CAUT has hired Jess Turk-Browne as associate executive director responsible for overseeing the administration of all financial and office functions in the organization.

Jess replaces Gordon Piché, who retired in March after three decades as associate executive director of administration and finance for CAUT.

Jess has more than a decade of professional experience as a senior manager in a non-profit and international context, most recently serving as country director at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Kazakhstan and as senior program manager for the NDI in Pakistan where she headed a program to assist female candidates and young political organizers in advance of the 2013 elections.

Prior to her time at NDI, she worked as parliamentary director of operations for the federal New Democrats, in charge of hiring for both MP offices and caucus ser­vices, and as deputy chief of staff in the office of the party’s former leader, Jack Layton. She also pre­viously served as national trea­surer for the Canadian Federation of Students.

Jess graduated from McGill University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in international development, and went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration from Carleton University. She also holds a certificate in financial management from Cornell University.

“We are very pleased Jess has joined the other members of the management team,” said CAUT president Wayne Peters. “Her skills and experience are well-suited to support the work of the organization.”