Ameenah Gurib-Fakim became the 6th President of Mauritius and the first woman elected as president of the country from 2015 to 2018. She is the first woman to ever run the Hindu-majority country. She is the third woman to serve as the Head of State of the country. As a president she has demonstrated a strong commitment to feminist principals, particularly encouraging the importance of education for young females. She has expressed deep environmental concerns, identified climate change and has been working to advance awareness of global warming. She is promoting new investments in science and technology in Mauritius and global Africa. In between 2012 and 2015, Fakim has also served as an independent Director at the Board of Barclays Bank of Mauritius Ltd. Fakim is highly distinguished and a multiple award winning biodiversity scientist. She has completed her PhD in organic chemistry from Exeter University. She taught at the University of Mauritius and also worked as the Dean of Faculty and pro-Vice chancellor at the university. She has also served as the Managing Director of CIDP Research and Innovation. She is the founder of the Centre for Pytotherapy Research. She studied the medical and nutritious effects of plant life in Mauritius. She had compiled the database of the plants on her island and promoting the importance of biodiversity to an international audience through her articles and conferences. She co-authored the first ever African Herbal Pharmacopoeia as being the Founding member of the Pan African Association of African Medicinal Plants. In the field of biodiversity she has written 28 books, several book chapters and scientific articles in this field.
She has served as the Chairperson for the International Council for Scientific Union from 2011 to 2014. For her contribution in the education and the scientific sector in 2008, she was made the Commander of the Order of the Star and Key on the Indian Ocean. She made strides by partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to pilot 10 PhD research grants in Mauritius and further plans of expanding this program to other scientists across Africa.
On becoming the President Fakim was automatically raised to the highest civilian award National honors of Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. She then was honored as the Grand Cross of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. She has also received the Member of the Order of Academic Palms 3rd class in France. She was also granted with the Castroan Royal Family of Two Sicilians: Knight Grand Cross from France. Gurib Fakim has also been the recipient of numerous International awards. She was presented the L’Oreal UNESCO Award for Women in Science in 2007. In the same year she was granted with Laureate for the National Economic and Social Council. She has also received the African Union Award for Women in Science in 2009. She was given the award of Order of the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques’ by the Government of France in 2009.
She was granted with Fellow of the Jordanian Islamic Academy of Science award. She was also Elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 2007.
