2020 has challenged us all with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing misinformation, and the escalating climate crisis. Evidence for Democracy has been proud to stand up for science through it all with new training and resources, a growing research program, and issue-based campaigns. The continued support of our community makes this work possible and for that we are grateful.
Big news.
Monday, November 23, 2020 - 06:42
Now we have some exciting news to share.
We’re going to have a new Executive Director coming to Evidence for Democracy! I have decided it is a good time to support a new leader to take us forward, so I will not be returning to Evidence for Democracy after my maternity leave.
It is incredible to see how far we've come over the past 8 years since I co-founded Evidence for Democracy. It has been an absolute honor to work on issues of such importance and work with such amazing people. The E4D community of staff, donors, volunteers, and supporters is a constant inspiration. My love for this organization and my passion for the role of science in public policy are still strong, but after 8 years, I'm looking for a new challenge and my next adventure.
I’m not going anywhere just yet! In the interim, I'll be helping with our transition to a new Executive Director and I plan to stay involved with E4D in some capacity going forward.
This transition is an opportunity for the organization to grow and develop on the strong foundation we’ve created. We have accomplished a lot over the past eight years to strengthen science in Canada, and these accomplishments are thanks to the incredible E4D community of staff, volunteers, and all our supporters. I have no doubt that this community will continue to thrive and accomplish equally great things as we evolve as an organization.
We are excited to open up applications for a new Executive Director to lead this impactful and thriving organization. Details on the position and how to apply will be shared soon.
I want to thank Kimberly Girling who has done an amazing job supporting the organization as Interim Executive Director while I’ve been on maternity leave. With her term now coming to an end, Kim is joining the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam, as a senior policy analyst. She’ll be supporting the team using her skills as a scientist and policy professional to help them make evidence-informed decisions in the face of COVID-19. We’ve been so lucky to have Kim as part of the team and want to wish her all the best on this new adventure. We are so excited that her skills will be put to use in such a critical role. You can read more about Kim’s time at E4D on our blog, or send her an email here!
In the interim, both Kim and I will continue to contribute our knowledge and guidance to our staff with support for our Board of Directors to ensure E4D continues to bring our community the highest quality of work. As well, we are incredibly thankful to have a strong and committed team who will carry us through this transitional time. Emma, Tej, and Sri will all be continuing their work with E4D and we are so glad to have them on board.
I want to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to our community for your continued support and engagement with Evidence for Democracy.
Katie Gibbs
Executive Director
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Katie Gibbs
Executive Director (on parental leave)
Katie Gibbs is a scientist, organizer and advocate for science and evidence-based policies. While completing her PhD at the University of Ottawa researching threats to endangered species, she was one of the lead organizers of the ‘Death of Evidence’ rally - one of the largest science rallies in Canadian history. Katie cofounded Evidence for Democracy and now serves as its Executive Director.