Senior Research Fellow
Research keywords: Small Island Developing States - democracy, sustainability and human rights, Climate Education, Feminist Foreign Policy and SIDS, Women in Diplomacy.
Dr Farah Faizal is a specialist in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and an independent consultant, writer, and public speaker. She holds the distinction of being the first Maldivian woman to earn a Ph.D., focusing her thesis on the security issues faced by SIDS.
Farah has extensive diplomatic experience, serving twice as the High Commissioner of the Maldives to the UK and as a non-resident ambassador to several European countries, including Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. She has represented the Maldives in international forums such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings and the International Maritime Organisation. Her work focuses on addressing SIDS-related challenges, particularly in the areas of climate change, democracy, and human rights.
Notable achievements include receiving the Diplomat of the Year from Asia and Oceania Award (2022) and co-editing the book "Women, Security, South Asia: A Clearing in the Thicket," which explores women's perspectives on security in South Asia. She has also served as the third President of the Women in Diplomacy Network in London.
Fluent in English and Dhivehi, Farah is an accomplished public speaker, having delivered guest lectures, participated in panel discussions, and made media appearances on topics such as democracy, human rights, climate change, and women's role in diplomacy. She has spoken at events like the Hay Festival and on platforms such as the BBC.
