Dr. Jodi L. Abbott of NorQuest College named a WXN 2015 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award

Edmonton, Alberta (November 25, 2015) –– NorQuest College is pleased to announce that president and CEO Dr. Jodi L. Abbott has been named a Women’s Executive Network (WXN) 2015 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner.

Launched in 2003, the Top 100 Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada’s top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks. Jodi, who will receive the Sun Life Financial Trailblazers & Trendsetters Award for women who are either the first in their field or have made a major impact on it, will be honoured during a gala celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 26.

Dr. Abbott joined NorQuest as president and CEO in 2010 and has had a profound impact on the college and the greater Edmonton community. Initiatives during her tenure include: helping the college to increase enrolment; the development of programming consistent with the needs of employers; launching initiatives that have improved profitability and efficiency for business and industry; increasing career opportunities for the underemployed with resources such as the Alberta Aboriginal Construction Careers Centre; and increasing education opportunities for thousands of additional students thanks to the college’s new campus addition, the Singhmar Centre for Learning.

As a proud supporter of women in leadership, NorQuest College works to create the necessary conditions and opportunities for women like Dr. Abbott to help them thrive and succeed within the post-secondary education sector.

“Over 70 per cent of NorQuest students are female,” says Abbott. “This award is a tribute to the many women who are working to provide better lives for themselves and their families through the strength of a NorQuest College education.”

Since 2010, NorQuest College has increased the number of women in its executive ranks by 60 per cent and has put a number of initiatives in place to help enhance opportunities for women. This includes the 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities movement, which is raising money for a childcare centre on campus. The college has also been a longtime leader in helping new Canadian students, many of whom are women, create pathways to employment and careers through education.

The Top 100 Awards serve to recognize talented leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and to inspire the current and next generation to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

“For these highly accomplished women, receiving a Top 100 Award means much more than recognition or a chance to share the spotlight with other remarkable Winners, it’s an opportunity to pay it forward,” says WXN founder, Pamela Jeffery. “WXN Top 100 Award Winners are powerful women both in their careers and their potential to transcend boundaries to have a greater impact on the communities around them.”

Dr. Abbott joins a prestigious community of past Award Winners, including Canada’s most iconic women trailblazers: Margaret Atwood, best-selling author; Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut; Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications; Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada; Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada; Heather Reisman, founder and chief executive officer, Indigo Books & Music; and, Kathleen Taylor, chair of the board, Royal Bank of Canada.

The full list of WXN’s 2015 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners can be found at www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-winners.

About Dr. Jodi L. Abbott, ICD.D

Since joining the college in 2010 following a long career in health care, Dr. Abbott has grown NorQuest’s credit and non-credit programming; unveiled innovative new partnerships like the Landmark Group Centre for Value Improvement, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation Hospitality Institute, and the Alberta Aboriginal Construction Career Centres; enhanced NorQuest’s brand recognition; and securing funding, and initiating construction, of the college’s biggest campus expansion project in over 40 years, the Singhmar Centre for Learning. Dr. Abbott is also a board director with the Sinneave Foundation and a member of the World Presidents’ Organization. In addition, she has a longstanding involvement in the figure skating world, including as an Olympic judge in 2010 and 2014, and as a current board director with Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut. In 2011, Dr. Abbott was included in the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity’s list of Canada’s top 20 most influential women in sport. She is also a two-time recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her significant local, provincial, and national contributions in sport and post-secondary education.

About NorQuest College

NorQuest College is the Edmonton region’s only community college serving 11,552 students annually throughout the province in full-time, part-time, distance learning, and regional programs. NorQuest College helps learners with diverse educational backgrounds complete or further their studies through foundational and continuing education programs. Our post-secondary diploma and certificate programs offer career paths in health, community studies, and business. By collaborating with business, industry, government and communities, we ensure our post-secondary education is necessary and workforce relevant.

About the Women’s Executive Network (WXN)

At WXN, we inspire smart women to lead. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize our community of more than 19,500 smart women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence. WXN enables our partners and corporate members to become and to be recognized as employers of choice and leaders in the advancement of women.

Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles. WXN is a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity of Canada’s corporate boards. In 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, followed by London, UK in 2015, creating an international community of female leaders.

More information and details are available at www.wxnetwork.com or www.top100women.ca.

NT3