Rotary Melbourne welcomed and inducted Kenza Dairi on 10 April 2024 with the classification Corporate Partnerships - Health Science.
Kenza was born in Morocco and educated in the foreign French education system between Washington DC and Rabat, Morocco. She holds a Master of Science from the Université de Montreal in Medicinal Chemistry.
After practicing medicinal chemistry for 14 years in Montreal for two local biotech companies and holding multiple patents in the field, Kenza moved to London with her British husband.
She decided to enter the field of philanthropy by working for two sister charities, Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK in corporate partnerships. Over her career in London Kenza raised millions of dollars for the charities, helping companies and their staff break down the stigma around mental health and learn how to create mentally safe workplaces. These partnerships raised funds for the charities’ services in support of people living with severe mental illness, and supporting their families and carers as well.
In May 2022 Kenza and her husband Chris moved to Melbourne under the Global Talent Visa program - with Chris being appointed as Professor of AI, Technology and the Law at Monash University.
Kenza started her role at Eastern Health Foundation in April 2023 as Corporate Partnerships Manager, raising funds from the business community towards programs that ensure patients and families in Melbourne’s eastern regions receive excellent health care across the 10 public hospitals operated by Eastern Health.
Kenza and Chris have been married for 14 years and share a passion for travel, in particular exploring the wonders of the marine world.
