Past event

The Maldives' Role in Climate Change Diplomacy, Dr Farah Faizal, Embassy of the Republic of Maldives to the UK School of International Relations - Annual Imber Award

Dr Farah Faizal served as the High Commissioner of Maldives to the UK as well as non-resident Ambassador to Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Spain and Sweden from 2009 to 2012. Following the overthrow of the government in the Maldives in February 2012, Dr Faizal resigned and served as the Spokesperson in Europe for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). She represented the former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group during its enquiry into the change of government in the Maldives as well as serving as a Foreign Policy Advisor to the MDP. With the change of government in November 2018, she was appointed Ambassador to the UK.

Dr Faizal graduated from the University of Keele in 1989 with a BA (Hons) degree in International Relations and, in 1991, she completed her MPhil in International Relations at the University of Cambridge. In 1996, Dr Faizal completed a PhD in Politics from the University of Hull. Her thesis was on the Security Problems of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with particular reference to the SIDS of the Indian Ocean.

Dr Faizal co-edited A clearing in the thicket: Women, Security, South Asia” published in 2005 by Sage. The book explores women's perspectives on matters of security and related policy, focusing on women in South Asia who are battling society, insecurity and violence.