Ari has been President of the Finnish Association for Principals since last year; previously he was a member of the board and President of the Central Finland Principals Association. During his time in the classroom, he was executive headmaster of upper secondary schools in city of Jyväskylä (2007 – 8) and he has been the principal of high schools and adult learning organisations alike.

As well as his work with the Association, Ari is a member of a number of national committees dealing with school policy, principals in service training, matriculation examination and so on.