Anne Berner

Anne Berner
in 2015
Minister of Transport and Communications
Assumed office
29 May 2015
Prime Minister Juha Sipilä
Preceded by Paula Risikko (Transport)
Krista Kiuru (Communications)
Member of Finnish Parliament for
Uusimaa
Assumed office
20 April 2015
Personal details
Born (1964-01-16) 16 January 1964
Helsinki, Finland
Nationality Swiss
Finnish
Political party Centre Party
Spouse(s) Pekka Karkkolainen
Children 3 sons
Residence Espoo
Alma mater Hanken School of Economics
Website http://www.anneberner.fi

Anne-Catherine Berner (born 16 January 1964) is a Swiss-Finnish[1] business executive, board professional, and Minister of Transport and Communications in Prime Minister Juha Sipilä's Government. In 2015, Berner was elected Member of the Finnish Parliament from the electoral district of Uusimaa as a non-attached candidate representing the Centre Party.[2][3]

Anne Berner is the main owner of Vallila Interior, a family-owned interior design company, and chair of its board of directors.

Before her career in the Finnish Parliament, Berner was known for participating in the television show Dragons' Den, for leading the New Children's Hospital 2017 project, and for chairing the board of the New Children's Hospital Foundation. [4]

Biography

Early life

Berner was born in Helsinki to a Swiss family. She was the first of four children. She spent her childhood in Helsinki and attended a German school for twelve years. Berner’s background was modest, living in a small apartment and sharing the same room with her three brothers. She studied to become a medical professional in a Swiss university, but after her mother became seriously ill, she returned to her in Finland.[5] Berner graduated with a M.Sc. from Hanken School of Economics in 1986, and took the lead of their family company in 1989.[6]

Business career

In 1989 Berner became the managing director of Vallila Interior, succeeding her father Rudolf Berner. She became chair of the company in 2012. During her time as CEO, Vallila grew in size from about 10 people to more than 140 employees in 2014.

In addition to her family-based business, Berner has done a long career as a board professional on several publicly listed Finnish and international companies.[6]

Berner's organizational career include chairing the Finnish Family Firms Association 2005-2008, the Association for Finnish Work as chairman between 2010-2013 and 2013-2015, and the European Family Businesses 2011-2015 as member of the board.[6]

Berner has also participated as a venture capitalist on Finland's and Sweden's versions of the television show Dragons' Den.[7][8]

In 2006, Berner received the Prix Veuve Clicquot, as the Finnish business woman of the year.[9] The Finnish Businessmen's Association named her in 2009 as the business man of the year. In 2014, Berner was given the order of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the President of the Republic.[10]

The New Children's Hospital 2017

Before entering politics, Berner was best known as the public face and leader of a charity project to build a new children's hospital in Helsinki. The new children's hospital is scheduled for completion in 2017, in time to commemorate the centenary of Finnish independence. Berner serves on the hospital's support association, support foundation as chair from 2012 to present.[6][11][12]

Political career

Berner was elected into the Finnish Parliament for Uusimaa in 2015 as a nonpartisan candidate for the Centre Party of Finland. She was then appointed to the Sipilä’s government, as the Minister of Transport and Communications in May 2015. Upon appointment to the government, she took the Centre Party membership. Berner's duties also include acting as the minister for Nordic Cooperation and the minister for Åland Island affairs.[13]

Berner’s political views has been described as influenced by classical liberalism, with a strong belief in the value of entrepreneurship and responsible ownership. Berner has told that she'll only serve for four years in public office - one Finnish parliament election cycle.[14]

Minister of Transport and Communications

Kitack Lim with Berner in 2018

During her ministerial term, the organisation of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the entire branch of government have been reformed to address to the changes in transport and communications.[15]

One of the key political projects is a comprehensive legislative reform regulating the transport sector market, brought under one umbrella in the Transport Services Act. The Act combines legislation on transport markets and creates conditions for digitalisation and new business models in transport, including, among other things, seamless, multimodal travel chains. The first phase of the reform entered into force on 1 July 2018. [16][17]

In addition to the Transport Services Act, Berner's responsibilities in Sipilä's Government include deregulation, which is one of the Government's key projects. One of the objectives of deregulation has been to free shops' trading hours. The Postal Act, the Driving Licence Act, the Road Traffic Act, the Highways Act, the Private Roads Act, and the Vehicle Inspection Act have also been revised during the Government term. The efficiency of transport has been improved and studies have been made relating to the introduction of passenger cars with speed limiters and the revision of regulation concerning snowmobiles. Revisions made to the Code for Information Society and Communications Services and licences regulation have relaxed especially the regulation of television and radio broadcasting. A new Rail Transport Act and an overall reform of the Waterborne Transport Act are also under preparation. [18]

During her term in the Government, Minister Berner has actively promoted work against climate change. The Ministry has appointed a working group of experts to study and assess ways to make transport carbon-free by 2045. One climate-related objective is to increase the share of trains in passenger transport and to reduce traffic emissions. The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided to open passenger train transport to competition on 10 April 2017. [19][20] [21][22]

Berner has been actively involved in the FinEst Link initiative, which aims to develop mobility between Helsinki and Tallinn; the project looks into the economic preconditions and impact of the proposed Helsinki–Tallinn railway tunnel, for instance.[23]

The most significant financial installment during Minister Berner's term is related to the debt arising from repairing the transport route network. In February 2016, Berner presented a package concerning road and rail repairs, amounting to EUR 600 million. The targets of repair were selected by senior officials of the Ministry, and their preparatory work was widely commended by transport professionals.[24]

In connection with the government discussion on spending limits in the spring 2016, Berner informed about seven major transport projects to be launched under her direction. The projects included such new public transport initiatives as the construction of Raide–Jokeri light rail link and Tampere tramway, both of which were welcomed also by the opposition.[25] [26]

Berner hopes that after 20 years she will be remembered as a person who made far-reaching, brave decisions, which led to wide-ranging benefits to Finland.[27]

Minister for Nordic Cooperation

Berner is the Finnish Minister for Nordic Cooperation. In 2016 Finland held the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The chairmanship rotates between the Nordic countries on one-year terms. Berner has made several cooperation initiatives, including the promotion of digitalization and use of a common electronic ticketing system throughout the Nordics and the Baltics. During minister Berner’s period, questions regarding common security and immigration issues have been noticeable.[28]

Minister for Åland Islands

Berner is the acting minister for the affairs of Åland Islands, an autonomous, demilitarised and monolingually Swedish-speaking region in Finland.[29]

Personal life

Berner's family is of Swiss origin, and Berner uses Swiss German as her mother tongue with other family members. Berner's language skills include Finnish, Swedish, German, English and French. Berner is married and has three sons. Berner has a double citizenship, having both a Swiss and, since 19 January 2015, a Finnish citizenship.[30] Berner is known to own and drive a full-electric car.[31]

Controversies

Board seat in Luxembourg

In August 2015, YLE reported that Berner would have acted as a member of a Luxembourg tax haven company's board of directors.[32][33] The Luxemburg-based investment fund Triton is the current owner of Swedish flooring manufacturer Kährs. Berner has told that’s she was serving on the board of Hartwall Capital in 2012, when Upoflor was merged with the Swedish company Kährs. Berner continued after the merger on the board of Kährs Ltd. Berner has had no ownership in neither company, and has paid payroll taxes on any compensations in Finland.[34] Berner resigned from the position upon election to the parliament.[35]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/a1422673760208 Helsingin Sanomat: Anne Bernerin vaaliehdokkuus puhuttaa keskustassa: Yritysjohtajan kykyä hoitaa köyhien asioita epäillään (31 January 2015) (in Finnish)
  2. ↑ http://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/sipila/minister-of-transport-and-communications Finnish Government: Anne Berner
  3. ↑ http://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/kansanedustajat/Sivut/1313.aspx Parliament of Finland: Anne Berner (in Finnish)
  4. ↑ http://uusilastensairaala2017.fi/info Anne Berner: Uusi Lastensairaala 2017-keräys (Accessed 30 May 2015)(in Finnish)
  5. ↑ http://anneberner.fi/minun-tarinani-2/
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Anne Berner Minister of Transport and Communications". November 13, 2016.
  7. ↑ http://www.svd.se/finsk-affarskvinna-tar-plats-i-svenska-draknastet
  8. ↑ http://www.nelonen.fi/ohjelmat/leijonan-luola/358337-leijonat-esittelyssa-anne-berner-47
  9. ↑ http://www.kauppalehti.fi/5/i/talous/uutiset/avoinarkisto/?xid=1889531&date=2006/05/05
  10. ↑ http://www.ritarikunnat.fi/my%C3%B6nnetyt.asp
  11. ↑ http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/11783-children-s-hospital-reaches-30m-donation-target.html
  12. ↑ http://uusilastensairaala2017.fi/info
  13. ↑ http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/keskusta-paljasti-ministerit-ymparistoministerin-salkku-maa-ja-metsatalousministerille/698399/ Kaleva: Keskusta paljasti ministerit - ympäristöministerin salkku maa- ja metsätalousministerille (in Finnish)
  14. ↑ http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8143018
  15. ↑ https://www.lvm.fi/-/liikenne-ja-viestintaministerion-hallinnonala-uudistuu-929779
  16. ↑ https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2017/20170320
  17. ↑ http://www.drivesweden.net/en/news/elon-musk-hints-new-transportation-concept-new-finnish-transportation-code
  18. ↑ http://valtioneuvosto.fi/documents/10616/1986338/Action+plan+for+the+implementation+Strategic+Government+Programme+EN.pdf/12f723ba-6f6b-4e6c-a636-4ad4175d7c4e
  19. ↑ https://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/rautateiden-henkiloliikenne-avautuu-kilpailulle-vr-sta-eriytetaan-kolme-eri-yhtiota/6530612#gs.AaekOfo
  20. ↑ https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/suomen-liikenne-pitaa-saada-paastovapaaksi-28-vuodessa-ja-nyt-yritetaan-keksia-miten-se-tapahtuu/
  21. ↑ http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/government_debates_how_to_meet_emissions_goals/9276908
  22. ↑ http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_to_shift_biofuel_and_electric_vehicle_usage_into_high_gear/9274568
  23. ↑ https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/arctic/2018/02/through-baltic-tunnel-arctic-coast
  24. ↑ https://www.suomenuutiset.fi/seitseman-suurta-liikennehanketta-kaynnistyy/
  25. ↑ http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016040521370679_uu.shtml
  26. ↑ http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1459832396098
  27. ↑ http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000005020027.html
  28. ↑ http://www.norden.org/en/persons/anne-berner
  29. ↑ "Berner justitieminister för Åland".
  30. ↑ http://yle.fi/uutiset/henkilokuva_rautarouva__miten_anne_berner_kipusi_suomi_oyn_huipulle/8143018
  31. ↑ http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016050921534946_uu.shtml
  32. ↑ Minister on board of tax haven fir 5.9.2015
  33. ↑ Ministeri Berner mukana veroparatiisiyhtiössä Liikenne- ja viestintäministeri Anne Berner oli pitkään hallituksen jäsen luxemburgilaisessa yhtiössä 15.9.2015
  34. ↑ http://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/ministeri-berner-en-ole-koskaan-saanut-henkilokohtaista-hyotya-veroparatiisiyhtiosta-6539882
  35. ↑ http://www.hs.fi/talous/a1442285057484
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