Tunisia is recognized as one of the first Arab countries to grant women significant rights and opportunities. The nation made notable strides in women’s emancipation, particularly with the introduction of the Personal Status Code in 1956, which abolished polygamy and established women’s rights in marriage and divorce.
Despite these progressive laws, the representation of women in leadership positions, especially in sectors like banking, remains limited.
Feriel Chabrak is the only woman currently leading a Tunisian bank; she was appointed CEO of BTE – Banque de Tunisie et des Emirats on November 3, 2022.
Ms. Chabrak holds a DEA in Finance and a DESS in Management from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne, establishing herself as an expert in the banking and financial sectors.
With extensive experience in banking, she has served as Executive Director of Treasury at TSB Bank, QNB, and STB Bank, where she took on various roles focused on treasury management and financial commitments. Throughout her career, she has been a member and chair of the boards of directors for several subsidiaries of the banks with which she has worked, successfully leading numerous banking projects.
In addition to her banking career, Ms. Chabrak has been teaching in the professional master’s program in financial engineering at the Higher School of Business in Tunis since 2000.
Continued Efforts for Gender Equality
Efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment remain vital in Tunisia and across the region. Initiatives aimed at increasing female representation in leadership are crucial for fostering a more equitable society.
Furthermore, in response to recommendations from the Banque Centrale de Tunisie, Tunisian women are increasingly present in the boardrooms of banks. It is hoped that these recommendations will also extend to enhancing the presence of women in top management roles.
