Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim - My Journey

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim served as the 6th and first female President of the Republic of Mauritius (June 5, 2015-March 23, 2018). She holds a BSc (Chemistry) from the University of Surrey and a PhD (Organic Chemistry) from the University of Exeter, UK. She has been awarded five Honorary Doctorates (DSc). A life-long scientist, academician, entrepreneur and an "accidental" President who came to the high office without any political affiliations. She was the first female Professor of Chemistry with an endowed chair at the University of Mauritius and became the first academician to have translated her research work on medicinal plants into an enterprise. She is also a mother of two grown children and is married to Dr. Anwar Fakim, a practicing surgeon. A prolific author, she has published on a diverse range of subjects, authored and co-authored books and scientific articles on medicinal plants. She is a sought-after speaker. Her 2014 TED talk on medicinal plants has garneredover a million hits and has been translated into 24 languages. In this autobiography, she retraces her journey from the small village of Plaine Magnien, where she grew up and given its ethnic, social and cultural diversity, she considers it to be a microcosm of the world. She takes the reader through her journey that has encompassed academic, entrepreneurial and political spheres, ultimately reaching the highest position in the country as President of the Republic. She also writes about the changing political vicissitudes in Mauritius. As the gender gap narrows and women's aspirations rise, her narrative offers compelling commentary and enduring lessons of experience that will find broad appeal among women in all professional walks of life. A firm believer in the notion that countries must invest in their young people and empower them with the tools of science and technology, she is devoting her post-Presidency life to advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education so that all Mauritians, indeed all Africans can stay economically, technologically and scientifically competitive in a rapidlytransforming global economy. This theme has been the leit motif of her life and remains very close to her heart.