Jess Burke

Jess Burke (she/her, they/them) is an award winning activist who currently focuses on anti-oppression and the inclusion of antisemitism in anti-racism practices. She has worked extensively with interreligious, queer, multi-ethnic and equity-seeking communities across Canada.

Jess identifies as a queer Jew who advocates for women and gender non-conforming representation in politics, combating antisemitism in progressive spaces, intersectional frameworks when addressing oppression, and both digital and published communications. She has served on several national boards and committees, has been the recipient of social justice awards and has successfully led several grassroots fundraising initiatives.

Jess is currently a Director at CIJA where she leads training efforts across multiple sectors through research, building educator consciousness and intersectional approaches to allyship. She has supported ED&I departments coast to coast across post-secondary, not-for-profit, human rights commissions, NGOs, and other sectors. Additionally, they have worked as an independent government relations consultant with significant advocacy experience, and formerly project managed the University of Calgary’s multifaith centre, where they developed, strategized, and facilitated intercultural, interreligious programming, support services, events, and dialogues across intersectional approaches including sex and gender, mental health, international student integration, religious diversity, and pluralism.