Zenith Fellowship Summit 2022 Guide
Welcome to the Summit!
It is finally time for the Zenith Fellowship Summit! From Friday August 12th-Sunday August 14th, you will get to meet with your fellow Zenith Fellows and Mentees for 3-days of learning, growing, and connecting. As the first Class of this program, this Summit is a special event for us all in our mission to sustain talent and build a more inclusive space inclusive space sector here in Canada. You are all the future of Canadian space and will go on to become astronauts, explore new frontiers, make the world a more equitable place, and support your fellow people on spaceship Earth. During your time at the Summit, we urge you to think about where you’d like to go next with your career, your academic ambitions, and your community involvement.
You will plan to arrive on the evening of Thursday August 11th to get settled in at the hotel or your alternate accommodations for a bright and early start on Friday morning!
COVID Policy
The pandemic is still on-going and thus, to reduce as much risk as possible for all of you, ourselves, and our speakers as we plan to meet with one another in-person, we require you to please follow the below guidelines:
Five days prior to attending the Summit, we recommend that you please reduce any risky activities to ensure the safety of all participants at the Summit.
Within 24 hours before travelling to the Summit, we recommend that you take a rapid antigen test using an at home test kit. These can be picked up at pharmacies or grocery stores across Canada.
Currently, it is federally required for passengers of air and train transit to wear a mask. If this rule changes, we will highly recommend you wear a mask as you travel to the Summit.
You will be required to provide your proof of vaccination which indicates that you are fully-vaccinated with at least two shots of an accepted COVID Vaccine. We recommend that you get your booster shot if you have not already before the Summit at least 14-days before. We will provide more information shortly on where to upload this proof of vaccination.
During the event, you will be required wear a well-fitting mask that covers your mouth, nose, and chin. You will be required to wear at least a 3-layer surgical mask, cloth masks are not acceptable. We recommend KN95 or KF94 masks.
When eating or drinking, you may remove your mask briefly to eat or drink. Please make sure to promptly put your mask on when you are not eating or drinking.
During the Summit, if you experience any symptoms, you will be required to take a rapid antigen test (which will be provided).
If you test positive during the Summit, you will be required to isolate for the remainder of the event. If you are sharing a room with someone at the hotel, you may be required to find alternate accommodations at your own expense. We hope that this is a very unlikely scenario but want you to be prepared in case it happens.
When attending any off-site activities during the Summit such as but not limited to tours, restaurants, or other venues, you will be required to wear a mask even if it is not required by the establishment.
Rapid tests, masks, and hand sanitizer will be available for those who need it. As the summit date approaches, we will continue to update these guidelines. Our hope is to reduce the risk of COVID as much as possible to ensure the event is not impacted for everyone participating.
We understand that you will be sharing rooms with one another and will not be able to mask in your personal spaces. We understand that you may meet with one another outside of Summit time at the hotel or off-site. Please make sure to respect one another’s safety and ensure you are doing your part to reduce your risk of infection as much as possible.
We recommend you look into travel insurance for your trip in case of illness. You may be covered by your school, credit card, parent’s insurance, or can purchase external insurance depending on the policies - please make sure to read the policies carefully to ensure you are getting the coverage you need. Though it is unlikely, any additional expenses incurred due to illness from COVID or any other reason is the responsibility of the Fellow or Mentee.
If you require a medical accommodation or religious exemption for these above guidelines, please let us know ASAP. Additionally, if this changes anything for you in terms of your attendance at the Summit, please let us know ASAP.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to make this event as safe as possible for all who attend. Please let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything we missed!
Packing List
Check below for a recommended packing list of items and considerations for the Summit:
Summit Clothes: the attire for the Summit will generally be business casual. Feel free to dress however you’d like to express yourselves within the definition of business casual! Think blazers, dress pants, formal skirts, collared shirts, etc. We will also have a Mixer on Saturday evening at a pub, which will be business casual/casual evening attire.
Weather: The weather in Montreal is going to be warm with a high of mid-20 degrees Celsius and a possibility of rain, so make sure you have a variety of options of clothes. Consider that indoors might be chilly with A/C so you might want a layer. Pack a rain jacket and umbrella since we will be walking in between the hotel and the Summit venue. Also make sure to pack any hats, sunscreen, etc to ensure you are prepared for the sun if you plan to be outside during lunch.
Activities: There will be opportunities to go outside at lunch if you’d like to do some outdoor activities and depending on what you signed up for for the Friday evening, you may be active in the Escape Room. Make sure to have some casual or active clothes that you can change into so that you aren’t creasing your nicer clothes unnecessarily!
Technology: Consider bringing your laptop, tablet or any other portable electronic device that you can use on Saturday and Sunday at the Summit. While you work on your Community Impact Presentations, or for taking notes, or anything else, you may want your device. You will be responsible for any lost, damaged or stolen items in between your travels between venues so make sure to keep your belongings safe.
COVID and Health & Safety: Pack extra masks (3-layer surgical masks, KN95 or KF95 only), hand sanitizer, and COVID tests if you can. Pack any medications or foods that you will need throughout the event in case. Make sure you have your health card as well.
Scent-free Event: To make this event as safe and comfortable for everyone, please make sure not to wear perfume, cologne, aftershave and other fragrances. Please bring unscented personal care products
Checklist
See below for essential items you should make sure to do before and as you arrive at the Summit (this list will be updated):
We recommend you take a COVID Rapid test 24 hours before you arrive at the Summit - make sure you are feeling well before coming!
Check-in to your hotel or accommodation on Thursday (more info below for ZCPF hotel) - if you are at the hotel, connect with your roommate ahead of time!
Message in the ZCPF Discord group #summit channel when you arrive and are settled in Montreal (or text Hira at 905-962-3401)
Make sure to submit your Community Impact Project Proposal by Thursday August 11th by the end of the day.
Make sure to post about your Summit experience and take lots of pictures! Use #ZenithSummit22 on social media for any posts and tag @ZenithPathways on all platforms.
Check which activity you will be doing at this spreadsheet.
Arrival in Montreal
Summit Venue
Travel:
Plan to arrive in Montreal the night before the Summit on Thursday August 11th. The Summit will begin bright and early on Friday August 12th.
Fellow’s travel has been booked and details have been sent via email. If there are any issues, please let us know ASAP.
Accommodations:
We will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Centre-Ville hotel booked through ZCPF, located at 380 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B1. The hotel is an approximate 7 minute walk from the Summit venue so make sure to give yourself enough time in the morning to get to the Summit on time. If you have an outstanding balance to pay ZCPF, please make sure to arrange your payment before arrival in Montreal.
As a reminder, the roommate pairs can be found here.
If you have arranged alternative accommodations, please make sure you give yourself enough time to arrive to the Summit on time each day!
Venue:
The Summit will take place at the McGill Engine Center located at Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5, 3450 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E8. A light breakfast will be served each day at 8:00am and programming will start promptly at 8:45am.
Schedule
Thursday August 11th, 2022
Friday August 12th, 2022
8:00 - 8:45 AM
BREAKFAST: light breakfast with coffee/tea provided by ZCPF
8:45 - 9:00 AM
ZCPF Opening Remarks: Chair of the Board
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Opening Keynote: Ewan Reid (he/him), CEO at Mission Control
Ewan Reid is President & CEO of Mission Control, a Canadian Space Exploration company that develops software for Earth, Moon and Mars. Prior to founding Mission Control Ewan was a subsystem design lead for the development of three rover prototypes for the CSA. He was a mission controller for ten of the last 12 Space Shuttle missions at Mission Control at NASA JSC and conducted numerous pre-mission launchpad tests at NASA KSC. He has also supported flight programs for ESA and JAXA. Ewan has degrees in Electrical Engineering and Economics from Queen’s University, a Master’s degree in Technology Innovation Management at Carleton University and is an alumnus and adjunct faculty member at the International Space University. Ewan has published multiple opinion pieces on Canada’s role in space exploration in the Globe and Mail. Ewan is treasurer and serves on the board of directors for Space Canada. Ewan is committed to inspiring the next generation to always keep exploring.
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Mission Control Activity: Moon Yard Rover Demo
11:00 - 11:30 AM
BREAK (30 min)
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
SciComm for Space: Dr. Parshati Patel (she/her), Science Communicator and Astrophysicist at Western University
Dr. Parshati Patel is an Astrophysicist turned Science Communicator, and STEM Education Researcher based in London, Ontario, Canada. Parshati has a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Planetary Science & Exploration from Western University. Post Ph.D., she transitioned into the field of Science Communication and Education to pursue her passion for engaging and inspiring the next generation of space explorers. Parshati is an Educational Outreach and Communications Specialist at Western University’s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration. She has been communicating her passion for space science and technology with students and the public for 9+ years through various outreach initiatives. Parshati serves on the Board of Advisors for Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) - Canada and Principal Scientific Adviser's Consultative Group to the Government of India. She is passionate about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as well as uplifting women and minorities in STEM. She recently fell in love with night sky photography and she often uses her photograph to start conversations about light pollution and our place in space.
12:15 - 1:15 PM
LUNCH: catered by TBD with selection of TBD provided by ZCPF
Canadian Space Agency Tour: We will leave McGill Engine promptly to arrive at the CSA by 2PM. We will return to Montreal by 5PM.
1:15 - 5:00 PM
5:30 - 7:30 PM
DINNER: Terrasses Bonsecours (364 Rue de la Commune E, Montréal, QC H2Y 0B4) (paid for by ZCPF) Dress code: Business Casual
Night-out: Choice of activities either Board Game Bar (Randolph’s, Quartier Latin) or Escape Rooms (Vortex, Plateau) (paid for by ZCPF)
Board Game Bar (Randolph's, Quartier Latin)
ZCPF will cover the entry fee and one drink each for those coming to the Board Game Bar.
There is no time limit for coming to the board game bar, so you may stay for as long as you'd like.
We would head to the bar for arrival at 8:00pm ET and 8:15pm ET.
Escape Room (Vortex, Plateau)
ZCPF will cover one game for each person coming to the Escape Room.
There are two games
You may go to the Board Game Bar after (14 minute walk), but this will depend on availability as it books up quickly. The fee would not be covered by ZCPF for this second activity. I encourage you to find a group of people if you'd like to go to the bar after the Escape Room to make a reservation ahead of time if you'd like!
Check which activity you will be doing at this spreadsheet.
7:30 - 9:30 PM
Zenith Fellows and Mentees arrive in Montreal!
Check-in at Hilton Garden Inn Centre-Ville begins at 3pm ET.
Send a message in the ZCPF Discord Group #summit channel or text Hira @ 905-962-3401 to let us know you arrived at the Hotel or your alternate accommodations in Montreal.
Connect with other Fellows, Mentees, and the ZCPF Organizing team at the Hotel to coordinate dinner plans nearby in the Discord group #summit channel.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make sure to arrive promptly at the Summit on Day One as we will have you check-in, receive your swag, and get settled before a busy day.
We will be having a non-stop day going from McGill to the CSA right to dinner and then our evening activity. If you would like to change clothes at any point, please make sure to pack it for the day before you come as we will not be going back to the hotel.
Saturday August 13th, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
BREAKFAST: light breakfast with coffee/tea provided by ZCPF
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Opening Keynote: Lori (she/her), CEO at Earthrise Alliance
Lori Garver is the Founder and CEO of Earthrise Alliance, a philanthropy that creates meaningful earth science content from satellite data to address climate change. She serves as an Executive in Residence at Bessemer Venture Partners, and is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Garver is a member of the board of Hydrosat and an strategic advisor to Sierra Space. Garver served as Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 2009 - 2013 and led the agency’s transition team for President-Elect Obama. Previous senior positions have included General Manager of the Air Line Pilots Association, Vice President at the Avascent Group, and Associate Administrator for Policy and Plans at NASA.
Lori is a Co-Founder of the Brooke Owens Fellowship, an internship and mentorship program for collegiate women and gender minorities pursuing degrees in aerospace fields. Garver is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the 2021 Public Service Award from the AIAA, the 2021 Robert Heilein Award, the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Aerospace, three NASA Distinguished Service Medals and an Honorary Doctorate from Colorado College. She holds a B.A. in Political Economy from Colorado College and an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the George Washington University.
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Host Organization Talk: Callie Lissina, Co-Founder and COO at Wyvern
Callie is COO & Co-Founder of Wyvern, an Alberta-based space company making satellites that will capture data-rich Earth imagery from small satellites. Her work has encompassed growing the team from 4 founders to over 25 people and directing Wyvern's upcoming satellites missions. She managed the AlbertaSat student satellite project at the University of Alberta for 3 years, which included leading orbital operations of the first-ever made-in-Alberta satellite, Ex-Alta 1. Callie holds a BSc. Mechanical Engineering with a mathematics minor from the University of Alberta. In the evenings she teaches dance lessons to kids and teens.
10:30 - 10:45 AM
BREAK (15 min)
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Opportunities in Space Panel: Moderated by Mavesa Nguyen, ZCPF Volunteer
Kate Howells, Communications Strategist at The Planetary Society
Kate Howells is a science communicator and space advocate. Based in Guelph, ON, Kate works with The Planetary Society, a non-profit organization founded by Carl Sagan and led today by Bill Nye that empowers the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. From 2017-2020 Kate served on the Government of Canada’s Space Advisory Board, and she currently served on SEDS Canada’s Board of Advisors. Kate also works in Guelph with Royal City Science, a nonprofit group bringing science outreach to the community with the goal of establishing a local science centre. She is also the author of Space Is Cool As F***.
Bryn Orth-Lashley, NPoC for Canada at Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
Bryn Orth-Lashley is the National Point of Contact for Canada for the Space Generation Advisory Council, an organisation and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia. He is also the Team Lead for Satellite Operations and Service Delivery at GHGSAT, an innovative Canadian company that is pioneering space technology to remotely monitor greenhouse gases and provide emissions data and intelligence to businesses, governments, regulators, and investors worldwide to enable emission reduction goals and fight climate change. He has a passion for enabling new applications of space technologies for the betterment of society, applying this passion to previous positions at QinetiQ and most recently MDA, where he was the Mission Systems Engineer and Commissioning Coordinator for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission. He received his BSc and MSc in Astrophysics from the University of Toronto and a MSc in Space Science and Engineering from University College London.
Linda Dao, Zenith Mentor & ISU Alumni
Linda Dao enjoys helping students and young professionals reach excellence as part of their space-related goals. As a former participant of the Dr. Roberta Bondar Career Development Program, she is a proponent of working in and encouraging others towards STEAM disciplines. Over the past 5 years, Linda has worked in both the public and private space sectors, where she leverages her diversified experiences within space-health, -policy, -consulting and corporate project management to help advance space in Canada. Linda has a M.Sc. in Space Science from the International Space University (Israel & France) and a B.Sc. in Honours Biochemistry from McMaster University (Canada). She has contributed to reports for the United Nations General Assembly and the International Astronautical Congress. She additionally worked at NASA Ames as a graduate researcher in the field of astrobiology. Outside of work, Linda is a balloon artist, making unique balloon sculptures.
Chimira Andres, PhD Student at York University & Alumni of ESA Young Grad in Training Program
Bio coming soon
Kelsey Doerksen, PhD Student at Oxford University
Kelsey Doerksen is a PhD student at the University of Oxford in the Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems Centre for Doctoral Training Programme, and an incoming Visiting Researcher at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab with the Machine Learning and Instrument Autonomy Group. Kelsey is focusing her research on utilizing space-based data and machine learning to enable science discovery. She holds a Masters Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Collaborative Planetary Science and Exploration Program from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Space Systems Design with a Minor in Business from Carleton University. Kelsey has over 2 years of experience as a Space Systems Engineer in Satellite Operations at Planet, operating the world’s largest Earth Observation satellite constellation, and co-led the commissioning campaign for Planet’s Flock 4S 48 SuperDove satellite launch in January 2021. In 2021, Kelsey was awarded the Space and Satellite Professional’s International 20 under 35 Promise Award, recognizing her as a leader of the year's cohort of professionals.
12:15 - 1:15 PM
Canada to Mars: Raymond Francis, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Raymond Francis’ current research is in new techniques for autonomous science, and the mission design and operations consequences of such increased autonomy capabilities. Many of the autonomy applications call for automated interpretation of images of natural scenes, and he develops techniques to do that, both for geological and atmospheric applications. He often works closely with both the science and engineering teams on programs – whether in the development or operation stage.
Dr. Raymond Francis is the Deputy Science Operations Team Chief for the Mars 2020 rover project, and works in several operations roles for both the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers. He is a member of both the ChemCam and SuperCam instrument teams, and take part in planning both geological and atmospheric science observations on the two rover missions. He is also the lead system engineer for the AEGIS autonomous instrument targeting system, used for ChemCam on Curiosity.
1:15 - 2:00 PM
LUNCH: catered by TBD with selection of TBD provided by ZCPF + Host Organization Talk: Sobia Nadeem, Intern at Sinclair Interplanetary by Rocket Lab
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Career Paths Panel: Moderated by Sam Condie, ZCPF Director of External Relations
Casia McLeod, Mission Systems Engineer at MDA
Casia is a Mission Systems Engineer at MDA, currently working on Canadarm3 for the Lunar Gateway project as the lead systems engineer for the arm. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta. During her undergrad she was the Mechanical Lead of a cube satellite mission with AlbertaSat, participated in an internship at the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics working on an international cube satellite project, and helped build and launch a sounding rocket in the Canada-Norway Student Sounding Rocket (CaNoRock) exchange program. Casia is eager to share her passion for space with others and help encourage others wanting to join the Canadian space industry.
Charity Weeden, Vice President of Global Space Policy and Government Relations at AstroScale-US
Bio coming Soon
Dr. Cassandra Marion, Science Advisor at CASM
Cassandra is the Science Advisor for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. She has a PhD in geology, and planetary science and exploration from the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University. Her research is focused on meteorite impact craters at lunar and Martian analogues sites in the Canadian Arctic. She also has considerable analogue mission experience, which are simulated robotic and human missions designed to learn, train and prepare for real missions to the Moon and Mars. In her most recent expedition, Cassandra helped to train two astronauts in field geology in preparation for upcoming missions to the Moon. As a science-communicator, Cassandra is dedicated to sharing her passion for Earth and planetary sciences with communities near and far, and improving science literacy in Canada.
Eric Choi, Director of Business Development at GHGSat
Eric Choi is director of business development at GHGSat. Over the course of his career, he has held positions of increasing technical and managerial responsibility in both the aviation and space sectors, the latter including work on QEYSSat (Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite), the Meteorology (MET) payload on the NASA Phoenix Mars Lander, the Canadarm2 on the International Space Station, the RADARSAT-1 Earth-observation satellite, and the MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution on the Troposphere) instrument. He holds a B.A.Sc in engineering science and an M.A.Sc in aerospace engineering, both from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from York University.
Dexter Jagula, COO at SkyWatch
Dexter is a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at SkyWatch. He holds a Software Engineering degree from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Space Studies from the International Space University. He has experience in both the space and IT sectors, while specializing in business and customer development.
4:00 - 5:00 PM
2:00 - 2:30 PM
5:00 - 7:00 PM
BREAK + Community Impact Project Presentation Prep + Travel to Mixer (2hr)
Use this time to prepare final touches on your presentation before the next day. Get ready for the mixer and meet ZCPF Directors and Volunteers in the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn to travel to the Mixer together.
7:00 - 10:00 PM
MIXER: Ye Olde Orchard Pub (Prince Arthur Location) paid for by ZCPF
Speakers, Host Organizations, Mentors and friends in the space industry have been invited to meet with you at this event where we will have time for networking, and enjoying food and drinks. Canapés and one drink ticket will be provided by ZCPF.
Beyond the Community Impact Project: Space Generation Advisory Council Presentation by Victoria Carter-Cortez, Manager of 2022 SGC
Community Impact Presentation Prep (30 mins)
Bio coming Soon
Sunday August 14th, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
BREAKFAST: light breakfast with coffee/tea provided by ZCPF
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Community Impact Project Presentations
11:00 - 11:15 AM
BREAK (15 min)
12:15 - 1:15 PM
ZCPF Closing Remarks + LUNCH: catered by TBD with selection of TBD provided by ZCPF
11:15 - 12:15 PM
You’re an Alumni! Now what?: Zenith Fellowship Presentation