Goodbye and thanks to CEO Helena Djurkovic

After almost seven years as CEO of the Political Studies Association, Helena Djurkovic has decided to move on to fresh challenges and will be leaving the Association on 9 April 2017.

In her time at the PSA, Helena transformed the organisation from top to bottom. When Helena was appointed as the Association’s first CEO in May 2010, just two staff were employed in an office based at Newcastle University. Now the Association employs six staff in London, with more planned, and has significantly enhanced its profile and reputation both at home and overseas.

Under Helena’s incisive and strategic management, the organisation has professionalised its operations and dramatically expanded the ambition and range of its activities. It is also now operating on a considerably more secure financial footing.

Helena played a key role in negotiating the new five-year contract with SAGE to publish the Association’s portfolio of academic journals on much enhanced terms; launched a major programme of engagement with the media through the organisation of media briefings and publication of briefing reports; led the redesign of the website such that it served not just to enhance internal and external communications but much improve membership and conference management and built partnerships with a large number of external organisations, most notably the House of Commons.

We are grateful for the contribution she has made and wish her well.

The search for Helena's successor has begun and we expect to be able to make an announcement within the next couple of months. In the meantime, we have a new Interim CEO working with us, Sarah Brown, who will ensure a smooth transition to Helena's successor.