MEET OUR TEAM: "The Hospitality of the Iraqi People is Always Present"

Juha Piippo, a police officer from Finland, is working for EUAM Iraq as a Senior Strategic Adviser on Command and Control and shares his experiences of his work in Baghdad, Iraq. 

Briefly describe your career and tell us why you applied for a position with EUAM Iraq? 

I joined the Mission from Helsinki Police Headquarters, from the capital of Finland. I have worked in the police for over 25 years and been a senior commanding officer since 2006. I am experienced in managing public policing, response & control, managing a police command centre, organised crime investigations, criminal intelligence & crime analysis.  

For the last two years I have been working in the headquarters supporting the Police Commissioner in international relations and cooperating with the diplomatic missions located in Helsinki.  

I have previous mission experience from the Balkans where I worked as an adviser for the European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina for two years in 2010-2011. My wife has worked overseas in many locations over the past years as well, so we agreed at home that now it is my turn to export the Finnish expertise. 

Tell us about your daily work?  

As a Senior Strategic Adviser in EUAM Iraq’s Strategic Civilian Security Sector Reform Component my main tasks include various responsibilities in the fields of Command, Control and Crisis Management. That means supporting Iraqi authorities in the development of command & control structures in line with international standards and human rights. This exchange of information happens very often in the format of meetings, seminars or workshops. All of these contacts with local counterparts are very valuable. 

How do you find working with colleagues from different backgrounds?

Working in an international environment is interesting and fun. A sense of humor is important, then it really is not important where you are from. But, of course, you need to be sensitive to cultural differences. 

What has been the most rewarding or memorable experience for you in the Mission so far?

After our first workshop on Policing Public Protest, the Iraqi colleagues wanted to have joint photos with us and it just continued and continued. I especially liked the genuine interaction and the sharing of experiences. 

What do you enjoy the most with Iraqi people and culture?  

The hospitality of Iraqi people is always present, it is very enjoyable. The culture of the country is historically so rich that I am looking forward to visiting some famous places, like the Victory Arch in central Baghdad where the Crossed Swords monuments are. 

If you could live anywhere, where would you choose to be?  

I like living in Finland, with four very different seasons, and I have noticed that the older I get the more I appreciate the privacy far from the city at our summer cottage by the lake. 

What is something your colleagues don’t know about you?

This is difficult as sometimes I think they know everything about me and sometimes they do not know anything about me at all, thinking that this is a typical northern man from Finland who is just not very talkative. Maybe they don’t know that back at home I like to take out our tiny Tibetan Spaniel called Lilli. 

What is your usual order at a restaurant?

Definitely something spicy. 

How do you relax?

Here in the Mission it is sports. At home it’s tinkering at the summer house with the family as well as of course enjoying the Finnish sauna tradition.