Thilmeeza Hussain

Thilmeeza Hussain is a lecturer of sustainability and global warming and an environmentalist. She is the founder of Voice of Women (VoW) Maldives, she sits on the advisory board of Women’s Earth Climate Action Network and is also a member of Climate Wise Women, global platforms promoting women’s leadership on climate change. Thilmeeza was serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) of the Republic of the Maldives to United Nations from 2009 until 2012 when the first democratically elected government was toppled. During her term at the UN, she had the sustainable development portfolio and led the Maldives on environmental and climate change issues. She was amongst the voice of a new generation of women in the developing world who see climate change as the fundamental challenge for their future as well as a key platform for leadership. During the time she was also accredited as the non-residential Deputy Ambassador to the United States and Canada. She worked extensively with the decentralization process and was also in charge of the establishment of North Province Office. When Thilmeeza resigned following the coup d’état that overthrew the government she was seven months pregnant, today she is a proud mother of a five-year-old boy. She continues to serve on the Foreign Relations Committee for the Maldivian Democratic Party; a party committed to restoring democracy in the Maldives. Her motto: Dream big, work hard.