ACTRA has appointed Joanne Deer its new national director of communications and public policy.

Deer will be the new voice of the organization, handling all corporate communications and initiatives. Deer spent her last few years as director of communications for the national NDP.

She has a history with ACTRA, having previously held down the post of national public relations officer. Deer, who will start Sept. 8, takes over for Kim Hume, who recently left the actors' union after seven years.