Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Zeinab joined the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) as a teaching assistant in December 2006 and within two years, became a nuclear safeguards inspector.
“That was a game changer,” she said. “I moved from pure chemistry to nuclear science, which opened an entirely new world for me.”
In 2014, Zeinab became Head of the Nuclear Security Administration at the EAEA . “I was the first and only woman in that position,” she recalled. “It was not easy, but every obstacle became another reason to work harder.”
Zeinab’s leadership shaped Egypt’s national framework for nuclear security and helped build technical capacity for nuclear security at the national level. Her expertise soon earned international recognition. Over the years, she collaborated extensively with the IAEA, supporting training courses across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
In 2021, she joined the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security — a milestone she considers a defining point in her career. “When I was selected by the IAEA, it felt like the culmination of fifteen years of effort,” she said.
At the IAEA, Zeinab supports countries to enhance their nuclear security regimes and develop sustainable capacity building programmes. She sees herself as both a scientist and a nuclear security specialist.
“Being a professor is something I’ve never left behind,” she said. “My scientific background keeps me grounded and connected to my roots.”