Hannele Pokka to chair the Network for Sustainable Mining

The Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining has selected Permanent Secretary Hannele Pokka as the new chairman. Her term of chairmanship will be two years, with the option of renewing it for an extra term. Sylvie Fraboulet-Jussila from Sitra will continue as the network’s vice-chairman. 

“I value this position of trust and believe that I can contribute both experience and opinions from the Government,” said Ms Pokka. 

She has been the permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Environment since 2008 and  previously served as Lapland’s Provincial Governor, Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament. Ms Pokka holds a doctoral degree in law. 

In addition to the chairmanship, the network approved new regulations and decided on governance issues at its meeting held in Nuuksio. The network will continue its work under Sitra until the end of July 2015, after which it will receive financial and administrative support from the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin). 

A voluntary responsibility standard to be introduced in the Finnish mining industry

The Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining was established in May 2014 to provide a co-operation forum for the mining industry and its stakeholders. The network’s main objective is to work together in order to improve responsibility in the Finnish mining industry. Sitra’s focus area, which was launched in late 2013, acts as a link between the network and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy’s action plan “Making Finland a leader in the sustainable extractive industry”. The network seeks to meet the targets identified in the action plan with regard to the strengthening of co-operation and the development of tools. 

In a short time, the network has taken important steps towards creating more permanent operations and structures. Its working groups are discussing issues such as corporate responsibility and local operating practices. 

The network is preparing a voluntary responsibility standard for introduction to the Finnish mining sector. The new standard will be based on the Canadian Towards Sustainable Mining programme (TSM). Sitra and the Network for Sustainable Mining held a briefing on 21 January 2015 and organised workshops on the TSM standard during that week. In early March, the network’s members and the new chairperson will travel to Canada to find out more about the TSM standard and the local co-operation network for the mining industry (Community of Interest Advisory Panel), working under the Mining Association of Canada.

Further information: 

Hannele Pokka, Chairman of the Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 40 482 2772

Sylvie Fraboulet-Jussila, Vice-Chairman of the Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining, Lead Specialist, Sitra, tel. +358 40 587 6467