Leadership Programme

Afaaz is a Resort research and fisheries officer and oversees the sustainable fisheries programme “Laamaseelu Masveriyaa” in the 5 star resort Six Senses Laamu while carrying out community outreach and other coral reef and marine ecosystem research.

Hailing from Huvadhu atoll, Afaaz formed a profound connection with nature at an early age. After A-levels, he joined his family in fishing for tuna, from there it ignited his fascination with the sea and the environment. However, over time his witnessed a distressing amount of plastic pollution, and began to feel deeply troubled. Afaaz used this feeling to fuel his passion to protect the marine life. During his final year of education, he focused his thesis on microplastics in big eye scads at The Maldives National University, aiming to understand their impact on the marine ecosystem in Maldives.

Ali is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Maldives Underwater Initiative by Six Senses Laamu. His passion for nature and the ocean has led him to work on several conservation research projects throughout Laamu but In his current role, he is trying to focus on ways to strengthen waste management in Laamu atoll, and raise awareness of different issues. He works closely with his team and collaborates with them to work towards creating more inclusive, aware, and resilient island communities.

Khady is passionate about creating change, finding ways to transform our existing systems in the world to make space for a better world where we can exist in harmony with nature. She currently works the Reduce Manager for Soneva Namoona, in which she is responsible for overseeing programs and projects to reduce single use plastics and overall waste. Khady has already achieved great progress in this field such as helping to set up glass water bottling facilities in Baa and Noonu atoll to provide an alternative for drinking water packaged in plastics. She is also working hard to introduce menstrual cups and reusable pads to island communities through a partnership between Soneva Namoona, UNFPA Maldives and Zero Waste Maldives.

Azhoora is a passionate environmentalist and ocean lover, born and raised in the Maldives. Growing up surrounded by the beauty of the ocean, she developed a strong connection and love for the environment from a young age.

Currently she is working as the Inspire Manager with Soneva Namoona, an NGO aiming to create empowered Zero Waste Communities across the Maldives. There focus is to reduce single-use plastics, create sustainable waste management systems and increasing environmental stewardship within communities. As a key member of the organisation, she plays a crucial role in their mission to tackle the urgent issue of single-use plastics, which pose a significant threat to the pristine marine ecosystems of the Maldives.

Zana Shiraz is an Assistant Research Officer at the Maldives Marine Research Institute, within the Endangered, Threatened and Protected species unit. She is leading the microplastic research at the Institute, where they focus on the microplastic distribution and concentration in the marine environment, with the aim of seeing how much it effects the organisms.

Working within the field for the last 7 years, her passion for the marine world was present even before joining the institute when she worked as a Divemaster.

As a State Attorney, Ihusana firmly believes that the younger generation are our hope for saving our planet. She wants to find a way to play a positive role in the community and discover new ways to protect the ocean. As a member of Clean Maldives and HWPL, she feels that plastic pollution is the most difficult issue to tackle, as it has become something that we as a society depend on so heavily, but it is critical that we find sustainable alternatives.

Dr. Aishath Shaira is working as a Lecturer and Assistant professor at Maldives National University, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Technology (FEST). She graduated from University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa with a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Science (hons) (Chemistry), a Master of Science (Chemistry) and a PhD in Chemistry. She had also obtained a teaching advanced diploma in Chemistry and Mathematics from the Maldives College of Higher Education.

Aside from lecturing, she also supervises undergraduate student research projects and takes part in different Research Projects, as well as working in South Asian Nitrogen Hub project as a researcher since 2022.