The Post Secondary Employers Association (PSEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Bleick as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

In becoming PSEA's new CEO, Anita furthers a notable career where she has developed significant legal and labour relations experience. Anita joined the PSEA last year as Director of Labour Relations. In that role she has had senior responsibility for collective bargaining, mandate and contract administration as well as playing a pivotal role in strategic planning, human resources and oversight of sectoral legal matters.

Immediately prior to joining PSEA Anita held the role of Labour Negotiator and Legal Counsel at Metro Vancouver. She has previously had the opportunity to work in a number of private and public sector labour relations settings, as well for a law firm focusing exclusively on public sector clients. Anita's professional career is augmented by a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction and a Juris Doctor degree in Law, both from the University of Victoria.

After a national search conducted by Pinton Forrest & Madden, Anita's significant skills, accomplishments and commitment made it clear that she will be a very strong leader of the organization, as well as within the sector as a whole. PSEA's Chair Nick Rubidge, President of College of the Rockies, stated: "In her time with the Association, Anita has quickly and effectively become a trusted advisor to our diverse membership base. The Board is confident in her abilities to guide us through some fairly significant sectoral change given her proactive relationship building abilities and her pragmatic approach to finding solutions.

Anita will replace PSEA's current CEO, John Waters, who is retiring. Her appointment is effective October 1, 2010.