We are building a more inclusive and bright future for the Canadian space sector.
Established as a not-for-profit organization in 2021, the Zenith Canada Pathways Foundation was founded by Hira Nadeem, Zaid Rana, and Tahir Merali. Coming from different parts of Canada with different professional experience, they all had the same challenge of finding a place where they felt a sense of belonging within the space sector in Canada. With a team of passionate Canadians from across Canada, the US and Europe they set forth to support the next generation by developing a program that promotes retention of talent in Canada, increases diversity in the sector, and provides a community in which young space careers can thrive. So, the Zenith Fellowship program was born. Modelled after the successful programs from our friends at the Brooke Owens Fellowship, the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program and the Zed Factor Fellowship Program, our program is the first of its kind in Canada.
The Zenith Fellowship program is unique as it was adapted to serve the challenges Canadians face. Our program is two-fold - we provide internship and mentorship to our Fellows. From the selected Fellows, a cohort called the Zenith Fellow Mentees are provided mentorship, and participate in professional development and community engagement opportunities through the program. Since our industry is still growing, we have a limited number of internship opportunities. As such, a small cohort of Fellows called Zenith Fellow Interns additionally intern at one of our Host Organizations. Each year, the community of Fellows grows and supports one another as they progress throughout their careers.
This could not have been done without the extreme dedication of the fully volunteer-based team which continues to grow. The founding members of the Zenith Canada Pathways Foundation who shaped the Zenith Fellowship program are Hira Nadeem, Tahir Merali, Zaid Rana, Sam Condie, Gavin Tolometti, Eric van Velzen, Sean Mitra, Kelsey Doerksen, Mavesa Nguyen, and Juwairiah Zia.