ACL Leader in Focus – Maxine Semple

Maxine Semple is an experienced trainer, influencer, project manager, and relationship builder, connected with colleges, universities, government ministries, and industry.

With more than 8 years of global education and development experience, Maxine’s cross-cultural competence and passion for student engagement led her to her current role as Niagara College’s Cultural & Global Engagement Manager. A leader in global partnerships and internationalization, Maxine develops, champions and manages international mobility strategies including collaborative projects for staff, faculty, and students in culturally diverse learning environments.

A Niagara College graduate from the International Commerce & Global Development program, Maxine also earned a Masters of Education – Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of British Columbia. Maxine is passionate about Niagara College and the importance of applied educational opportunities to influence a global mindset. Maxine has worked in the post-secondary environment in both Ontario and Nova Scotia and has lived and worked on three continents: South America, Africa, and North America.

In your view, what’s the most important attribute of a leader?

Humility, with the recognition that most success achieved, is shared by a team and not often alone.

How do you define civic leadership?

Civic leadership is about supporting positive change within and throughout your local and global community. It is the process of conceptualizing and implementing ideas that benefit the lives and wellness of our communities. Civic leadership can be displayed in all facets of our lives, from decisions on how to better services, combat community challenges, to better educating and assisting our region’s understanding of global issues, which directly affect our world in Niagara.

Why are you personally motivated to explore civic leadership?

It’s a great opportunity to assist in changing our community for the better through generating ideas with like-minded community members.

What, in your view, is the most significant issue/opportunity facing our community? Why?

Understanding how beautifully global our Niagara community is, and understanding the incredible compliment it is to have individuals choose our region to live, study and work. The biggest opportunity for Niagara is to embrace the learning that can come from people from around the world to live here in Niagara.