Paula Karhunen, an advocacy work veteran, was appointed as the substitute for the secretary general for spring 2025.

In its meeting on 15 October 2024, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) appointed Student of Social Sciences Paula Karhunen, 28, as the substitute for the secretary general. Paula will begin orientation for the position with Secretary General Mikko Kymäläinen in mid-November.

The secretary general serves as the supervisor of the Student Union’s personnel and the Board’s right hand, prepares the Representative Council meetings, runs other administrative matters and coordinates advocacy work and the Student Union’s influencing relationships.

Paula has a lot of experience with advocacy work in the student movement. She has served on HYY’s Board in 2019 and the Board of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) in 2020. She is acting as a student representative on the Board of the University of Helsinki until the end of 2025. She has also been active in the Greens for a long time, having served on the Board of the Green Youth and Students, for instance. Paula takes up the position of the substitute for the secretary general on a temporary basis from her specialist duties at Ellun Kanat.

‘I admire the Student Union’s ability to cherish education and communality and to produce active, critical and cognisant students into the world.  It is, of course, a great feeling to return to work at HYY’s office in a new role!’ Paula exclaims.

Paula is an evening person who needs her morning coffee to start the day. With her afternoon coffee, Paula often enjoys a chocolate chip cookie. During vacation, her favourite spot for a cup of coffee in the afternoon is by the wide-open sea.

Further information

Paula Karhunen
paula.karhunen@helsinki.fi

Mikko Kymäläinen 
Secretary general
0400 816 426
mikko.kymalainen@hyy.fi