Laurel Evans joined NorQuest College in 2012 and advanced from the Senior Manager of Human Resources to the Executive Director of Workforce Development and Human Resources position in 2016. She became NorQuest’s Vice President of People in 2019 and is now Vice President People and Culture as she is responsible for reimagining and aligning the college’s people and culture functions.
Laurel also ensures the college has sound compliance systems for legislation, records management, OHS, FOIP, and the policy and procedure framework to ensure a safe operating environment that enables growth and innovation. She liaises with external legal counsel services to ensure the college proactively manages regulatory regimes and risk.
She is focused on advancing NorQuest College’s talent management plan with the college’s strategic priorities to build organizational capability, positively impact employee engagement to top quartile levels, and advance the human resources systems as they relate to the execution of the transformation strategy. Priorities include ensuring the college attracts, selects, and retains the right people. This includes developing and integrating our people within the college’s culture and initiatives in support of the strategic plan.
Laurel credits the incredible team and the contributions of the NorQuest community for the many awards the college has received, including being named one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures by a leading business-recruiting firm, Alberta’s Top 70 Employers, and receiving the Government of Alberta Diversity Leadership Award.
Laurel graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Education and has numerous certifications in a variety of human resource disciplines. She worked in the private sector for over 25 years in the human resources field, and brings with her strategic management and business partner experience that enabled successful implementation of people strategies to support organizational development.
Laurel is a proven leader that has effectively utilized team-oriented collaboration with long-term planning to generate successful results for the organization and its people.