Let's Turn The Tide 🌊🎙️

In this episode of Let's Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, Nadine Zidani sits down with Alexandre Rio, Waste Management Expert at Veolia in the Near and Middle East, for an in-depth look at one of the most misunderstood infrastructures in the world: the landfill.

From the science of leachate and biogas to regulation, Alex breaks down what modern landfill management actually looks like - and why getting it right matters far more than simply moving away from landfills altogether. Veolia currently operates 8 out of 12 landfills in Oman, and is actively...

In this episode of Let's Turn the Tide podcast by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we sit down with Christine Hecht, PhD researcher at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Together with host Nadine Zidani, Christine unpacks her Veolia-supported, nationwide research into how UAE residents actually perceive and practice recycling - and why the common claim that "no one recycles here" doesn't hold up.

Her study breaks UAE residents into three groups - current recyclers, lapsed recyclers, and those who've never recycled - and reveals just how close all three are to becoming committed recyclers.

In this episode of Let's Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we are in Dubai with Renaud Capri, CEO of Enova, a regional leader in energy and facilities management. Together with our host Nadine Zidani, they explore how energy efficiency, one of the fastest yet most underestimated levers for climate action, is being put to work across the Middle East to deliver the same performance with far less energy. At the center of the conversation is the Super ESCO model and Enova's partnerships with entities like Tarshid in Saudi Arabia, which are turning national net-zero...

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we are in Muscat, Oman with Suaad Al Harthi, Executive Director of the Environment Society of Oman, and Huda Al Harthy, Marketing and Communications Manager at Veolia in Oman.
Together with our host Nadine Zidani, they discuss how environmental education can help shape long-term sustainability in Oman and the role of partnerships in turning awareness into action. At the center of the conversation is the Namat School Program, a nationwide initiative engaging public schools across Oman to encourage sustainable practices among students, te...

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we are in Riyadh with HH Princess Mashael AlShalan — a leading voice in sustainability in the Kingdom and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aeon Collective, a cross-disciplinary Waqf (non-profit endowment) advancing sustainable practices for inclusive, equitable, and resilient development.
Princess Mashael brings over 15 years of professional experience spanning sustainable development, climate action, environmental conservation, and economic development. She also serves as Chairwoman of Women Energy, the first Saudi non-governmental organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the energy sector.

In t...

In this fourth and final episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Giulia De Masi, Associate Professor and Principal Researcher at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Adrien de Saint-Germain, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Desalination. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of seawater desalination — making it smarter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. From predictive analytics that optimize plant operations to AI models protecting marine biodiversity, the discussion highlights how technology is driving innovation while safeguarding the environment.
 

In...

In this third episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Clio Chaveneau, Associate Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Rafiq Sid, Program Manager at Veolia Near Middle East.

Together, they unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we sort, manage, and recycle waste — from AI-powered cameras on trucks to robotic arms that can identify up to 60 types of materials. But the conversation doesn’t stop at innovation. They also explore the social, legal, and environmental risks AI intro...

In this second episode of our special AI-focused series — brought to you in partnership with Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani sits down with Dr. Samuel Feng, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and researcher at the Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence.

This conversation dives into the growing conversation around Green AI — the movement to make artificial intelligence more energy-efficient, transparent, and aligned with climate goals. Together, they explore the hidden environmental costs of AI, the race to build bigger models, and the groundbreaking work of projects like DeepSeek.

I...

In this first episode of our special AI-focused series of Let’s Turn the Tide — brought to you in partnership with Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — host Nadine Zidani sits down with Prof. Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

This conversation opens up a fresh perspective on how artificial intelligence works — and what it means for the future of human decision-making, especially in the Middle East. Together, they explore how to stay critical, informed, and empowered in an AI-driven world.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

In this special episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani is joined by Sébastien Dorne, HR Director for Veolia in Africa and the Middle East, to explore the critical issues of gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace, particularly in the context of the Middle East. Drawing from over 20 years of experience in HR, Sébastien shares his personal journey and professional insights on how gender roles are evolving and the transformative practices needed to break down barriers.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide podcast, host Nadine Zidani, a sustainability expert and Founder of MENA Impact, is joined by Alicia Mansour, Innovation Decarbonization Director and AI Strategy Lead for Africa the Near Middle East at Veolia,to break down the concept of decarbonization and its crucial role in addressing climate change and achieving net zero goals in the Middle East. Alicia shares her expert insights on decarbonization, the importance of partnerships, and how innovation and AI is shaping a sustainable future.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani speaks with Amnah Alyammahi, Operations and Maintenance Engineer at Veolia Middle East, to explore the transformative potential of biogas as a renewable energy source in the UAE and beyond. Amnah shares her inspiring journey in environmental services, emphasizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve waste management, and drive a more sustainable future.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani, a sustainability expert and founder of MENA Impact, dives into the world of hazardous waste management with Sylvain Vaccher, Business Development Manager at Veolia Middle East, for an eye-opening discussion on hazardous waste management. With over 25 years of expertise, Sylvain unpacks the meaning of hazardous waste, its environmental impact, and the role of industries and individuals in ensuring its safe disposal.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this captivating episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, we sit down with Solange Ghantous, Plant Manager at Veolia’s VEBES Wastewater Treatment Plant in Abu Dhabi, to dive into the transformative world of water reuse. Solange sheds light on the challenges of water scarcity in the Middle East, the vital importance of treating water as a precious resource, and how circularity principles are redefining water management.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

Water scarcity is a growing global crisis, with 2.2 billion people lacking access to safely managed drinking water. The Middle East is among the most water-stressed regions, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, making desalination a critical solution. In this episode of Let’s Turn The Tide, Erwan Rouxel, CEO of Veolia Oman, discusses how desalination addresses this issue.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

Join host Nadine Zidani as she sits down with Pascal Grante, CEO of Veolia Near Middle East, to explore the findings of the Ecological Transformation Barometer 2024, a global survey conducted by Veolia and Elabe, across 26 countries in 5 continents , including UAE and Saudi Arabia. This insightful discussion delves into how local residents perceive ecological transformation, with a focus on key themes like health, decarbonization, depollution, and water regeneration.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this Last podcast episode on Women in Climate Action of Let’s Turn the Tide, we celebrate International Women’s Day by featuring the inspiring story of Amani Al Moajil, CEO of ENOVA Saudi Arabia and a leader in energy and facilities management. Amani shares her journey as one of the first female Saudi senior leaders in her industry, the challenges she overcame, and her vision for encouraging more women to step into leadership roles in the energy sector.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this second podcast episode focused on women in climate action, host Nadine Zidani speaks with our phenomenal guest Rana Hajirasouli, Founder and CEO of The Surpluss:A B-Corp certified company and world's first B2B platform that allows businesses to share excess resources.This conversation highlights the need to ‘Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress’ the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, exploring the transformative role of women in climate tech and beyond.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In Celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, Let’s Turn The Tide dedicates this special episode to the incredible contributions of women in climate action. Host Nadine Zidani interviews Dr. Nawal Al Hosany, UAE's permanent representative at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to explore the evolving role of women in sustainability, the challenges they face, and the transformative power of investing in women.
In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide with , we have an enlightening discussion on an innovative green solution: waste-to-energy. In this episode, host Nadine Zidani sits down with Thierry Dezenclos, CEO of Veolia UAE, to demystify how waste can be transformed into energy, its environmental impact, and its immense potential for sustainable progress.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

Want to s...

In this 3rd episode of the Voices of COP series, part of the Let’s Turn the Tide podcast,we are honored to host Dinah Louda, President of the Veolia Institute, shares with us her experiences with COPs meetings that she attended in the past few years, and her opinion on COP28.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In the second episode of the Voices of COP series, part of the Let’s Turn the Tide podcast, we are honored to host H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce. As Dubai prepares to host COP28, He shares his insights on the pivotal role and the challenges of the private sector in the UAE’s economic diversification and ecological transformation.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this inaugural episode of the Voices of COP series, part of the Let’s Turn the Tide podcast. This new series is dedicated to COP28, taking place in Dubai end of November.We’re thrilled to host Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia. As a leading figure in the ecological transformation, Estelle shares her views on the private sector's pivotal role in addressing climate change and driving the transition to a low-carbon future.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, we explore the role of awareness and education in driving sustainability and ecological transformation. The discussion focuses on how businesses and institutions in the UAE are fostering sustainable practices, particularly among younger generations.

Join us with our inspiring guests:

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

In this thought-provoking episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, we dive into the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its impact on our planet and society. With a spotlight on the UAE's evolving policies and initiatives, this episode unpacks the challenges and opportunities within the circular economy.

Join us with our inspiring guests:

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

On this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, we explore the fascinating biodiversity of the UAE and the urgent need for action to preserve it amid environmental challenges. To celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, our discussion sheds light on the impact of climate change, the innovative solutions being implemented, and how we can all play a role in protecting our ecosystems.

Join us with our inspiring guests:

In this inaugural episode of Veolia's Let’s Turn the Tide podcast following the month of Ramadan, we dive into the critical issues of food waste and food scarcity in the UAE, a region where food security is a growing challenge. Joining us are experts and innovators at the forefront of tackling these pressing environmental challenges: