Vappu Taipale is a child psychiatrist, former minister of health and social affairs in Finland. She is also a member and chair of the United Nations University Council, Honorary President, International Society for Gerontechnology, co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) 2008-2012 and chair, of the Union for Senior Services in Finland.

Ilkka Taipale is a social psychiatrist. He was a member of Parliament in 1971-75 and 2000-07, and of Helsinki City Council 1969-80 and from 1993 onwards. He has edited books on peace, war and social medicine. Titles include War or Health (2001), and One Hundred Social Innovations from Finland, in English (2007). His works have been published in no less than twenty languages.