GHHIN welcomes new Climate and Health Joint Office Communications Manager
Published: January 29, 2026
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The Global Heat Health Information Network is pleased to welcome Petra Hongell as she takes up the role of Communications Manager for the WHO-WMO Joint Office on Climate and Health, based at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Petra brings more than 15 years of strategic communications experience within the United Nations, the Finnish government and the EU, with a strong focus on strategic communications for public health, climate action, and country support with multi-stakeholder engagement.
Communicating heat and health
Petra will lead external communications and stakeholder engagement to support countries in addressing climate-related health risks, strengthening strategic communications across WMO and WHO initiatives, and deliver impactful communications that connect scientific insight with policy, partnerships, and public engagement.
“After having studied and lived in Dakar, Senegal, in the late 90’s, it became strikingly clear to me that it didn’t matter if you lived in Dakar or Turku where I grew up – climate change and its impacts were and are visible everywhere. Understanding societies and communities, making people care, come together, and act, is what drove me towards sociology, communication and an international career”, she says.
Petra joins WMO from the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, which she joined in 2019. During her time at WHO/Europe, she supported a wide range of regional and corporate communications work, including risk communication and community engagement, capacity building and campaign development. She worked closely with Country Offices across the Region’s 53 Member States, and the WHO Healthy Cities Network, supporting communications around urban health and resilience.
Earlier in her career, Petra worked with the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels.
“My years with the Finnish Permanent Representation, the Finnish EU-presidency, and the UN strengthened my conviction of three things. First: no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Second: multilateralism, partnerships and collaboration is the only way we can truly make a difference. Third: Health is key. Everyone cares about health, and our health is highly impacted by climate change. This is the perfect piece of the puzzle that can accelerate action for heat resilience, and climate and health over all.”