I am a confident, enthusiastic and qualified development practitioner, trainer and a lecturer with more than 20 years of extensive experience in the areas of community development, governance, gender, and project management. I also have worked and have extensive experience in local governance. I currently work (since 2015) as a Social Expert (Gender and Community Development) in an ADB funded project, Preparing Outer Islands Sustainable Energy Development (POISED), under the Ministry Environment, Maldives. Prior to joining the current assignment I was the first CEO of the Local Government Authority and previously worked in the area of community development and capacity development for the outer island communities at various capacities in the Ministry of Atolls Development, Maldives. I received my PhD in Development Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and Master’s degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies from Australian National University, Australia, and a Bachelor’s degree from Islamic University, Saudi Arabia.