Contact
email: suvi.linden@iki.fi
School and Degree Awarded
Master of Science, University of Oulu
Previously held position(s)
Minister of Communications 2007-2011
member of Parliament of Finland 1995-2011
Minister of Culture 1999-2002
Suvi Lindén
ITU´s Special Envoy to Broadband Commission for Digital Development
The Broadband Commission, Finland
The Broadband Commission, Finland

Suvi Lindén was Finland’s Minister of Communications in 2007-2011. She was previously Minister of Culture, 1999-2002. Ms Lindén was a Member of Parliament 1995-2011

Ms Lindén has held positions of trust in a number of organisations. These include positions as Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development, Chair of the Ubiquitous Information Society Advisory Board in Finland. Founding Member of the World Antidoping Agency and a Member of its Executive Board.

The Intelligent Community Forum, a New York-based think tank named her as its “Visionary of the Year for 2011” for her commitment to ensuring affordable broadband access to every citizen in Finland.

Ms Lindén holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Oulu.

What would you say are the most challenging and the most satisfying aspects of your work?

The communication field is going through very big changes because of the digitalization. Everything is challenged. At the same time the digitalization and use of ITC bring a lot of possibilities to do things very efficiently. It can help daily life and especially boosts up economic development.  The challenge is how to make broadband available and accessable for everyone.

My proposal was to make 1 MB broadband access a legal right and the Parliament of Finlamd approved the legislation. It si very satisfactory to go to rural areas and see how happy peope living there are when they finally got the access to broadband.

If there is one message you would like to convey to young women to encourage them to consider a profession in the ICT sector, what would it be?

The future is made in the field of ICT. There should be more women present.  The field of ICT is interesting, challenging but also very rewarding. There are so many possibilities since we live in very converged world, in a ubiquitos society where ICT is everywhere. We women should trust that we can- so lets do it.