Liina Kersna (née Lepik; born 3 April 1980) is an

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

n journalist, civil servant and politician. From 2021 to 2022 Kersna was the Minister of Education and Research.

Biography

Kersna graduated from

Lasnamäe Lasnamäe is the most populous administrative district of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The district's population is about 119,000, the majority of which is Russian-speaking. Local housing is mostly represented by 5–16 stories high panel bl ...

General Secondary School in 1998 and from the

University of Tartu The University of Tartu (UT; et, Tartu Ülikool; la, Universitas Tartuensis) is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest ...

in the field of journalism and public relations in 2005. She worked as a presenter and editor at

Eesti Rahvusringhääling Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) – ''Estonian Public Broadcasting'' – is a publicly funded and owned radio and television organisation created in Estonia on 1 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadio ...

from 1998 to 2002. From 2002 to 2004, she worked as head of public relations of the

Federation of Estonian Student Unions The Federation of Estonian Student Unions ( et, Eesti Üliõpilaskondade Liit, EÜL) is an umbrella organization currently represents over 95% of Estonian students. It was founded on 23 November 1991, shortly after Estonia regained independence ...

. In 2004, she worked as the Chief Specialist at the Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Affairs, as Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Estonia from 2005 to 2006, and was its head from 2006 to 2007. From 2007 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2013, Kersna was the Media Advisor to the

Government of Estonia The Government of the Republic of Estonia ('' Estonian: Vabariigi Valitsus'') is the cabinet of Estonia. Under the Constitution, it exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and laws of Estonia. The cabinet carries out the country' ...

; From 2010 to 2012, she was the Director of Government Communications of the Government of Estonia. From 2013 to 2015, she was the head of the office of Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia. Kersna has been a member of the Estonian Reform Party since 2015. She has been a member of the

Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the state, and ''kogu'', assembly) is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the Prime Minister and Chief Just ...

since 2015. She was the Minister of Education and Research in Kaja Kallas' first cabinet. Kersna resigned on 30 June 2022 after criminal proceedings were opened up against her in respect of deviations from procurement rules to ensure the supply of rapid coronavirus tests for the schools during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Personal life

Liina Kersna is married to

Vahur Kersna Vahur Kersna (also Vahur-Üllar Kersna; born on 4 February 1962) is an Estonian journalist, radio and television personality and caricaturist. In 1985, he graduated from University of Tartu, Tartu State University in journalism. 1986–2007, he ...

, with whom she has a son.

References

External links

LIINA KERSNA CV (Riigikogu website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kersna, Liina 1980 births 21st-century Estonian politicians 21st-century Estonian women politicians Estonian journalists Estonian Reform Party politicians Estonian women journalists Government ministers of Estonia Living people Members of the Riigikogu, 2015–2019 Members of the Riigikogu, 2019–2023 Members of the Riigikogu, 2023–2027 People from Tallinn Politicians from Tallinn University of Tartu alumni Women members of the Riigikogu Women television journalists Women government ministers of Estonia