Paula Calderon, President & CEO
Paula Calderon is the President & CEO of ACCES Employment, bringing more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in workforce development, employment services, and newcomer integration. Throughout her career, she has been committed to expanding economic opportunity, advancing inclusion, and helping employers connect with skilled and diverse talent. Her expertise includes strategic planning, organizational transformation, labour market integration, public policy advocacy, partnership development, and data-informed program design.
Paula joins ACCES Employment from the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA), where she served as Chief Executive Officer of one of Canada’s largest immigrant-serving organizations supporting immigrant women and their families. She previously held leadership roles with Windmill Microlending and ACCES Employment, working with employers, governments, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations to develop innovative workforce solutions and strengthen labour market participation.
An immigrant to Canada, Paula brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership. She is a recognized advocate for helping newcomers and internationally trained professionals contribute fully to Canada’s economy and communities and has successfully led organizational growth, change management, accreditation initiatives, and multi-sector collaborations.
Her contributions to the sector have been recognized through the 2024 Alberta Newcomer Champion Award, the inaugural Alive House Belonging Community Award, and recognition from the Women’s Economic Forum in London, UK.