Amani Al Hosani is smart for two distinct reasons: not only is she the first female Emirati nuclear scientist but she was wise enough to switch from a career in oil to the next generation form of energy.

Now with a number of years of experience under her belt, Al Hosani is deputy head of simulators at the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec), which is on the verge of bringing online the country’s first nuclear power plant. In her role, she uses simulators to help train scientists and engineers, many of whom will end up operating Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Her expertise includes designing nuclear reactors and analytic sciences for safety.

Al Hosani started her career in oil but retrained to join the nuclear energy sector when she realised it was going to play a greater role in the future of the UAE and global energy needs.