Applications for the 2022 WiDS Scholarship and WiDS & CGAI Fellowship are in!

Over the next few weeks our esteemed group of review panelists have the difficult but important job of selecting our 2022 winners.

Meet our Review Panel:

Superintendent Isobel Granger has advocated on behalf of issues affecting women and children most of her life. Her hard work, excellence, professionalism and service have made a profound difference in the lives of women in Canada and abroad. From her role as the first black officer to join the ranks with the British South Africa Police in segregated Rhodesia (which became Zimbabwe) and as one of the first five black female officer with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) 1994; Isobel’s leadership experience includes, frontline patrol, criminal investigations and diversity and inclusion in: Youth Intervention and Diversion, Diversity and Race Relations, Intimate Partner Violence, and specialized investigations within the Criminal Investigations Directorate, through to her work delivering gender-based sexual violence training to UN personnel in peace operations around the world.

Michael Doucet brings more than 30 years of cyber security and information management leadership experience to his current role. As an executive director, executive advisory in the Office of the CISO at Optiv, Doucet uses his past and present experiences to assist public and private enterprises plan, create and execute security strategies.

Alessandra Jenkins is Senior Manager at Avascent, a leading strategy consulting firm for aerospace, defence, and technology industries where she has extensive experience advising both government and private sector leaders. Her expertise is in emerging technologies for defence spanning autonomous systems, clean technologies, marine technologies, and advanced computing capabilities.

Sree Chakraborty is an experienced systems engineer and lifelong learner. Driven by a passion for innovation and technology, she pursued her BASc. from the University of Toronto and soon after, earned her MSc. in Systems Engineering from the University College London. Now, she works to modernize military aircrafts and sensors at General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada. She is currently pursuing her PhD.

Dr. David Perry is the President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, host of the weekly Defence Deconstructed Podcast, and author of multiple publications related to defence budgeting, transformation, and procurement. Dr. Perry received his PhD in political science from Carleton University. He is an adjunct professor at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary and a research fellow of the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University.

Stay tuned for more profiles of our 2022 review panelists.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL WiDS SCHOLARSHIP

The WiDS Annual Scholarship fund was established in 2006 with a mandate to encourage women to further their educational objectives and pursue careers and related to Canada's defence and security. Since 2006, over $100,000 has been awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000-$10,000. This year, WiDS is pleased to announce that one scholarship, valued at $10,000 will be awarded.

WiDS is also pleased to partner with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) to offer the WiDS & CGAI Fellowship. This opportunity aims to advance the careers of women in defence and security by offering one or more women mentorship, work and research/analysis opportunities with CGAI, access to CGAI publications and resources.

This collaboration will select female graduate or post-graduate students using the WiDS Annual Scholarship Process and will provide a Fellowship delivered by CGAI. The fellowship also provides access to all WiDS professional development events. While the Fellowship will be oriented towards a Graduate Student, exceptional undergraduates will be considered eligible.

Through this collaboration, one or more female graduate or post-graduate students are selected through the WiDS Annual Memorial Scholarship Process and granted a Fellowship position with CGAI which provides publication, professional development, and mentoring and coaching opportunities among other benefits.

The benefits of the Fellowship include:

Publication opportunities with CGAI (the exact nature and amount subject to Fellow’s interest) and promotion of that work;
Mentoring and coaching with CGAI;
Professional development opportunities with the wider CGAI network subject to availability and the Fellow’s career interest;
Complimentary attendance at CGAI events;
Complimentary attendance at WiDS events; and
One complimentary access pass to the tradeshow floor at CANSEC.
You may apply to the CGAI Fellowship using the same WiDS Memorial Scholarship application form. Simply indicate whether or not you are interested in being considered for the CGAI opportunity as well.

WiDS scholarships are tenable only at recognized institutions in Canada. For applicants who have completed a previous degree abroad, proof of acceptance or registration at a Canadian institution is required.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following mandatory criteria. No exceptions will be considered.

Applicants must:

Be enrolled at an accredited Canadian university or college, either full-time or part-time in the school year 2022-2023 (in the case of university students both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, however undergraduates must have completed at least 2 years of study);
Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career related to Canada's defence or security;
Have a minimum grade point average of 70%;
Provide evidence of community, education or professional leadership;
Self-identify as a woman; and
Be a citizen of Canada.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Awards will be based on academic achievement, participation and interest in defence and security activities, field of study, work experience, statements of objectives, and recommendations. WiDS reserves the right to revise, suspend, or discontinue this program without notice.

AWARD NOTIFICATION

Please note that only successful applicants will be notified. Scholarship recipients will be invited to attend the 2022 WiDS Annual Scholarship & Awards Breakfast.