Jessie Thomson is the Head of Delegation for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Türkiye, working in partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay). Previously she was the Head of Delegation for IFRC in Greece, where she worked closely with the Hellenic Red Cross on their climate and migration related programming.
She has over 19 years of experience working in international development and humanitarian assistance, with a diverse career spanning multiple sectors including the Canadian federal public service, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
From 2011 to 2021, Jessie held a variety of portfolios with CARE Canada, including as Vice President responsible for strategic planning, partnerships, fundraising, marketing and communications, program and operations, and human resources. Prior to joining the Senior Leadership Team at CARE Canada, Jessie was the Senior Director responsible for Program Innovation and Strategic Partnerships and the Senior Director of the Humanitarian Assistance and Emergencies. Jessie has worked in Pakistan with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East during her early years with CARE. Jessie began her career with the Canadian federal public service, working at the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jessie has an undergraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Toronto and an MSc from the London School of Economics in International Development Studies. She is married with two children and speaks French and English.