DR INES TERWAYET BAYOULI

Inès has dedicated her life's work to driving her community, particularly women, toward a brighter and more sustainable future. Her journey has been marked by a profound commitment to environmental issues and cutting-edge technologies aimed at remediating polluted environments using green solutions, with a primary focus on phytoremediation. Inès is a true catalyst for sustainable development.

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Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

Ines, an ambitious environmentalist from Tunisia, guided by curiosity and a deep sense of purpose. My childhood was filled with questions, books and a fascination with the world. At age 10, I carried a notebook where I listed world leaders and historical figures—Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Genghis Khan…—An early desire to understand global history.

As a child I wasn’t just learning—I was engaging. I participated in small civic action such as tree-planting, awareness campaigns, sport and youth programmes. These early activities taught me the value of leadership, service and acting with intention. I consistently ranked among the top pupils /students and earned several honours and awards. But beyond recognition, it was the belief that education is a tool for transformation that shaped my path.

Today, I work at the intersection of environmental sustainability and justice, equity, and global development. When offline, I love travelling, exploring diverse cultures, and spending time in nature, I also used to play handball and scuba-dive. These activities kept me grounded.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

One of Tunisia’s biggest challenges is climate change—especially severe droughts that threaten agriculture, water security and livelihoods. Rural communities are the most affected, revealing gaps in sustainable resource management.

Another issue is the persistent gender gap, especially in rural areas. Many women remain excluded from decision-making and lack access to land, education, and finance, despite their vital roles in community life and environmental stewardship. Tackling these issues requires inclusive leadership—one that values indigenous knowledge and empowers women to be agents of change.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

I see hurdles not as setbacks, but as moments that define growth.

One of my key challenges came early in my academic journey. I was 20 when I read a line in a precious awarded book: “Brassica juncea is a metallophyte species.” That moment sparked a revelation—plants could clean up pollution. Though I didn’t yet know about phytoremediation, I began imagining how nature could solve environmental problems.

I approached multiple professors with my idea, but many turned me down: “It’s too new,” or “We lack expertise.” Still, I persisted—visiting labs, refining my ideas, and advocating for green technology.

Eventually, one professor agreed to supervise my project—if I took full responsibility. I did, without hesitation.

That choice changed everything. I became the first researcher to pioneer phytoremediation in Tunisia. Today, the same field is growing, and some of those who once rejected the idea are now exploring it. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing young researchers build on what I began.

My message: believe in your vision—even if others don’t. Be resilient, be original, and pave the way for others whenever you can.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

A mentor helps unlock potential, guiding us to see strengths we may not yet recognise. They challenge us, believe in us, and open doors we never knew existed.

Throughout my life, encouragement from mentors made a lasting impact—shaping my path, confidence, and purpose. Mentorship is more than guidance; it’s a spark that ignites change. I’m committed to seeking it—and offering it—because I believe in its power to transform lives and communities. 

To all my mentors who supported along the way: Thank you!

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Yes. When you find yourself walking alone on an unfamiliar path, it may be because you’re leading. 

There were times when I felt like the outlier not following the pack—pursuing ideas deemed too bold or unconventional. But in that solitude, I found clarity and conviction. Sometimes, isolation means you're ahead of your time. Life teaches us to trust our instincts and keep going—even when the way forward isn’t clear. That’s how we create new paths for others to follow but we also reach new unexplored areas getting us closer to our goals.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

Samia Gharbi, a Tunisian scientist and winner of the 2025 Green Nobel Prize, is making remarkable contributions. She’s leading efforts in ecological restoration and promoting green technologies that directly support local communities.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

While Tunisia has made strides in advancing women’s rights, significant challenges remain—especially in rural areas. Women often lack access to land, resources and decision-making power. Even when they inherit land, control often shifts informally to male relatives, limiting their autonomy and opportunities.

Despite working hard in agriculture and informal sectors, rural women rarely attain leadership positions. This disempowerment sustains cycles of dependency.

However, change is happening. Civil society, women’s organisations, and national programmes are promoting land rights, female entrepreneurship and leadership. Tunisia has also enacted progressive reforms, though enforcement remains a challenge.

True gender equality requires more than laws—it calls for cultural transformation and inclusive grassroots initiatives. Empowering women is essential to building a resilient, just society.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.   

“One person can make a difference, and every person must try.” — John F. Kennedy

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

If I had all the funding needed, I would create a Global Living Network of Regenerative Futures—an ambitious, tech-powered initiative that transforms vulnerable lands into thriving, self-sustaining ecosystems and innovation zones, led by local communities, scientists, and creatives from around the world. This network would consist of regenerative hubs in strategic locations—where we merge technologies, indigenous knowledge, and advanced data tools.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

In Tunisia, technology plays a vital role in promoting social impact, particularly in gender equality, youth inclusion, and civic engagement. 'SheCodes Tunisia' offers free coding workshops for women to boost digital skills, while 'Aswat Nissa' advocates for women’s political participation. For youth, 'Youth Hub Tunisia' fosters innovation and learning, and 'eTijara.tn' helps rural entrepreneurs build online businesses. 'Houna' promotes cultural understanding through digital storytelling, and 'Al Bawsala' enhances transparency and civic involvement through accessible data tools.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?   

I believe real change comes from collective efforts—across disciplines, regions, and experiences. My journey has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, perseverance and a commitment to environmental and social justice.

I’m eager to continue learning, collaborating, and contributing to inclusive solutions—especially where marginalised people and fragile ecosystems intersect. I welcome opportunities to amplify impact through science, policy, and innovation. 

I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to the GTF community for its continuous commitment to the betterment of the world bringing together bold thinkers and raising the flagship for visionary leadership. Your dedication inspires movements like this to become not only possible, but unstoppable.