Ed Broadbent and the Broadbent Institute board of directors are pleased to announce Jen Hassum as the organization’s new executive director.
In the last two decades, Jen Hassum led teams at the municipal, provincial and national levels. She is recognized as an innovator in building online community and mobilizing users to real-world action. Most recently as the Publisher of PressProgress, she helped oversee its growth into an award-winning national news organization read by millions of Canadians. Over the years, her work has contributed to historic electoral victories, winning new organized workplaces and helping win important public policy gains for working-class people. She studied history at York University and the University of Toronto and lives in Cambridge, ON with her partner and two young kiddos. She will assume the role on September 1.
On the appointment of Hassum as Executive Director, Ed Broadbent says “With our organization celebrating 10 years of driving the national discussion on social, economic and racial equality, Jen Hassum provides a measure of continuity and stability in the management of the Broadbent Institute — but also represents an opportunity to think about and approach our work in new ways. Jen will do a remarkable job growing our organisation as the next Executive Director and I’m very happy to recommend her.”
On taking on the role, Hassum says, “I’m honoured to take on this role at a time when a new consensus is emerging from the complete and utter failures of the existing economic models in responding to the crises of the pandemic. The need for change right now is urgent. Now is the moment for social democrats to build power, and translate that power into real, material, change. I look forward to working with Institute staff, Board, experts and changemakers to build towards a better world.”
“Jen Hassum is an energetic and principled leader. Her work experience in the political world, in government, and in fighting for working people will be instrumental in leading the Institute at this time,” says Brian Topp, Chair of the Institute’s Board of Directors. “In recruiting Jen to this position, we’re deciding not to rest on past successes, but to renew and re-energize the Broadbent Institute — and to reach out to the next generation of leaders and activists. People just like Jen. Welcome Jen!”
For more information, contact:
Meg Shannon
