Montreal, November 17, 2025 - The CJPME Board is thrilled to announce the appointment of Yara Shoufani as the next President of CJPME and the CJPME Foundation, effective today. The Board conducted a comprehensive, professional search for its new leadership and is delighted to have selected Yara, who is eminently qualified to take on this new role. Yara exemplifies the level of professional leadership and integrity that is a hallmark of CJPME and its work over the last two decades, and combines this with a commitment to grassroots energy and activism.
Yara brings to CJPME more than 12 years of organizing experience in the Palestine movement, from leading successful BDS campaigns as President of SPHR at McMaster, to an international leadership role in the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), the largest grassroots movement in North America. Yara also has experience in non-profit leadership, as the former Executive Director of Canadian Friends of Sabeel (CFOS), a registered charitable organization focused on Palestine advocacy in Canadian churches.
Yara has deep knowledge and experience of the issues, with a Master’s in Political Science from York University, and is pursuing a PhD on the impact of Israel’s occupation on the Palestinian economy.
The organization is confident that under Yara’s leadership, CJPME will expand and grow its pivotal work in Canada, especially during the ongoing crisis of genocide in Gaza. The Board is proud of CJPME’s reputation for impeccable work from its strong team.
The Board wishes to express its deep gratitude and thanks to Michael Bueckert, who for the past 10+ months acted as interim President of CJPME. Michael will continue in his role as Vice President of the organization and will continue to be a key part of the leadership team.
Please join us in welcoming Yara to CJPME. We look forward to the next chapter, and know that under her leadership CJPME will continue to grow as a prominent and credible voice for justice and peace and adherence to international law.
Sincerely,
The CJPME Board