Three sides of the table
Technologist, public servant, teacher and researcher. From teaching senior officials computer literacy in 1992 to leading the country's digital government, and now researching how AI is governed.
Building the
state's systems
From Systems Administrator to CIO at the National Centre for Information Technology, then Permanent Secretary and Minister of State. Digital public infrastructure, climate data and regional connectivity.
Delivering inside
institutions
Project governance of banking transformation at Maldives Islamic Bank. Advisory work on digital transformation with Nexia Maldives, and Dhivehi-language AI with OXIQA and Synetecs.
Research and
teaching
Researcher at UNU-IIST in Macao. Vice Rector for Academic Development at Cyryx College. Now doctoral research on AI governance in Islamic financial institutions.
Career
- 2025 –
Head of PMO · Maldives Islamic Bank
Leads governance of the bank's digital enhancement and transformation projects.
- 2025 –
Senior Advisor, Digital Transformation · Nexia Maldives
Led the digital chapter of the Maldives' 20-year National Development Plan, 2025–2045.
- 2023 – 2025
Director, Government and International Relations · OXIQA
Built government and international partnerships, and supported Dhivehi-language AI at sister company Synetecs.
- 2021 – 2023
Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology
Led the country's digital public infrastructure, including the eFaas national digital identity, and chaired UN ESCAP's AP-IS Steering Committee.
- 2019 – 2021
Permanent Secretary · Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology
As the senior-most civil servant, led the establishment of a new ministry and reshaped the leadership of digital governance.
- 2016 – 2018
Vice Rector, Academic Development · Cyryx College
Led the college's academic agenda, developing 13 new programmes, nine of them at master's level.
- 2014 – 2016
Chief Operating Officer · Azimuth
Led project governance of the ERP roll-out at Maldives Airports Company, operator of the country's main airport.
- 2003 – 2014
Systems Administrator to Chief Information Officer · National Centre for Information Technology
Eleven years building the Government Network and the first e-government services.
- 2008 – 2011
Researcher · Center for Electronic Governance, UNU-IIST, Macao
E-government research and capacity building, including strategy work with the governments of Afghanistan and Macao.
- 1992 – 1993
Trainee · Maldives Centre for Administration
First job. Taught computer literacy to senior government officials, from MS-DOS to Windows 3.1 and WordPerfect.
Projects
At Nexia Maldives · 2025 to now
- 2025 – 2026
National Development Plan for the Maldives, 2025–2045 · Ministry of Finance and Planning
Led the development of the digital chapter, and supported the digital plans of other sectors.
For the Asian Development Bank · 2026
- 2026
Scoping study for the digitisation of the Ministry of Tourism · Asian Development Bank
As National Digital Transformation Specialist, scoped the digitisation of the ministry's data management and service delivery.
As Permanent Secretary and Minister of State · 2019 to 2023
- 2019 – 2023
eFaas national digital identity
Led its growth from a single government login into the national digital identity, used by over 195,000 people.
- 2021 – 2023
Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification · World Bank
Led the development of the project with the World Bank and started its implementation.
- 2021 – 2023
Legal framework for digital development
Led the drafting of the Electronic Transactions Act and the bills on data protection, cybersecurity and the Government Digital Service.
- 2021 – 2023
Gems Workspace
Architected the government's productivity platform and led its early release to ministries and councils.
- 2021 – 2023
GOV.MV Message
Architected the service for official letters between citizens and government, and led its roll-out to agencies and councils.
- 2021 – 2023
Admin Center
Architected a single platform for the back-office administration of government digital services.
- 2021 – 2023
Government Digital Service
Drafted the bill to make NCIT a statutory body, and started the USTDA grant towards a national government cloud.
- 2021 – 2023
National cybersecurity
Established the National Cyber Security Awareness Month and the National Cyber Security Conference.
- 2022 – 2023
Regulatory sandbox for central bank digital currency and fintech · Maldives Monetary Authority, UN ESCAP, UN DESA
Led the national implementation of the UN project.
- 2022 – 2023
Maldives Ocean Hackathon
Conceived the initiative and brought its national and international partners together.
- 2023
Early Warnings for All · United Nations
Chaired the pillar on warning dissemination and communication, for the first national early warning roadmap.
- 2021
Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Action Plan 2022–2026 · UN ESCAP
Chaired the drafting group. It was the first action plan adopted by consensus.
At Azimuth · 2014 to 2016
- 2014 – 2016
Oracle ERP implementation · Maldives Airports Company
Provided project governance for the roll-out.
At the National Centre for Information Technology · 2005 to 2014
- 2013 – 2018
Community e-Centres · SAARC Development Fund
Oversaw the project, ensuring timely delivery of 50 centres across the Maldives.
- 2007 – 2008, 2011 – 2012
Government e-Letter Management System (GEMS)
Led its development. It became the government's official channel for correspondence, used by over 240 organisations.
- 2011 – 2012
Expatriate Worker Management System
Led its delivery, cutting the visits needed for each transaction from eight to one.
- 2011 – 2012
Government Software Licensing Programme
Led the programme, from a survey of public sector ICT to standards and licensed software for all agencies.
- 2011 – 2012
Transport Online System
Supported the project that put driving licences and test bookings online, cutting visits from five to two.
- 2012
eFaas
Led the delivery of a single login for all e-government services.
- 2012
eCitizen Programme
Designed the national ICT literacy programme for everyday computer and internet skills.
- 2012
Tourism Information Management System
Supported its delivery, giving the industry and authorities tourism data as it happens.
- 2011
National IT Incubator Programme
Led its design and launch, helping young people turn IT ideas into products and businesses.
- 2005 – 2008
Government Network of Maldives
Led its establishment, connecting government offices in Malé and 20 atoll capitals.
- 2006 – 2008
e-Government platform
Led the delivery of one platform for government services and information online.
Education
Degree and certificate
- 1993 – 1997
MEng (Hons), Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Management · University of Birmingham
- 1997
Certificate in Management · Institute of Management Foundation, United Kingdom
Executive education
- 2023
Cyber Bootcamp, Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership · Australian National University, Canberra
- 2022
Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace, Asia Pacific partners · George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Munich
- 2022
Executive Seminar: Managing New Technology and Security · Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, Washington DC
- 2020
International Program on Cyber Security Studies · George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, online
- 2014
Developing e-Government Strategies · e-Government Leadership Centre, Singapore
- 2012
Legal Frameworks for ICTs · COMNET, Malta
- 2004
Workshop on ICT: e-Government, CIO, Public Safety and Mobile · ITU and Waseda University, Tokyo
- 2003
IT and e-Governance · Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad
- 2003
IT Management · Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore
Boards and memberships
Current
- Board Member, UNU Global AI Network
- Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Member, College Council, Cyryx College
- Advisory Board, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, Villa College
- Council Member, Superbrands Maldives
- Member, Maldives Professional Speakers Association
Earlier
- 2025Scientific Committee, UNU Macau AI Conference 2025
- 2025Member, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- 2007 – 2023Associate Member, UNESCO Chair in ICT4D, Royal Holloway, University of London
- 2020 – 2021Member, Governing Board, Maldives Qualifications Authority