Student Stories
IS Graduate Fatima Saenz leads Sustainable Development through Co-op Program
This summer, Fatima Saenz crosses the stage at Convocation Mall as a graduate with a major in International Studies and a minor in Sustainable Development. We sat down with Fatima to chat about her co-op experience as a sustainability intern, one of the highlights of her degree.
Tell us a bit about yourself! Did you always know you wanted a career in international studies and sustainable development, or did your path evolve over time?
I was born and raised in Peru and moved to Vancouver in 2021 when I was 17. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the social sciences, especially something related to international development. What stood out to me most about the International Studies Program was the range of concentrations it offered鈥攊t gave 17-year-old me the flexibility to explore different topics and narrow interests down as I grew within the program.
Sustainability, though, was something that came into my path later on. My 鈥渁ha鈥� moment came at the beginning of my fourth year, when finding an internship became a big priority for me as an international student. I had already declared a concentration in International Development, Economic, and Environmental Issues, and I realized I wanted to deepen my understanding of both the economic and environmental sides of that focus.
While looking into ways to expand that knowledge, I came across the Sustainable Development minor in the Resource & Environmental Management (REM) program at SFU. The more I learned about it, the more it clicked. The program connected naturally with topics I had been studying in International Studies鈥攆rom the SDGs to how sustainability applies across different sectors.
Combining my IS major with a Sustainable Development minor reshaped how I saw my future. It not only led me to my co-op role, but it also introduced me to a new passion鈥攐ne that allows me to apply what I learned in IS while exploring a new professional space.
Can you tell us about the organization where you completed your co-op, Orla Mining, and your role there?
I鈥檝e had the amazing opportunity to work as a Sustainability Intern at Orla Mining鈥檚 Sustainability Department since May 2025. Orla is a gold mining company with operations in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
My main responsibility has been developing training materials on sustainability-related corporate standards and policies for both corporate teams and site-level employees. These topics range from water management and biodiversity to stakeholder engagement, human rights, and environment, health and safety. This work is part of the company鈥檚 broader governance efforts to ensure that corporate standards and policies are not just in place but understood and implemented across all operations. Furthermore, I also assisted with Sustainability Reporting tasks, event planning, and cross-collaborative projects in the realm of the environmental branch of the team.
Having the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and experienced team has been incredibly inspiring. It鈥檚 had a real impact not only on my professional growth, but on my personal development as well. Experiencing this internship during my final year of university has truly been one of the cornerstones of my academic journey.
How did the skills and knowledge you developed in the International Studies program help prepare you for your co-op role?
The International Studies program really strengthened my writing and research skills. Most of the courses I took were heavily essay-based, with a strong focus on critical reading and discussion, which helped me develop a more analytical way of thinking that was transferrable across disciplines.
Courses like IS 300 Research Methods in International Studies, IS 350W Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective, and IS 451 Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies introduced me to research methodologies and writing formats that I鈥檝e directly applied during my co-op. Whether it鈥檚 writing memos, preparing presentations, developing structured content, and contributing to efforts for sustainability-related corporate policies and standards implementation, those skills have been key in helping me deliver high-quality work.
What was a memorable moment during your undergraduate studies?
Two moments stand out to me, both related to research:
The first was in IS 300, a course focused on research methodologies. We were given the opportunity to design our own research project, and I chose to focus on education access in rural Peru鈥攕pecifically in my hometown, Cajamarca. Education accessibility has always been something I care deeply about, so being able to explore it academically made the experience more meaningful. It鈥檚 a project I still look back on today.
The second was during a directed studies course, SD 491, as part of my Sustainable Development minor. This course allowed me to dive deeper into a topic that isn鈥檛 usually covered in regular classes. I decided to connect it with my internship and explored the topic of 鈥淪trengthening mining water strategies through a structured guidebook approach.鈥� I analyzed internationally recognized frameworks and applied them to selected Orla operations that served as case studies.
It was a challenge stepping into a more technical and unfamiliar environment, but it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences. It helped me build a strong foundation in water management within the mining sector and allowed me to connect my academic and professional experiences in a tangible way. I encourage students to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities while stepping out of their comfort zone.
What are your next steps after graduating from SFU?
After graduation, I鈥檓 still strongly motivated to continue in the workforce. For now, I would like to keep building my path in sectors like mining, which offer valuable opportunities not only to deepen my knowledge of sustainability, but also to continue refining my professional identity within the field and gradually narrow down a path for future post-graduate specialization. Pursuing a master鈥檚 degree is one of my next academic goals.
At the same time, I want to stay active in exploring different sectors where sustainability is a core priority (if not all of them). The beauty of both of my fields of study is the umbrella of opportunities they bring professionally, so it鈥檚 important for me to keep looking for spaces where International Studies and Sustainable Development intersect. Finding those connections across sectors and institutions is something I see as key to shaping my professional path. However, you never know what life has already prepared for you, so I keep an open mind to whatever comes ahead!
Gracias por todo, SFU. I wouldn鈥檛 be the person I am so proud of today without you.