Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen
Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Protect Children. She also works as Senior Specialist and Psychotherapist and has 20 years of professional experience protecting children from sexual violence.
Executive Director, Senior Specialist, Psychotherapist
Anna Ovaska
Anna Ovaska is the Deputy Director of Protect Children. She also acts as Legal Specialist with her expertise in international criminal law and child rights.
Deputy Director, Legal Specialist
Tegan Insoll
Tegan Insoll is the Head of Research at Protect Children. Tegan leads Protect Children's research team, coordinates the ReDirection project, and conducts innovative research on online sexual violence against children.
Head of Research
Katariina Leivo
Katariina Leivo works as a senior specialist at Protect Children. She has significant international experience in early childhood development and the importance of attachment relationship in a child's development.
Senior Specialist
Valeriia Soloveva
Valeriia Soloveva is a Specialist at Protect Children. She is conducting offender-focused research, analysing data gathered directly from child sexual abuse material users in the dark web.
Specialist
Eva Díaz Bethencourt is a Specialist at Protect Children. Eva is passionate and strongly committed to the defence of human rights, child protection and gender equality.
Specialist
Noora Kuisma
Noora Kuisma is responsible for the organisation's financial management and reporting. Noora is also specialised in analysing CSAM as part of international Project Arachnid.
Financial officer, Project Arachnid Specialist
Noora Nieminen
Noora Nieminen works as a Research Assistant and an Executive Assistant at Protect Children. Noora is responsible for ensuring smooth operations by supporting the organization in various administrative tasks and in research and project-related tasks.
Research Assistant, Executive Assistant
Marianne Mäenpää, Psy.M, is a consultative specialist in forensic psychology at Protect Children. She has specific expertise in the field of forensic psychology, particularly in the investigation of crimes against children and child abuse topics in general.
Forensic Psychologist, Psychologist (currently on leave)
Matilda Sandvik
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Currently on leave
Meet our team
Protect Children is a non-governmental Helsinki-based organisation working internationally with a dedicated team advocating for the right of the child to be free from sexual violence.
Our small, dedicated team has deep speciality in a broad range of subjects. Meet our team and find contact information below.
Meet Our Expert Advisor
Our expert advisor plays a crucial role in guiding our organisation's mission to protect children from abuse. With extensive experience across law enforcement, child protection, and policy development, they provide strategic insights, ensuring our research, advocacy, and interventions remain at the forefront of safeguarding practices.
Their expertise strengthens our ability to collaborate with stakeholders worldwide and drive effective, evidence-based solutions to prevent child sexual abuse.
Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL
Simon Bailey is the Former Chief Constable at Norfolk Constabulary now working as the Chair of International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI), and Director of Strategic Engagement at Child Rescue Coalition.
Executive Director, Senior Specialist, Psychotherapist
Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Protect Children. She also works as Senior Specialist and Psychotherapist and has 20 years of professional experience protecting children from sexual violence.
Deputy Director, Legal Specialist
Anna Ovaska is the Deputy Director of Protect Children. She also acts as Legal Specialist with her expertise in international criminal law and child rights.
Senior Specialist
Katariina Leivo works as a senior specialist at Protect Children. She has significant international experience in early childhood development and the importance of attachment relationship in a child's development.
Head of Research
Tegan Insoll is the Head of Research at Protect Children. Tegan leads Protect Children's research team, coordinates the ReDirection project, and conducts innovative research on online sexual violence against children.
Specialist
Valeriia Soloveva is a Specialist at Protect Children. She is conducting offender-focused research, analysing data gathered directly from child sexual abuse material users in the dark web.
Specialist
Eva Díaz Bethencourt is a Specialist at Protect Children. She worked as a Lawyer in Spain for a few years and then completed a Master’s Degree Programme in International Law and Human Rights at ÅAU. Eva is passionate and strongly committed to the defence of human rights, child protection and gender equality.
Forensic Psychologist, Psychologist
Marianne Mäenpää, Psy.M, is a consultative specialist in forensic psychology at Protect Children. She has specific expertise in the field of forensic psychology, particularly in the investigation of crimes against children and child abuse topics in general.
Finance Consultant
Noora Kuisma works as a financial consultant at Protect Children. Noora is an economist and has a master's degree in data analytics from Aalto University. Noora is responsible for the organization's financial management and reporting.
