The next speaker, Amatulaleem, a scientist from Yemen, shared an inspiring story of resilience in a time when the job market is not functional and women have immense societal restrictions on traveling alone. Despite all these challenges, she pursued her higher education and started a career with determination. Her work at the National Atomic Energy Commission and her master’s degree in material sciences helped her to secure international training opportunities. She highlighted a six-month radiation protection course in Malaysia as a turning point in her personal and professional growth. She concluded her talk by encouraging other girls from her region to never give up on their dreams.

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The last speaker, Nesrine Mellat, addressed broader cultural and societal barriers for women in the MENA region. Nesrine pointed out that there are social stereotypes, a lack of female role models, and limited opportunities for networking and professional growth. As an IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow, she mentioned that these international programs and collaborations are the ‘game changers’ for women in her region and globally. This fellowship provided her with vital resources, which she needed for a career transition. She concluded by offering advice on being confident, seeking mentors, staying adaptable, and, most importantly, framing stories as survivors, not victims. 

All three speakers emphasized on the importance of women supporting each other in the CBRN security field, which can push the boundaries and make a collective impact in the industry.