Champion of African development is this year's Outstanding Alumna

03 Nov 2017

One of the leading voices in Africa’s drive towards a future of clean energy, improved infrastructure and digital connectivity has been given this year’s Outstanding Alumni award

Dr Amani Abou-Zeid is currently the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, ICT and Tourism.

The University’s Outstanding Alumni Awards are presented to alumni who have achieved distinction in their profession, through exemplary service to the University or the wider community or outstanding service of a personal or humanitarian nature.

Since the early 1990s, a series of roles at the United Nations Development Programme and African Development Bank propelled Dr Abou-Zeid into the international spotlight.

She is an international development expert with more than 30 years’ experience in leadership roles at a range of international organisations.

After graduating with a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Cairo University and taking further study at Université Paris-Sorbonne, she started her career at Alcatel-Nokia before taking up management and advisory roles at the United Nations Development Programme.

While there, she completed a Masters in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School and secured her PhD at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute.

She moved to the African Development Bank as lead expert in infrastructure, country manager and, most recently, the Director of the African Natural Resources Centre.

Executive Director of the University’s Global Development Institute Professor David Hulme said: “Amani has made a striking contribution to development work since she completed her PhD, forging ahead in often male dominated spheres. From her work at the African Development Bank, to her recent election as African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Amani has consistently demonstrated a passion for making the world a better place. She is a shining example to all Manchester students who want to tackle global challenges and greatly deserving of the Outstanding Alumni award.”