BIO
I have touched on many different areas throughout my professional career. I started as a telecommunications and computer science engineer working in finance in France then became a human rights and democracy activist during and in the aftermaths of the Tunisian Revolution of 2010. Involving in the Tunisian political transition, I became a politician, ran for Parliament twice, and joined two transition governments as Senior Advisor to the Minister of Tourism then Finance in the most sensitive period of Tunisia’s history. Leaving party politics in 2015, I founded Mobdiun – Creative Youth, a social impact peace & civic innovation organization that inspires youth to lead change and help build a peaceful democracy in Tunisia.
Using arts, sports and technology, Mobdiun – Creative Youth works with young people in marginalized communities targeted by violent extremists and provides them with opportunities to build skills and gain access to resources and networks to foster their creativity as builders of the Tunisian society. Mobdiun mobilizes government, private sector and civil society groups in order to foster policy dialogue and lead change around youth issues and priorities.
Political Leaders of Ettakatol in the 2011-2014 Governments
Music and film have helped me find meaning in my darkest moments. Arts have shaped my transformation when every part of my existence was crumbling. As a woman who deeply cares about others, sometimes at my own expense, I found that sometimes creating beauty when surrounded by ugliness can be our only hope and escape. Using my voice, expressing my values and beliefs, acting, and singing allowed me to dig deep, feel my feelings, and by doing this explore hidden bits of who I am… Touched, inspired, and accompanied by the work of other artists, I am embarking on this new creative and healing journey with the desire to touch the hearts and souls of people around the world.
Mojo Jam, Palermo, Italy
Some history...
I left my finance job in Paris during the Arab Uprisings, moving back to Tunisia to take part in the transition efforts from dictatorship to democracy. I volunteered for the social-democratic party Ettakatol, twice ran for Parliament, and advised the Finance and Tourism ministers when my party joined the governing coalition between 2011 and 2014. In charge of portfolios such as open governance, state budget, and tax system reforms, I also championed women’s leadership, gender equality, and youth participation in the 2014 Constitution.
After my cabinet and political party leadership experience, I became a consultant working with multilateral organizations, such as the World Bank and the European Delegation in Tunisia. In my role, I participated in policy dialogues and technical assistance projects that shaped major reforms in the financial sector, governance, youth inclusion, and peace and security.
... Organizations and recognitions
I helped set up a regional and a global women networks called Thae’ra, the Arab Women’s Network for Parity and Solidarity and WASL, the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership. I have been honored with the Project on Middle East Democracy’s Leaders in Democracy Award in 2012, named the first Tunisian woman World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2014, New Voices Aspen Institute Fellow in 2017, and member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network the same year. In 2018, I was selected as one of the inaugural Obama Foundation Scholars at Columbia University.
With my Leadership group and President Obama in Chicago 2018
