Toronto, ON – ACCES Employment is pleased to announce the appointment of Paula Calderon as its next President & Chief Executive Officer. She will officially join the organization on October 19, 2026.
Paula is an accomplished nonprofit executive with more than two decades of leadership experience in the settlement, employment, and workforce development sectors. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA), Canada’s largest gender-focused immigrant-serving organization, and previously held leadership roles with Windmill Microlending and ACCES Employment.
As an immigrant to Canada herself, Paula brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Her decision to join ACCES was inspired by the organization’s strong reputation, community impact, and commitment to creating pathways to employment for people from diverse backgrounds.
“Following a rigorous search process, we are delighted to welcome Paula Calderon as ACCES Employment’s next President & CEO. She brings strong leadership experience, a deep commitment to our mission, and a clear vision for the future. The Board is confident that she will build on ACCES’ strong foundation and help expand our impact for jobseekers, employers, and communities,” says the Board of Directors Co-chair, Lucille D’Souza.
As President & CEO, Paula will lead ACCES as the organization continues to create pathways to employment and strengthen workforce inclusion across the communities it serves. As part of her onboarding, Paula will engage with employees, funders, partners, employers, and community leaders across ACCES’ network.
“I am honoured to join ACCES Employment as its next President & CEO. For over four decades, ACCES has transformed lives by connecting talent to opportunity and helping employers build diverse and inclusive workplaces. I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside staff, partners, and community leaders to further advance our vision of a fully inclusive labour force that reflects the diversity, skills, and experience of Canada’s population,” says incoming President & CEO, Paula Calderon.
With over four decades of impact, ACCES continues to connect jobseekers with meaningful employment opportunities while helping employers build strong, diverse workforces. Under Paula’s leadership, the organization is well positioned to build on this legacy and continue responding to the evolving needs of Canada’s labour market.
For any inquiries, please contact:
Julie Hiroz, Director Marketing and Public Affairs, jhiroz@accesemployment.ca
