Interview with JIU’s new Executive Secretary, Mika Tapio

On 3 November 2025, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) welcomed its new Executive Secretary, Mr. Mika Tapio, who brings extensive experience in oversight and audit across the United Nations system. Shortly after his arrival, Mika sat down with us to share insights into his career, vision, and personal interests.

Mika, tell us about your professional journey so far.

I bring three decades of experience in oversight, including 25 years within the UN system. My career began in 1995 in the private sector at Deloitte, where I worked as a financial auditor in Luxembourg and San Francisco for five years. In 2000, I joined the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), spending two decades in Geneva, Islamabad, and New York, in different oversight roles but primarily focused on internal audit. This included six years, from 2014 to 2020, as Chief of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Audit Service. Most recently, I spent five years as Inspector General at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, overseeing FAO’s internal audit and investigation activities globally.

How familiar were you with JIU before joining?

Quite familiar. Since joining the UN in 2000, I’ve engaged with JIU’s work in various ways—liaising with past Executive Secretaries on oversight topics, collaborating with Inspectors and Secretariat staff on selected projects, and participating as an interviewee in several JIU reviews. I’ve also used JIU’s reports as benchmarks in audits I have led or supervised, particularly in areas like Enterprise Risk Management, Accountability Frameworks, and Results-Based Management. Nevertheless, I am well aware that there is a lot for me to still learn about the work of the JIU.

What are your key priorities as Executive Secretary?

JIU’s impact depends on the credibility of its work, which in turn relies on the quality of its research, analysis, and reporting. The Executive Secretary and Secretariat staff play a critical role in supporting Inspectors in this regard. As a former USG of OIOS used to say: “You’re only as good as your last report.”  Beyond that, I have two key strategic priorities: i) leveraging technology to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of JIU’s work; and ii) strengthening external communication to demystify what JIU does and amplify the impact of our findings and recommendations.

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I’m married and have two daughters, who are 20 and 18 and have already left home. I’m passionate about football—once played semi-professionally, but now I’m a spectator and a loyal fan of AFC Wimbledon in the UK. I also stay closely connected to my hometown club in Rovaniemi, Finland, called RoPS FC, attending key matches and events a few times a year. Outside of football, I keep fit by walking our dog, a Lagotto Romagnolo called Lumi, and going to the gym three times a week.

Interview of JIU’s Executive Secretary, Mika Tapio