Manuela was born in Europe (Acores) and immigrated to Toronto when she was 6 years old. At the age of 11 she became a Canadian Citizen and has considered Canada her home. After working as an assistant Early Childhood Educator and a bookkeeper, she moved to Hamilton and stayed at home to raise her young family. Manuela is passionate about life and work, and talks with enthusiasm about her career with insurance.
Manuela has worked in sales, underwriting, business analysis, and commercial specialist within her company. Each move has helped her to understand the full range of the core businesses and contributed to her growth and knowledge. She is an outside-the-box thinker who looks for holistic solutions to benefit the business and people she encounters. Her ability to balance professional standards and innovative new approaches gives her an edge responding to new or unusual requests and emerging needs.
She and her partner, Annette Smith moved to Manitoulin Island on Lake Manitou during the pandemic, and in her own words; “It was the best move ever! This island does something to your soul!”
She speaks Portuguese and English, loves to dance, enjoys cooking and appreciates time spent with her friends, two children and four grandchildren.
She wanted to be part of this great initiative and joined the Board, as she believes in the vision of LMAA to preserve and save our Lake.