Hissa Al-Aali

Hissa Yousuf Mohammed Al-Aali is an educational leader and chemistry specialist who continued her studies through two postgraduate diplomas in education, both awarded with distinction and honours. Her career moved across general, higher, technical and vocational education, and included official regional and international representation of Qatar.

Her enthusiasm, diligence and ability to work with pupils led to her appointment as a chemistry and science supervisor before she turned twenty-nine.

She was born in Doha into an open-minded family that valued learning, culture and innovation. The youngest of six—three boys and three girls—she received particular care from her family, especially from her late brother Abdullah Al-Aali, who constantly encouraged her to come first in study and work and remained a father figure, friend and supporter throughout his life. Her mother stood at the centre of her world, sharing heritage stories and popular proverbs that shaped her principles. Academic excellence and participation in Qur’an-memorisation competitions further developed her leadership and public-speaking abilities; her teachers selected her as a ‘young teacher’ and entrusted her with responsibility for the class.

She hoped to study medicine but received little encouragement, so entered the College of Science to specialise in chemistry, expecting eventually to work in research rather than teaching. She graduated with distinction and honours, yet was not appointed as a teaching assistant at Qatar University despite her academic record.

Disappointed, she joined the Ministry of Education. When first assigned to teach general science at preparatory level, she asked instead to teach chemistry to the final science year of secondary school. The request made her the first Qatari woman to teach that class, at twenty-two. Because of her age, pupils initially mistook her for a trainee, but her ability to combine chemistry with enjoyment and practical experience produced strong results and prepared her for educational guidance.

Her subsequent appointments moved from chemistry teacher to chemistry and science supervisor and Head of Science Guidance for Boys at the Ministry of Education. She later served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Director of Professional Development and then Director of Scholarships at the Supreme Education Council, Associate Director on the Executive Committee of College of the North Atlantic–Qatar, Assistant Project Director for the University of Calgary’s nursing programme in Qatar, Director of the Educational Training and Development Centre at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and, finally, an adviser in the Office of the Minister of Education and Higher Education.

Her willingness to express evidence-based views led to membership of numerous committees and events. She became the first Qatari woman to head a men’s department in the Ministry of Education when workplaces were not mixed, and the first to enter boys’ schools as an educational supervisor across every stage. By concentrating on improvements to learning and the workplace, she earned the trust of male colleagues who supported her initiatives.

Movement between general, higher, technical and vocational education brought contact with diverse international expertise and strengthened her ability to solve problems and manage crises. Alongside senior appointments, she chaired and served on ministerial committees, prepared national secondary chemistry examinations under an individual commission from the Minister, contributed to primary science textbooks, revised secondary chemistry books, delivered training for education professionals and presented papers at local, regional and international conferences on subjects including women’s roles in Qatar and educational technology.

The beginning of teaching was not the research career she had imagined, and she entered the classroom without field training or structured support. She nevertheless made her passion for chemistry the basis of the work and accepted the challenge of proving her competence. Later, appointment by ministerial decision as the first Head of Science Guidance in the men’s sector made her the only woman in that workplace. Resistance and jealousy accompanied her emphasis on purposeful change, but ability and commitment secured professional respect.

Such obstacles strengthened rather than weakened her persistence. Colleagues sometimes called her the ‘Iron Woman’ because she refused to collapse, stop or retreat. Her guiding principle was to build in a new place rather than remain where repeated damage required endless repair.