Petteri Taalas
Professor Petteri Taalas has been the Secretary-General of WMO since 1 January 2016. He was appointed by the World Meteorological Congress in 2015 for a first four-year term. He is now serving his second four-year term (Jan 2020-Dec 2023).
- Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute, 2007–2015 and 2002–2005
- Director, WMO Development and Regional Activities Department, 2005–2007
- Research professor remote sensing, 2000–2002, and Head of research, Scientist, 1986-1999, leader of ozone research unit
International activities and memberships
- Member of WMO Executive Council since 2008 and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Council 2002–2005, 2007 to present
- Chairman of EUMETSAT Council 2010–2014 and EUMETNET Council 2003–2005
- Delegate of Finland to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007–2015
National activities and memberships
- Chairman of the board, University of Eastern Finland since 2010
- Alumnus of the year of University of Helsinki 2012
- Member of the Finnish Science Academy since 2010, Advisory board of Fortum Energy Company (turnover 6.2 bn €) and of the Finnish Space and Arctic boards 2003–2005, 2009 to present
University and other degrees
- PhD in Meteorology, University of Helsinki, Department of Physics, 1993
- Management, Executive Education, Helsinki School of Economics, 1998 and 2004
List of publications
Author of ~50 peer-reviewed papers on satellite technology, global change, climate & atmospheric chemistry, dozens of other publications & presentations.
