A dream in motion: ICM alumna’s journey to the Canadian Women in Aviation Conference
“Dream is not what you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.”
For Jiya Malek, that restless dream began quietly, flipping through Wings of Fire halfway across the world and wondering if someone like her could ever belong in aerospace. What began as a small spark of curiosity grew through courage, determination and relentless learning, eventually taking her to the Canadian Women in Aviation Conference 2026 in Montreal.
In February 2026, Jiya received the Kelly Bartley Spirit of Aviation Award from Northern Spirit, earning her a place at the conference. As the only Mechanical Aerospace Engineering student from Manitoba among the scholarship recipients, the experience gave her an opportunity to connect with women from across the aviation industry and gain a deeper understanding of the possibilities within aerospace.
Jiya arrived in Montreal, the City of Saints, on 10 May and met the other three scholarship recipients. Before the conference began, the group explored the city together, discovering street music, basilicas and antique stores along the way.
The four-day conference officially began on the evening of 11 May with a welcome party and a boarding-pass-themed activity. Attendees were encouraged to find and connect with the other five people assigned to their row, creating a fun and memorable introduction to the conference community.
Learning from women in aviation
Day two began with an inspiring speech from Pina Guercio, Vice President of Global Affairs at Air Canada, followed by presentations from Ranya Alzamek, a commercial flight student, and Cassandra Derks, Director of Maintenance.
Their stories highlighted the experiences of women working towards careers in aviation, including the story of one of the world’s three female Syrian pilots and the experiences of women working in aircraft maintenance in Canada.
Cassandra’s discussion of the reality that women represent only around 2–3% of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers was particularly eye-opening. The sessions also explored issues including bullying, gender stereotyping, discrimination, imposter syndrome and the so-called “thick skin myth”, the expectation that women in male-dominated workplaces should tolerate disrespect, bias or unfair treatment in order to succeed.
The conversations highlighted that many women in the room had experienced these challenges. They also encouraged attendees to consider how such behaviours can sometimes come from other women, making the discussion around workplace culture and support even more complex.
The day continued with an interactive session led by Elevate Aviation on why leadership matters in aviation. For Jiya, the session offered an important lesson about the power of intentional listening.
“Often, we listen to our peers and friends, we try to be relatable, and we try to provide solutions. Listening intentionally means staying focused and trying to connect with the emotions and intentions of the other person; it means taking a minute and reflecting on what you heard instead of actively responding.”
The session also encouraged Jiya to think about the influence of her environment and how individual reactions can shape the world around her. One of the key lessons she took away was that not having control over something does not necessarily mean having no influence over it.
Leading without authority
The following day began with an impactful and inspirational keynote from Andrea MacDonald, Senior Business Manager at Boeing Winnipeg. Andrea highlighted how informal mentorship and leadership can be underrated ways to progress towards professional goals. She encouraged attendees to observe the people around them and adopt the skills and qualities that could help them grow.
Her discussion of informal leadership, or leading without formal authority, emphasised genuine care and appreciation for colleagues, collaboration and the ability to manage multiple priorities. She also shared how setting boundaries around work hours, embracing multitasking and having strong family support had helped her balance her professional and personal responsibilities.
Exploring the Canadian Space Agency
The group then visited the Canadian Space Agency, where scientists and engineers shared insights into their projects and initiatives. Presentations from Charlotte Pearce, Ana Maria Mejia, Benoit Gagnon and other scientists and engineers offered a glimpse into the work being undertaken in Canada’s space sector.
Jiya and the other attendees learned about parabolic flight testing, including its use in testing equipment such as flywheels designed for exercise in space. They also explored sub-orbital projects, blood sample collection and the challenges of conducting experiments and testing buffer solutions in zero gravity.
From setbacks to NASA
The final day became one of the most memorable parts of the conference, featuring several presentations that challenged attendees to think differently about careers, setbacks and success.
The day began with an exploration of the investigation process behind aviation incidents, providing insight into the roles and responsibilities of the personnel involved in understanding what happened and why.
This was followed by “How I Failed My Way to NASA”, presented by Captain Erin Edwards, the first non-astronaut Canadian CAPCOM. CAPCOMs communicate directly with astronauts during space missions. Captain Erin Edwards shared her journey in an inspiring and entertaining presentation. She had once dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but her career took a different path. From not being accepted into her dream university to facing physical challenges that left her feeling overwhelmed, she encountered setbacks that could easily have changed the direction of her ambitions. Instead, she continued moving forward.
By pushing beyond her perceived limitations, learning from every opportunity, taking on challenging helicopter routines and, most importantly, refusing to let go of her dream, Captain Erin Edwards built a remarkable career that eventually took her to NASA. Her story reinforced an important message for Jiya: a career does not always follow the path originally imagined, but every experience can contribute to the journey.
A dream that keeps moving
As the conference came to an end, Jiya found herself reflecting on the younger version of herself who had first stepped into Science City as an eighth grader, wide-eyed and eager to discover what existed beyond what she thought was possible. She returned home with renewed dreams, new insights and unforgettable memories, but perhaps most importantly, with a deeper sense of belonging in aerospace. She was particularly grateful to Kristin Long, whose encouragement reminded her that the sky is not simply a destination to reach, but a place where she belongs. The experience reaffirmed Jiya’s belief that every challenge, setback and lesson can become part of the path forward when there is the courage to keep moving.
Ad Astra, Per Aspera.
To the stars, through hardships.