WALAA THABET

Walaa is working as a researcher and lecturer at Pollution lab, Marine Environment Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt, and is a member of the Egyptian Academy for Environmental Development. Her main field of work is marine pollution, Thus, she is interested in marine sciences, pollution issues, treatment techniques, and environmental management. Walaa was awarded a couple of scholarships about ocean governance and blue growth and water management which provides some managerial knowledge.

“Dream big and let no one let you down”

Q: TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, AND ALSO YOUR LIFE'S STORY!

I am from Egypt. Egypt is a Mediterranean country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, with a population of almost 100 million people. My home city is Alexandria.

I am a researcher and oceanographer at pollution lab, environment division National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt; also, I am International Ocean Institute (IOI) Alumni-ambassador. I have bachelor and masters in Chemistry/Oceanography, and Ph.D. in Environmental studies (marine pollution). The main field of my work is pollution, so I am interested in pollution problems, treatment techniques, environmental management especially ocean management and marine spatial planning, and I was awarded a couple of scholarships about ocean management, effect of climate on the sea, blue growth, monitoring and evaluation for sustainable development impact from Malta, Germany, Italy and Netherlands, respectively, all them in the field of environmental management.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD AS IT IS TODAY? AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE CONCEPT OF A BETTER WORLD?

The world today is very competitive, hard, not easy to fulfil your dreams. A better world is a world of equal chances, better education and better life.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN YOUR SOCIETY?

How can youth successfully transition from education to productive employment - this is the main challenge in my country and overall in the Middle East.

Q: AS A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHAT ARE A FEW OF THE HURDLES THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME UP UNTIL TODAY?

First, combining job and studying. My first job was a chemist at High Institute of Public Health and I had my masters and preliminary course of PhD during that job, it was very challenging and exhausting to divide the time between work and studying. This was my first challenge almost 14 hours daily of doing both. My second challenge was after changing my work to another city in Suez. It was my first time to work and live in another city and after a short time, I succeed to return back to my home city at NIOF.

Q: WHY IS THE ROLE OF A MENTOR IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

I feel supported, I needed a guide to tell me if I am on the right track or not.

Q: DO YOU HAVE A LESSON THAT LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Never give up on your dreams and always dream high. I am always a dreamer and every time I achieve one I jump to the next. My mentor helps me very much with my self-confidence.

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!

Professor Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub is an Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon, one of the world’s most respected cardiac surgeons. 1962: He moved to London and worked as Rotating Senior Surgical Registrar, National Heart and Chest Hospitals, London. After 2001 he came back to his home country and city and established the Aswan Heart Center for surgeries and researches. He as a person and as a foundation is helping and saving people 's lives.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN IN YOUR COUNTRY FACE AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE MADE TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY?

I think there is a very small per cent of gender inequality in Egypt, the proof of that the head of my department is a woman, head of also the largest division is a woman, head on my institution also is a woman.

Q: ATHENA40 IS THE FIRST EVER GLOBAL SELECTION OF THE TOP 40 WOMEN FORWARD THINKERS, COMMENTATORS, ACTIVISTS, AUTHORS, ACADEMICS, ENTREPRENEURS, EXECUTIVES, INNOVATORS. CAN YOU THINK OF A TRULY INNOVATIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING WOMAN FROM YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU WISH TO NOMINATE FOR THE ATHENA40 GLOBAL RANKING?

I think there are several Egyptian women who deserve to be in the ranking, among academics that have a role in society and helping women.

Prof Amal Amin who is the head of the first conference of women in science in Egypt and Prof Ghada Amer the CEO and Co-founder of ASTF innovation lab. Both of them have many volunteer work towards academics especially women.

Q: SHARE WITH US A PHRASE, A POEM OR A STORY THAT YOU LOVE OR YOU FIND INTERESTING!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Q: TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR MENTOR.

Dream big and let no one let you down.