Kairos names new director

Kairos, the Toronto-based ecumenical organization devoted to social justice issues, announced that its board appointed Mary Corkery to the position of executive director, effective Sept. 2, 2003.

For the past nine years, Ms. Corkery has been a director with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

“Mary’s work is inspired by the Christian faith and transformation of the world from a Christian perspective. She brings proven leadership and administrative experience, and a collaborative management style that fosters teamwork,” said Kairos in a news release.

Ms. Corkery succeeds Patricia Steenberg, who was the first permanent executive director at Kairos. Ms. Steenberg announced last spring that she would not be renewing her contract at the end of her first two-year term. Her resignation was effective Aug. 31.

In other news, Kairos employees voted unanimously to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees and a contract was signed with Kairos management on June 24. CUPE said it was the first contract the union had signed with a church-based social justice organization. Both sides characterized the negotiations that led up to the signing as friendly.