The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has opened the application process to find the next President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
According to the official Governor in Council job posting, the deadline to apply is May 21, 2026. The full-time position offers a salary range of $253,300 to $298,000 per year and requires the successful candidate to reside in or relocate to the Saint-Hubert, Quebec area, where the agency is headquartered.
Outlining the scope of the position, the posting notes: “The President’s broad responsibilities include providing leadership and strategic direction to the Canadian Space Agency; planning, overseeing and implementing large and complex scientific or technological space programs, projects and services for the Canadian Space Agency or on behalf of other government partners; supporting a healthy research and development eco-system… and acting as a champion for the Canadian space sector domestically and internationally.”
Applicants are expected to possess a degree in public administration, science, engineering, business, or an acceptable equivalent, alongside executive-level management experience in a large, complex organization. While a background in the space, defence, or aerospace industries is considered an asset, it is not strictly mandatory. Bilingual proficiency in English and French is preferred.
The search for a new leader was expected, signaling the upcoming end of current President Lisa Campbell’s tenure. Campbell took on the role in September 2020, moving over from Veterans Affairs Canada to become the first woman to lead the agency on a full-time basis. She is only the third CSA president to complete a full five-year term, and her tenure was extended an additional year to September 2026 and now ranks as the second longest serving president. Her initial appointment followed the departure of Sylvain Laporte, who led the agency for five and a half years—the third-longest tenure in CSA history behind William “Mac” Evans. The back-to-back tenures of Laporte and Campbell brought much need stability to the Canadian Space Agency.
As Canada continues to execute its current strategy—including high-profile commitments to the Artemis program and dual-use space defence pivot—the incoming president will be tasked with guiding the agency through an era of new procurements, capacity development, and international partnerships.
List of Canadian Space Agency Presidents
| # | Name | Acting (Interim) | Dates | Length |
| 1 | Dr. Larkin Kerwin | March 1, 1989 – February 29, 1992 | 3 years | |
| 2 | Laurent A. Bergeron | ✓ | March 1, 1992 – May 3, 1992 | 2 months |
| 3 | Roland Doré | May 4, 1992 – July 31, 1994 | 2 years, 3 months | |
| 4 | Dr. Karl Doetsch | ✓ | August 1, 1994 – November 20, 1994 | 4 months |
| 5 | William “Mac” Evans | November 21, 1994 – November 21, 2001 | 7 years | |
| 6 | Dr. Marc Garneau | November 22, 2001 – November 28, 2005 | 4 years | |
| 7 | Dr. Virendra Jah | ✓ | November 29, 2005 – February 25, 2006 | 3 months |
| 8 | Carole Lacombe | ✓ | February 26, 2006 – April 11, 2007 | 1 year, 1 1/2 months |
| 9 | Larry J. Boisvert | April 12, 2007 – December 21, 2007 | 9 months | |
| 10 | Guy Bujold | ✓ | January 1, 2008 – September 2, 2008 | 8 months |
| 11 | Dr. Steven MacLean | September 2, 2008 – February 1, 2013 | 4 years, 5 months | |
| 12 | Gilles Leclerc | ✓ | February 2, 2013 – August 5, 2013 | 6 months |
| 13 | Walter Natynczyk | August 6, 2013 – November 3, 2014 | 1 year, 3 months | |
| 14 | Luc Brûlé | ✓ | November 4, 2014 – March 8, 2015 | 4 months |
| 15 | Sylvain Laporte | March 9, 2015 – September 8, 2020 | 5 years, 6 months | |
| 16 | Lisa Campbell | September 14, 2020 – September 15, 2026 | 6 years |