Skills & Results
Over the past 25 years, I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my subject matter expertise, broaden my socio-cultural competence, and both refine and expand my skill sets. Below is a summary of the core skills I’ve consistently demonstrated throughout my career—each paired with a real-world example or a tangible result achieved using that skill.
Dynamic Public Speaker
SecurityWomen conference panel on increasing women's meaningful participation in the security sector. Joined by Christina Finch, DCAF - who presented the Global MOWIP report I authored, Dorothea Kinn Bade, Norwegian Armed Forces (right), and Zoe Spicer, UK Armed Forces (far right).
Programming for Outcome Level Change
Designed and led a project with judges and prosecutors in North Macedonia to strengthen democratic oversight of special investigative measures. The initiative focused on two core goals: enhancing effective communication skills and fostering genuine commitment to institutional change. As a result, participants became significantly more active and confident in public speaking—engaging with media, parliamentary committees, and academic institutions.
Research & Publication
Consolidated and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from four countries to produce the Global MOWIP Report (2022) and a policy brief on organizational culture, both aimed at advancing women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping.
Strategic Support to Implementers
Designed and led tailored employee climate surveys and institutional assessments for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). Each assessment culminated in a detailed analytical report with forward-looking recommendations aimed at strengthening management practices, enhancing staff engagement, and improving organizational effectiveness. Below is an excerpt from the GICHD, Gender Equality and Inclusion Annual Report for 2020, that references the Gender Equality and Inclusion audit I designed and implemented.
Subject Matter Expertise
TAG lines podcast: Joined by my former boss at DCAF, Daniel de Torres, we explore how gender dynamics can both drive conflict and insecurity—and serve as a powerful tool for building resilience and stability. We take stock of progress, pinpoint gaps, and discuss what’s needed to fulfill the promise of UNSCR 1325 and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
Evidence-Based Policy Design
Led the design of a sector-wide gender assessment of the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which laid the groundwork for the collaborative development and adoption of the country’s first-ever policy to prevent sexual and gender-based harassment within the judicial system.
Tailored Institutional Assessment
Led the design and synthesis of a gender equality and security assessment of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada committees on Security, National Defense, Intelligence, and European Integration. The final report was validated in collaboration with members of Parliament—just prior to the full-scale invasion.
Development of Innovative & Practical Tools
I have known Heather for years as a dedicated and passionate professional with a deep understanding of ground realities. She has extensively worked in Asia and Africa, and thus learned from local experiences about their needs and priorities, rather than viewing them through Western eyes. In her work, particularly in Bangladesh, I noticed how she listened, contextualized Bangladesh’s issues, and mainstreamed those with prevailing discourses. She was instrumental in understanding women’s barriers to participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and presenting it in a manner that revealed Bangladesh’s realities to the global audience. This in turn, facilitated strategizing Bangladesh’s UNPKO mission goals and objectives and contributed globally to the same for the UN. Her knowledge and work on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) have lasting value in understanding how we take the global into the local and vice versa.
- Professor Lailufar Yasmin,
Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
I worked with Heather Huhtanen during the UN SaferGuard Training for Women Ammunition Technical Experts on the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) in 2023. Heather brought exceptional value to the initiative, combining deep expertise in gender and security with a thoughtful and inclusive facilitation style. Her ability to contextualize and integrate gender perspectives into technically complex subject matter was both impactful and empowering. She fostered an environment where women ammunition technical experts felt seen, heard, and supported to meaningfully contribute to both learning outcomes and the broader goals of gender mainstreaming in the security sector. Heather’s professionalism, insight, and strategic thinking truly set her apart. She communicates with clarity and purpose, challenges assumptions with sensitivity, and leads with a strong commitment to equity and transformative change. Her contributions were instrumental to the success of the training. I offer my highest recommendation - any team or initiative would benefit immensely from her expertise and leadership.
- Afifa Habbassi,
(former) PSSM Country Manager, Moldova
Golden West
If you and your organization want to understand the many links between gender and domestic, national, and international relations, you need to include Heather Huhtanen in your learning process. Heather relates to individuals and organizations to effectively convey her years of experience and knowledge to help you further your goals. Professional, pragmatic and knowledgable, she is the “go to” person for organizations around the world that want to understand gender dynamics.
- Joan Johnson-Freese,
Author and Professor Emeritus
Naval War College, U.S.