Anne Berner

Professional history and Board experience

M.Sc. (Econ, 1986) Anne Berner operated as the CEO of her family company Vallila Interior Ltd. since 1989 until she moved on to become the Chairman of the company in 2012. As Managing Director, the company grew from around 10 employees up to more than 130 employees.

Berner has also served as a member of the Board of Directors in Finnish Work’s Association 2010-2013 and Chairman 2013-2015. Berner was Board member for the Family Companies’ Association in 2005-2008 and Chairman for the Association in 2009-2012.

She has hold several Board positions, for example, Soprano Ltd, Kährs Holding AB, Pension Insurance Company Ilmarinen, Ajatushautomo Libera and Koskisen Ltd. She was a member of the Supervisory Board of Pension Insurance Company Ilmarinen in 2009, Deputy Member of the Board in 2010-2014 and a Member of the Board until spring 2015. She was also a Member of Karelia-Upofloor’s Board of Directors in 2010-2013. Berner was elected in June 2012 as the Chair of the Supporting Association of the New Children’s Hospital 2017.

Berner was also one of the business analysts in the 2013 “Lion Cave” program. She was also one of the investorsin the corresponding program format “Draknästet” in Sweden in 2014.

Berner, who speaks actively of ownership and entrepreneurship was chosen as the Business Woman of the Year by Veuve Clicquot in 2006 and the Businessperson of the Year in 2009. Furthermore, in 2009 the Finnish Businessmen Association named her as a Businessman of the Year. December 6th, 2014, Berner received the Finnish Lion’s Commander Mark awarded by the President of the Republic of Finland.

In the parliamentary elections Spring 2015 Berner was elected as a Member of the Parliament as a non-attached representative of the Central Party. May 29th, she was appointed as a Minister of Transport and Communications of Minister Sipilä´s Board. Berner’s ministerial roles include Nordic cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Åland’s affairs.

Activities in Boardman

• Member of the Board, Boardman Ltd., 2012-2014
• Chairman of the Development Forum “Ownership and Board Work in Small & Midsized Family Owned Companies” , 2012-2013
• Chairman of “Spring Board” Conference, 2012-2013

Expertise

• Entrepreneurship
• Family businesses