Born: 19 October 1961, Tunisia
Died: NA
Country most active: Tunisia
Also known as: Ouided Bouchamaoui, Arabic: وداد بوشماوي
Wided Bouchamaoui is a Tunisian businesswoman who has been the leader of the employers union Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) since 2011. UTICA was one of the four organisations to form the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, whose aim was to secure a transition to democracy. The Quartet won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.” Bouchamaoui emphasized the collaborative nature of the group, and the importance of providing encouragement to the public, saying “We are here to give hope to young people in Tunisia, that if we believe in our country, we can succeed.” The committee’s decision has been described as “rewarding hope rather than a finished product”. French news magazine Jeune Afrique named her as one of the Top 25 Business Women in Africa, and she won the 2014 Oslo Business for Peace Award for her work with UTICA.