Business

Tina McKenzie appoints to honorary Finnish consular role

Tina McKenzie has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Finland in Northern Ireland
Tina McKenzie has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Finland in Northern Ireland Tina McKenzie has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Finland in Northern Ireland

BUSINESSWOMAN Tina McKenzie, head of recruitment firm Staffline Ireland, has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Finland in Belfast in succession to Kenneth Hunter, who has retired.

Finland (population 5.5 million), which in 2018 marks a century of being an independent state, has around 400 honorary consulates around the world.

Ms McKenzie’s consular roles will include promoting economic, political, academic and cultural relations between the Nordic region and the Northern Ireland, and monitoring the rights of Finnish citizens in the area.

She can also guide and assist with contacts to the local authorities or the embassy.

“With former Finnish Prime Minister, the late Harri Holkeri, having been instrumental to the Good Friday Agreement, there is a strong collaborative history between Northern Ireland and Finland," she said.

"I'm honoured to have a role in further developing relations between our two countries and in supporting Finnish citizens who have chosen to live in and visit Northern Ireland.”

Ms McKenzie is managing director of award-winning Staffline Group (its businesses include PeoplePlus NI, Diamond Recruitment and Oak Recruitment in the Republic) and has enjoyed a 20-year career in employment and business services spanning various markets.

She added: "I'm looking forward to working together with Ambassador Päivi Luostarinen and supporting the Embassy of Finland over the coming years."