January 10, 2026
WoEgypt

In a world that is becoming more aware of climate change and the importance of protecting the environment, Egyptian women have stood out by leaving a special mark in science and environmental leadership. One inspiring example is Dr. Heba Mohamed Emam, an environmental consultant and expert, and the Head of Sustainability and Environment at Abu Dhabi Precast, part of Ascorp Holding Group in the UAE.

Dr. Heba’s journey spans more than twenty years of work in environmental fields, sustainability, and spreading environmental awareness. Today, she is a strong Egyptian voice defending environmental causes and supporting women in science.

WoE: How did your journey with the environment and sustainability start?
Heba Emam: Since I was a child, I’ve always had a passion for nature. I believed that everything in the universe has a life cycle and a purpose. When I joined the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University, this passion started to turn into a clear scientific path—especially as I became more interested in the relationship between development and protecting resources.

From there, I continued my studies and earned a master’s degree in environmental sciences and industrial development, and then a PhD in Environmental Engineering, with a special focus on waste management and the circular economy, as they are key tools for sustainability in today’s environmental challenges.

Today, through my work in the UAE specifically at Abu Dhabi Precast as Head of the Environment and Sustainability Department I focus on turning these concepts into real practices inside the industrial sector. The goal is to create more efficient and sustainable production while balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

WoE: You received the UAE Golden Visa and several awards. Tell us about them.
HE: Receiving the Golden Visa under the category of innovators in environmental media and women empowerment—based on a recommendation from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth—was recognition of my efforts in spreading environmental awareness and supporting women through media and the community.

Winning the Master Mind Award for Creative Writing in 2023 was also a very proud moment for me, as it appreciated my writing in environment and women empowerment.

I’m also proud of the title “Best Content Creator in the Field of Grace Preservation where I won first place during the  Grace Preservation second Global Conference, in 2024, and I was honored by the UAE Minister of Tolerance. The conference focused on seven main blessings: the environment, energy, food, medicine, agriculture, technology, and clothing.

Every honor I received is a message that sincerity, hard work, and continuous effort lead to real success that people appreciate.

WoE: As a graduate of the first batch of the “Egyptian Women Abroad” program, how did it affect your career?
HE: The “Egyptian Women Abroad” program, offered by the National Training Academy, was a real turning point in my career and directly helped strengthen my leadership skills. It gave me deep training that prepared me to take leadership roles in different areas and helped me understand leadership in a practical way.

After the program, I became better at time management, setting priorities, making decisions with confidence, and communicating professionally. These skills clearly improved my daily performance and increased my self-confidence at work.

The program also added advanced knowledge in sustainable development, technology, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and economics linking all of this to Egypt’s reality and challenges. This increased my sense of responsibility and my desire to create real value wherever I am.

In addition, the program helped me build a strong network with Egyptian women who share the same ambition and desire to grow and succeed. I also want to use this chance to invite every Egyptian woman abroad to join this valuable program.

WoE: Tell us about your initiative “My Environment is My Responsibility.” What is its main goal?
HE: It is an initiative I launched from Abu Dhabi to increase environmental awareness in the UAE and the Arab world by publishing awareness articles in a simple style that can reach the widest possible audience. This is done voluntarily through several media platforms.

I launched the initiative after graduating from the “Egyptian Women Abroad” program, and I see it as one of its outcomes. The program included topics related to media, Arabic language, and women empowerment, which helped me a lot in starting.

The initiative is now almost three years old. During this time, I have written more than 200 voluntary articles in environment, sustainable development, and women empowerment in Arabic and English. This is what led the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth to recommend granting me the Golden Visa under the category of innovators in environmental media and women empowerment.

WoE: What motivates you to continue the initiative and keep writing?
HE: For me, the initiative and writing are not a job—they are a mission and a passion. I believe that words can build awareness and change behavior. When I receive a message from a reader saying they started sorting their waste or reduced their consumption because of an article I wrote, or another reader telling me that the article changed some of their ideas, I feel proud because I’m able to create a positive impact and help change society for the better.

WoE: What is your opinion about Artificial Intelligence, and how can it be used to protect and manage environmental resources?
HE: Today, AI is one of the most powerful tools for understanding and managing complex environmental systems. It can combine and analyze huge amounts of data from different sources, such as satellite images, monitoring stations, weather records, and air and water quality data.

Using machine learning and deep learning models, AI can improve the accuracy of predicting pollution levels, detect deforestation, desertification, and fires early, and estimate climate risks like heat waves and floods—supporting fast, evidence-based decision-making.

These technologies also improve waste management efficiency by predicting waste amounts and improving collection routes and smart sorting. They can also reduce emissions by improving energy consumption in buildings and industry through continuous monitoring systems. Integrating AI with clear environmental policies, trusted data, and transparent governance can speed up the move toward sustainable development.

WoE: Finally, what message do you give to Egyptian women?
HE: Believe in your value. Women are not only half of society; they are the heart of change when they choose knowledge, awareness, and leadership. You are the daughter of a civilization that taught the world resilience and building, and you carry a special ability to turn challenges into achievements.

Do not wait for the perfect moment or a ready-made opportunity. Create your own opportunity through small, steady steps, and don’t make perfection a condition to start. Start with what you have, from where you are. Protect your dream even when responsibilities become heavy, and develop yourself through learning. And when you succeed, make your success a bridge for others—because a woman’s strength becomes complete when she becomes an impact that inspires everyone.