NorQuest Welcomes Celia Wanderley to the Board of Governors

When Celia Wanderley immigrated to Canada from Brazil, her welcome package included information on learning English at NorQuest. Two decades and countless career accomplishments later, she’s come full circle and joined the college as our newest public Board member.

“NorQuest has always been on my mind as an enabler of success for newcomers,” says Wanderley, a noted expert on digital transformation, technology strategy and artificial intelligence (AI). “The college really speaks to immigrants, to women, and to helping people succeed. I find that very inspiring.”

Wanderley and her husband moved to Edmonton in 2003 with the intent to stay just three years. But the city’s warmth and opportunities for professional growth turned a temporary destination into their forever home.

As Chief Innovation Officer at Bits In Glass, Wanderley is passionate about machine learning, data strategy, and solution architecture. Her contributions to the field saw her named Women in AI North America’s AI Innovator of the Year in 2023.

Wanderley’s 25 years of experience will not only support NorQuest’s commitment to Alberta 2030—which includes strengthening internationalization in higher education—but also help NorQuest forge new pathways for AI leadership.

“AI is an enabler, but it’s also a disrupter,” she says. “Every educational institution will have to reinvent themselves, and community colleges will be at the centre of that.”

A former post-secondary instructor, Wanderley is enthusiastic about mentoring fellow immigrants along their journeys. And she believes there’s no place like NorQuest when it comes to the ability to transform lives—no matter how or where people’s stories began.

“It’s one thing for you to have been a successful professional in your home country and in your native language; it’s another thing completely to be able to transfer those skills and succeed in a new world,” she says. “But I believe anything is possible with a strong community behind you.”