Georg Henrik Wrede

Georg Henrik Wrede is a Finnish-American leader and strategy developer with extensive experience from public administration, non-governmental organizations, and think tanks. He has experience with legislative processes and with influencing politics and policy internationally, European, nationally, and regionally. Wrede is known for his ability to lead complex projects, such as the Finnish Government’s policy program for the well-being of children, youth, and families, and to implement innovative solutions in service production in the third sector.

Education
Wrede was born in the USA in 1964 and holds dual citizenship in Finland and the USA. He holds a Master of Political Science degree from Åbo Akademi. His thesis in political science dealt with democracy, titled “The Subject Population in Definitions of Democracy.” Wrede has also completed several leadership and defense courses, such as the National Defense Course (No. 208) and Leaders of the Future (Tulevaisuuden johtajat, Course No. 4) organized by the Ministry of Finance in Finland.

Professional Career
Georg Henrik Wrede’s career has been marked by leading roles in health, education, and social services, often at the intersection of these sectors. He was most recently the CEO of Samfundet Folkhälsan in Swedish-speaking Finland rf (2018 – 2024). During his tenure, the organization’s first strategy (Strategy 2025) was approved, and restructurings were implemented to improve the group’s governance and transparency. The organization’s assets increased during this period from almost €700 million to approximately €890 million, and it received its largest single donation in modern times, a bequest of €45 million.

Before Folkhälsan, Wrede worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland as Director, responsible for youth work and youth policy (2011-2018), and before that as Program Director, Government’s policy program (Vanhanen II) for the well-being of children, youth, and families (2007 -2011). This program contributed to the implementation of Finland’s first child and youth policy development program (2007–2011).

Wrede was briefly CEO of FSKC Ltd, the Swedish-Finnish competence center in the social field (January 1, 2007 – July 31, 2007), having previously been Director, responsible for programs and projects at MLL Mannerheim League for Child Welfare rf (2002 – 2006). During this period, the league’s phone helplines were expanded to include online services, Nuortennetti.

Before MLL, Wrede held various positions at Folkhälsan, such as Head of Department for public health programs (2000-2002) and Head of Daycare (1999-2000). As Executive Director of the district organization Landskapsföreningen Folkhälsan i Åboland rf (1993 – 1998), Wrede participated in the World Health Organization (WHO)‘s Healthy Cities network in Europe, where he represented non-governmental organizations in Turku.

Assignments
Wrede has been active in politics, including serving as chairman of the Swedish People’s Party’s Helsinki district (2000-2001 and 2008-2010) and Svenska Bildningsförbundet (2002–2016), which is behind the Think Tank Agenda, among others. He has also served as a board member of the think tank Lokus, maintained by Svenska folkskolans vänner (2006–2010), and as vice-chairman of the Swedish-Finnish School Sports Federation (2003-2012). He has also held municipal positions of trust in Helsinki (2000–2009) and Turku (1993–1998), including as a city council member.

Here you can find Swedish pages for Georg Henrik Wrede

– Official English language site is the main page
– Publications has links
– About a short bio