Dr. Tamara Elzein is a Lebanese physical chemist, science leader and environmental policy expert. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Lebanese University (1998), a Master’s degree from the University of Haute-Alsace, France (1999), and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the same university (2002). She served as a Maître de conférences in France before returning to Lebanon in 2013. She joined the National Council for Scientific Research – Lebanon (CNRS-L), where she conducted research on innovative materials for radioactive decontamination while managing several scientific programmes. She was appointed Secretary General of CNRS-L in 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position since the Council’s establishment in 1962. During her tenure, she advanced institutional modernization, redirected national research and fellowship programmes toward Lebanon’s needs, mobilized scientific expertise, attracted international funding and partnerships, and strengthened research on the environment, ecosystem sustainability and climate change. She also established the National Center for Natural Hazards and Early Warning. Dr. Elzein has received several distinctions, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship for the Levant and Egypt (2016), selection as an International Rising Talent by L’Oréal-UNESCO (2017), and the title of Chevalier des Palmes académiques awarded by the French Republic (2020). She has two international patents related to depollution, two book chapters and more than 60 scientific publications. She has held several prominent leadership positions in science diplomacy, including Chair of the Middle-East Scientific Committee of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and membership of its World Scientific Council (2016–2020), Chair of the French-Lebanese Governmental Committee of the CEDRE Programme, and Vice President of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO (2022–2025). In November 2023, she was elected Chair of the Science Commission at UNESCO’s General Conference, becoming the first Lebanese to hold this position. On 8 February 2025, Dr. Elzein was appointed Minister of Environment in the cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, becoming the first woman to lead the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon. Her priorities include institutional and structural reform of the Ministry, digital transformation, green public procurement, and advancing a roadmap for the blue, green and circular economies. Her agenda also covers air quality, solid waste management, the marine environment, climate and environmental citizenship, natural and climate-related disasters, quarrying, wastewater monitoring, post-war rubble management and environmental recovery. A strong advocate for science education, public engagement and women in science, Dr. Elzein promotes scientific literacy, interdisciplinary research and greater public understanding of science. She has also contributed extensively to public debate on education, science and society, women in science and environmental awareness.