Annukka is a Marine biologist/Maritime environmental researcher by education and a professional science project coordinator. She has years of experience in international coastal and marine management projects in the Baltic Sea, the Arctic and the tropics, on themes varying from Marine Spatial Planning to invasive species, hazardous cargoes and effects of shipping to marine mammals. Today she is mainly working with freshwater topics, with research coordination, interaction and communication in Digital Waters Flagship.

On the side, Annukka is also a wilderness guide and professional sailor, with a specialty of the Arctic and Antarctica. She has completed four seasons at Antarctica and six seasons in Iceland and Greenland as a wilderness/wildlife guide and crewmember. 

She is passionate about polar and boreal regions, history of polar exploration, seafaring, public awareness raising and scientific communication.