Finnish Defence Forces International Centre’s 50th Anniversary Seminar
The Anniversary Seminar of the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre, FINCENT, will be held on 23 October. The theme of the Seminar involves the future of crisis management and preparation for its challenges through education and training. Lieutenant General (ret.), Roméo Dallaire will be the Seminar’s principal keynote speaker. The Seminar will be streamed online on our website.
The day’s programme includes four keynote speeches and a panel discussion
Seminar will be opened by the Chief of Defence, General Timo Kivinen in the Santahamina Building. In the morning, keynote speeches will be delivered by the following persons: United Nations Military Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey, Director General of the European Union Military Staff, Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, NATO Special Representative Clare Hutchinson and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Roméo Dallaire.
These keynote speakers will approach the theme "How to Respond to Crisis Management Challenges in the Future Through Education and Training?" from their specific perspectives.
Moderated by Rita Strömmer, the event will continue by a panel discussion by the keynote speakers. The Seminar will be streamed online on our website.
Speakers with significant amounts of experience and knowledge in the field of crisis management
Roméo Dallaire is known, in particular, for the work he has done for crisis management after having witnessed the Rwanda genocide. In particular, he has been focused on the promotion of veterans’ rights, prevention of the use of child soldiers, and fighting atrocities. There is a more detailed article about Dallaire.
In 2016, Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey of Uruguay was appointed the United Nations Military Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Loitey has made a long military career of over 40 years of experience. He has served in a number of posts in the Uruguayan Armed Forces and in five UN peacekeeping operations.
Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen has been serving as the Director General of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) since 2016. The European Union Military Staff is a planning organ subordinate to the Council of the European Union. Pulkkinen also directs the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) within the Military Staff. Pulkkinen has served the Finnish Defence Forces for over 40 years, and prior to his current post, he served as the Director of the.Defence Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence.
The NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative Clare Hutchinson’s field of expertise consists in the promotion of the dimension of women, peace and security, including the coordination, consistency and implementation of the measures involving this entity in NATO. For over a decade, Hutchinson worked as a Gender Adviser with the United Nations, and her work has contributed to the inclusion of priorities involving women, peace and security in peacekeeping activities. Read her interview here.
The celebration will continue
The Finnish Defence Forces International Centre’s Anniversary Celebration will continue on 24 October. Read more on the FINCENT 50 years website: https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/web/fincent/fincent-50-years.
