Antti Heinonen was the chairman of the Banknote Ethics Initiative from 2013 until September 2023. He was the chairman of the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group, reporting to G10 Governors, between 2008 and 2012 and the Director, Banknotes at the ECB from 1998 until 2008.

He chaired the Banknote Committee of the European System of Central Banks for more than 10 years and the Eurosystem Cash Changeover Co-ordination Committee which had the overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the euro cash changeover in 2002.

He holds degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Helsinki, and has written several books on banknotes and their history. He is currently an external advisor to the Bank of Finland.