projects and the allocation proposals related to them.

Advisory Board on Interoperable Services Architecture in Public Administration

The Advisory Board on Interoperable Services Architecture in Public Administration (VN\13409\2020) manages a shared overview of the whole formed by the organisations, services, activities, information and information pools, and information systems of public administration. The board promotes the interoperability of information pools of public administration by maintaining policies guiding the development of information pools and coordinating cooperation to further develop these policies. The advisory board also compiles and evaluates recommendations and good practices for promoting interoperability in public administration.

The advisory board also supports the Ministry of Finance and the other ministries in maintaining and developing the information management map referred to in section 6 of the Act on Information Management in Public Administration (906/2019).

The advisory board discusses legislative proposals and development plans and measures affecting the digital services and information management of public administration and assesses their impacts on the development of operations and on how information management is currently arranged.

Strategic Management Group for Digital Security in the Public Sector

The digital security framework covers matters related to risk management, continuity and preparedness as well as cyber security, information security and data protection. Within the framework of comprehensive security, the objective of digital security is to protect citizens, communities and society from risks and threats that may affect personal data and citizens' services, and the processes, services and data that society and authorities manage in a digitalised environment. At the same time, digital security enables the development and security of services that make use of both existing and new technologies in the 2020s.

The Strategic Management Group for Digital Security (VN\13510\2019) is responsible for the strategic steering of digital security and for promoting digital security and the digital transformation in a balanced manner.

Secretariat

The Ministry of Finance has appointed a joint secretariat for the advisory boards on information management.

The secretariat is tasked with enabling the productive and effective working of the advisory boards appointed by the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the objectives set for them.

Members of the Secretariat:

  • Heikki Talkkari, Senior Ministerial Adviser, General Secretary, Strategic Advisory Board on Information Management and Digitalisation in Public Administration, tel. +358 295 530 096, heikki.talkkari(at)gov.fi
  • Anna-Mari Rusanen, Senior Specialist, Secretary General, Advisory Board on Interoperable Services Architecture in Public Administration, tel. +358 295 530 360, anna-mari.rusanen(at)gov.fi
  • Niko Mäkilä, Ministerial Adviser, Secretary General, Strategic Management Group for Digital Security in the Public Sector, tel. +358 295 530 188, niko.makila(at)gov.fi
  • Nico Käräjäoja, Coordinator, Secretary General, Advisory Board on Information Management in Central Government, tel. +358 295 530 516, nico.karajaoja(at)gov.fi
  • Petri Tuominen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance
  • Markus Siltanen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Finance
  • Heidi Torro, Specialist, Ministry of Finance
  • Jaana Jormanainen, Senior Specialist, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
  • Heli Hänninen, Senior Specialist, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

How to get information on and participate in the activities of the advisory boards?

The goal is for the activities of the advisory boards to be open, transparent, interactive and participatory.

The Ministry of Finance’s website, vm.fi, is the most important channel for following the boards’ activities and the matters coming up for discussion. Agendas are published in advance in the joint Gateway to Information on Government Projects (Hankeikkuna), which is also where the materials of meetings are published after the meetings. This information is only available in Finnish.

In order to carry out their tasks, the advisory boards can launch surveys and studies, working group preparations or take other measures to promote participation by outside experts. Check who the members of the boards are and contact them to have your say on the discussion of matters and on the boards’ practices.

The secretariat prepares the matters to be discussed together with various parties. The contact details of the secretaries general are provided above.