The long-time CEO of the Community Sector Council is stepping down from the position early in the new year.

That’s launched a public recruitment process to find a new CEO for the council which represents the volunteer and nonprofit sector.

Penny Rowe served as CEO of the Community Sector Council since its founding and Chair of the Board of Directors, Natasha Hudson says she has built the organization from a small local group into a provincially and nationally recognized organization.

Rowe has received the Frank McKenna Award for Excellence in Public Policy and the Canadian Council on Social Development’s President’s Award. She’s been named among a group of Canada’s most influential women by Chatelaine Magazine, and has been invested to the Order of Canada.

Rowe will stay on as CEO through the transition period after a successor is appointed.