Pekka Heikkinen works as a legal adviser for the National Library of Finland. His tasks cover copyright, data protection, contract law, Publicity Act, and information law in general.
His career started as a social scientist after graduating from Helsinki University Departement of Social Sciences. After graduation, Heikkinen worked as a researcher in the Ministry of Education and Culture and in the Ministry of Labour. He finished his second degree as Master of Law, also from the University of Helsinki, in 1997. As a lawyer, Heikkinen has worked on Kopiosto in Finland, on the European TECUP project, and on the IPR University Center financed jointly by several Finnish universities. His work was financed by the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
In 2005 he started as a legal advisor in the National Library of Finland. During this time he has also worked as a legal advisor in the National Digital Library project financed by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Heikkinen represents Finnish cultural heritage organisations in several boards set by the Government of Finland (Tekijänoikeusneuvosto, Tekijänoikeuden yhteishallinnon kehittämisen neuvottelukunta) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (Tekijänoikeusasioiden neuvotelukunta).
Heikkinen has been a member of several information law committees and groups (IFLA CLM, EBLIDA, CENL) and continues this work at the LIBER Copyright & Legal Matters Working Group. He finds international co-operation rewarding and essential.