In addition to its core staff, in carrying out its projects HEUNI draws on the expertise and co-operation of Ministries, universities and individual consultants across Europe and North America.

The international Advisory Board of HEUNI serves as an important link with the United Nations and the various regions of Europe. The Chairman of the Advisory Board and four of its members are appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations after consultation with the Government of Finland. Four members of the Board, including the Director of HEUNI, are appointed by the Government of Finland. A representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime participates ex officio in all deliberations of the Advisory Board.

The members of the Advisory Board are appointed for a period of five years. For the term begun on 1 January 2008 the composition of the Board is as follows:

• Mr Fredrik Wersäll, President of Svea Court of Appeal, Sweden (Chairperson),
• Mr Károly Bárd, Pro-Rector, Central European University, Hungary,
• Mr Vasily P. Ignatov, Adviser on International Affairs of the Head of the Moscow University of the Ministry of the Interior, Russian Federation,
• Ms Gloria Laycock, Director, The Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London, United Kingdom,
• Mr Eduardo Vetere, Former Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs of the UNODC, Italy
• Ms John Sandage, Deputy Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs, UNODC (ex officio member),
• Mr Matti Joutsen, Director, HEUNI,
• Ms Pirkko Lahti, Former Executive Director, Finnish Association for Mental Health, Finland,
• Mr Raimo Lahti, Professor, University of Helsinki, Finland,
• Mr Kauko Aromaa, (ex officio member).