The NAI Programme and Research Council has the task of monitoring and advising its Director. Each Nordic country has two members on this Council – one from the research community and one from the foreign office and/or aid administration. Uppsala university library also has one member due to its close collaboration with the Institute.

Members of the Programme and Research Council

Chair of the Council
Therése Sjömander Magnusson, Director Opens in new window.

Representatives from Finland
Martti Eirola, Senior Advisor, Department for Africa and the Middle East, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Substitute: Titta Maja, Deputy Director General, Department for Development Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Academic representative: Tiina Kontinen, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä
Substitute: Irmeli Mustalahti, Professor of Natural Resources Governance, Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland

Representatives from Iceland
Ágústa Gísladóttir, Director for Strategic Partnerships, Directorate for International Affairs and Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Substitute: Ásdís Bjarnadóttir, Adviser, Department of Bilateral Development Cooperation,Ministry for Foreign Affairs 
Academic representative: Geir Gunnlaugsson, Professor, MD, Faculty of Sociology, Anthropology and Folkloristics, University of Iceland

Representative from Norway
Academic representative: Ian Bryceson, Professor Emeritus, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Representatives from Sweden
Maria Gärtner Nord, Desk officer, Africa Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Karin Sverkén, Head of Unit Justice and Peace, Department for Africa, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
Academic representative: Ilda Lindell, Assoc. Professor, Department for Human Geography, Stockholm University

Uppsala University library
Lars Burman, Head of Library, Uppsala University

Staff representatives
Camilla Leetmaa, Event and Communications Administrator
Shilpa Asokan, Senior Researcher

Secretary of the Council
Julia Falkerby