Ouided
Bouchamaoui
Professor of Practice, NYU Abu Dhabi
A Tunisian business leader and peacebuilder who helped steer her country from potential civil war to pluralistic democracy. As the first woman President of UTICA, she launched the national dialogue that brought Tunisia's political crisis to a peaceful resolution, and became a Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate with the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet.
Born in Gabès, Tunisia, in 1961, Ouided (also Wided) Bouchamaoui is a business leader, peace activist, and philanthropist. From May 2011 to January 2018 she was President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), the first woman elected to the role, where she encouraged investment and mediated labour disputes.
In 2013, as Tunisia's post-revolution political crisis deepened, she and the Tunisian General Labour Union launched the national dialogue initiative. Joined by the Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers, the four institutions formed the Quartet, an alliance that negotiated a peaceful way forward and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
After Oslo, she took on the role of Peace Emissary, travelling the world to explain the National Dialogue and how the experience can build know-how in dialogue and mediation elsewhere.
Since April 2024 she has been Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at NYU Abu Dhabi. She is recognised as one of the most influential businesswomen in Africa.
compromise, dialogue, and trust.
The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
The Quartet was recognised for its decisive contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia, including the organisation of presidential and legislative elections and the ratification of the 2014 Constitution.
Four of Tunisia's most powerful institutions opened negotiations with every party to the 2013 crisis, forming an alliance few thought possible. The Nobel committee called Tunisia's transition a "success story".
Her Nobel message stressed compromise, dialogue, and trust as the foundations of peace, values that remain at the centre of her work.
UTICA
Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, led by Ouided Bouchamaoui
UGTT
Tunisian General Labour Union
LTDH
Tunisian Human Rights League
ONAT
Tunisian Order of Lawyers
From Peace Emissary to Professor of Diplomacy
Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, NYU Abu Dhabi
Appointed after teaching a popular course at the university in the 2023 to 2024 academic year, bringing experience in international business, community engagement, negotiation, crisis management, and women's empowerment. She was also a speaker at NYU Abu Dhabi's 2024 commencement.
Member, Oslo Business for Peace Award Committee
Helps select business leaders who create value for society, two years after receiving the Oslo Business for Peace Award herself.
Global Advisory Board, SEALSQ
Member of the global advisory board of SEALSQ.
Chief Mentor, Global Social & Economic Development
Guides communities in designing inclusive programmes for sustainable growth.
Business Leadership and Institution Building
Leadership & Institutions
President
First woman elected to lead Tunisia's employers' confederation. Launched the national dialogue initiative in 2013 with the UGTT.
Vice President
A partner institution of the United Nations University for Peace.
Business
Shareholder & Director
A family group founded on her grandfather's civil engineering company, now a portfolio company operating in Tunisia and Libya in automotive distribution, agriculture, real estate development, specialised distribution, and financial services.
Manager
A textile business.
Recognised by Heads of State and Global Institutions
Nobel Peace Prize, 2015
Awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its contribution to Tunisia's democratic transition.
Oslo Business for Peace Award, 2014
For championing constructive dialogue between business, labour, and government during Tunisia's national transition.
Grand Officer, Order of the Republic, 2015
Conferred by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.
Royal Order of the Polar Star, 2015
Decorated by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Légion d'honneur, 2015
Received from French President François Hollande in December 2015.
Best Businesswoman of the Arab World, 2013
Named under the auspices of the G8 Deauville Partnership.
Legendary Peace Leaders of the Decade, 2018
The highest award at the annual Women Economic Forum in India.
Top 25 Business Women in Africa
Identified by the French news magazine Jeune Afrique.
Honorary Doctorates
American University of Beirut, Paris Dauphine University, and FON University.
A Long Commitment to Peace and Women's Leadership
Ouided Bouchamaoui has been involved with peace foundations for many years. She sits on the board of Leaders Pour la Paix and is a founding member of the Connecting Group, a women's leadership network.
Ouided Bouchamaoui in Her Own Words
Imagining the World to Come: Women’s Voices
Ouided Bouchamaoui speaks at the UNESCO Forum series on women’s voices shaping the world to come. (UNESCO)
Watch on YouTube ↗
Campaign for UN Global Peace Education Day
The Nobel laureate lends her voice to the campaign for a UN Global Peace Education Day. (Global Peace Education Network)
Watch on YouTube ↗
The Story of a Nobel Prize Laureate Guided by Passion to Change Lives
An interview on her story as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate driven by passion to change lives. (Moustafa Hamwi)
Watch on YouTube ↗Her Work, in the Words of the Institutions
The Nobel Peace Prize 2015
The official summary of the prize awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet.
Visit NobelPrize.org ↗Nobel Laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui Joins NYU Abu Dhabi as Diplomacy Professor
NYU Abu Dhabi's announcement of her appointment as Professor of Practice.
Read on NYU Abu Dhabi ↗Commencement 2024 Speaker
NYU Abu Dhabi's announcement of her as a 2024 commencement speaker.
Read on NYU Abu Dhabi ↗Honorary Doctorate Recipient Profile
AUB's citation on her business leadership, the Quartet, and her work for peace.
Read on AUB ↗SEALSQ Global Advisory Board Profile
Her profile as a member of the SEALSQ Global Advisory Board.
Visit SEALSQ ↗Wided Bouchamaoui
Encyclopedia entry on her life, UTICA leadership, and the Quartet.
Read on Wikipedia ↗Global Social & Economic Development
At Earth5R, Ouided Bouchamaoui serves as Chief Mentor for Global Social & Economic Development, guiding communities in designing inclusive programmes for sustainable growth.
Her advocacy shows how economic stability, social responsibility, and political dialogue are inseparable in building strong nations, a conviction that shapes her mentorship of Earth5R's community programmes.
About Ouided Bouchamaoui
Who is Ouided Bouchamaoui?
Ouided (also Wided) Bouchamaoui is a Tunisian business leader and peacebuilder, born in Gabès in 1961. She was the first woman elected President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), serving from 2011 to 2018, and became a Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate in 2015 as a member of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet. Since April 2024 she has been Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at NYU Abu Dhabi. She is Chief Mentor for Global Social & Economic Development at Earth5R.
Why did the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet win the Nobel Peace Prize?
The Quartet was recognised for its decisive contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia after the 2011 revolution, including the organisation of presidential and legislative elections and the ratification of the 2014 Tunisian Constitution. In 2013, UTICA under Bouchamaoui's presidency and the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) launched the national dialogue initiative, joined by the Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
What does Ouided Bouchamaoui teach at NYU Abu Dhabi?
She was appointed Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at NYU Abu Dhabi, effective April 1, 2024, after teaching a popular course at the university during the preceding academic year.
What honours has Ouided Bouchamaoui received?
Beyond the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, she received the Oslo Business for Peace Award (2014), was named Grand Officer of the Order of the Republic of Tunisia (2015), was decorated with Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star (2015), and received France's Légion d'honneur (2015). She was named Best Businesswoman of the Arab World in 2013 under the G8 Deauville Partnership, and holds honorary doctorates from the American University of Beirut, Paris Dauphine University, and FON University.
What is Ouided Bouchamaoui's role at Earth5R?
At Earth5R, she serves as Chief Mentor for Global Social & Economic Development, guiding communities in designing inclusive programmes for sustainable growth.