After founding AQR Law in 2014, Carmela remains connected with the firm as Senior Counsel.

Carmela has been a leader in BC's labour movement for over thirty years. She has served as a member of the BC Labour Relations Board, a Vancouver School Board Trustee, and Vice-President of the BC Federation of Labour. She was the Secretary-Business Manager and lead negotiator for the Hospital Employees Union in the 1990s, during which time the union achieved groundbreaking advances in pay equity. She was also formerly in-house counsel to the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the BC Teachers' Federation.

Carmela is a provincially-certified adult educator and brings her passion for adult education to her legal work and union training. Carmela has trained hundreds of union reps, shop stewards, leaders, and activists in topics including disability accommodation, grievance arbitration, the duty of fair representation, and bargaining.

Carmela served as the regional vice-president for the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers, is a member of CUPE Local 50, and an honourary member of HEU. Carmela is also a member of the Passenger Transportation Board.

Carmela divides her time between Chá7elkwnech (Gambier Island) and Vancouver. She enjoys volunteering in her community and spending time with her four wonderful grandchildren.