London Inc. May-June 2023 - 42

Nesma Hashem
Acting Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Health Canada | 34 | HOMETOWN: Mansoura, Egypt
A chemical engineer and lifelong learner, Nesma Hashem has always been fascinated by the
pharmaceutical industry and the process of making drug products. Her career path has included work as
an applications specialist and technical writer, but she truly unlocked her passion when she moved into
regulatory affairs, applying her skills to the review and authorization of new drugs for human use, both for
clinical trails and market authorization. A champion for diversity and equality in the workplace, her work to
date includes being actively involved in the management and review of Covid-19 vaccinations, contributing
significantly to the health and wellbeing of Canadians during the pandemic.
What would you say is your single biggest career
achievement, and why? I am honoured to have been one of
the recipients of the Health Products and Food Branch
Associate Deputy Minister's Award of Excellence
in the Contribution to the Improvement of
the Health of Canadians category for 2021
and 2022, as well as the Health Canada
ard of Ex
rovement of
or 2
Canada
Award of Excellence in 2021. I also believe
it's important to recognize that a person's
also believe
a person's
single biggest achievement may not be
one specific event or accomplishment,
y not be
hment,
rather it is oftentimes small achievements
that when combined contribute to what can
career.
What about your biggest career
obstacle - and how did you
tackle it? The biggest obstacle has
been overcoming the stereotypes
that come with being a visibly
Muslim woman and learning
to advocate for myself. I found
the best ways to tackle this
has been to keep an open
mind, be willing to learn
and educate, focus on my
strengths, produce quality
work and engage in positive
activities that reflect my values
er
has
es
and beliefs - such as volunteering,
helping others and being an
rn
active
member of the community
You're marooned on a desert
g
y
ty
.
island - what's the one thing
you're bringing with you? My
backpack in which you would find
the Quran to read for comfort, a
bag of chips and some chocolate,
sunscreen and my phone.
hievements
e to what can
nt or lead to a
in one's
be considered a big achievement or lead to a
larger overall accomplishment in one's
llence
I believe it's important to recognize that
a person's single biggest achievement
may not be one specific event or
accomplishment, rather it is
a per on
of
single
may not be o
ccomplishment,
oftentimes small achievements that
when combined contribute to
what can be considered a
ntimes small achi
when combined c
at can b con
big achievement.
big achie e
What's left for you to do -
Wha
professionally or personally?
Personally, I want to travel
around the world and go
on lengthy tours through
Europe and the Middle
East, with my first stop
being in Egypt, my home
country. Professionally, I
am currently working on
my French proficiency
and preparing to obtain
the Project Manageprofe
Pe
o
ment
Professional
Certification, both
of which will help me
advance my career. There
is is so much more left to do, but
I'I'llll start with these.
gge
nd
a
e,
42|londonincmagazine.ca|MAY / JUNE 2023
20 UNDER 40 * CL ASS OF 2023
London Inc. May-June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of London Inc. May-June 2023
