Mr Niko Orell is Head of Crisis Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and a leading expert in crisis management, defense policy, and security. With over 25 years of experience in Finland, across the Europe, the Middle East, Far East and Africa, he specializes in crisis management, security, resilience building, risk management, and decision-making under pressure.
He collaborates with governments, international organisations, and private companies to design strategies for navigating complex challenges. An accomplished author and keynote speaker, Mr. Orell has published articles and addressed global audiences on crisis management, crisis response, decision making, resilience, leadership and situational awareness.
He has an impressive track record of advising the EU Military Committee, Political&Security Committee, as well as working the EU/NATO military cooperation on Crisis Management (2019-2022). Niko has been part of EU-level working groups to draw up the EU Crisis Management Concepts and Mission Plans, and has planned, staffed, and implemented EU operations in Europe, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, he has also represented Finland EU-level conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction.
Lieutenant Colonel, GS (ret.) in the Finnish Air Force fighter pilot, combat veteran, and military leader, Mr. Orell brings a wealth of operational and leadership experience to his role. From 2016-19, he was Commander of the Regional Air Operations Center in eastern boarder of Finland, where he managed a team of 150 specialists, operators, and technical staff. His unit was responsible for air surveillance and execution of air defense. Between 2012-16, Mr. Orell worked at Finnish National Defense University as Course Director and lecturer and led the Air Force Staff Officer Course, specializing in Operational Arts, Strategy and Warfare. He was responsible for designing and delivering courses for military officers and civil servants from Finland and abroad, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and inter-agency coordination in crisis management. In 2013, Mr. Orell was awarded a defense medal by the German Defense Minister for his outstanding merits in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan. He has worked in the United Nations (MINUSMA) for the Sahel region, conducting training with troops from Burkina Faso, Mali, Liberia, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire. In 2020 Niko was involved in starting the EU's crisis management operation in Mozambique.
Niko holds a Master's degree in Military Science and was awarded academic recognition for his Postgraduate Research paper discussing situational awareness and information management in uncertainty during military operations. He participated in the Senior Staff Officer course in 2010-11 at National Defense University and has a minor in pedagogical sciences from The University of Helsinki. He has also published articles on the topics of crisis management, leadership, and situational awareness, and has been invited as a speaker to numerous conferences and workshops on these subjects. Mr. Orell has received several awards and commendations throughout his career for his outstanding service and dedication to crisis management and security. He speaks Finnish, English, and French.
Read more about Niko’s work at GCSP and his global contributions to crisis management.