Key skills and expertise

With 12 years of experience in law, human rights, and advocacy, the expert has served in senior roles, including Technical Advisor and Senior Refugee and Protection Officer at Immigration New Zealand. They have led strategic problem-solving, training, and legal decision-making on asylum claims. Internationally, the expert contributed to the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials. They have demonstrated leadership in litigation, mediations, and high-profile cases, such as Seales v Attorney-General. Their qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Certificate in Digital Transformation, showcasing expertise in regulatory compliance and digital strategies.

Sectors and geographic focus

The expert has worked in key sectors including civil society, NGOs, gender, human rights, and law. They held senior roles such as Technical Advisor and Senior Refugee and Protection Officer at Immigration New Zealand, focusing on legal decision-making and strategic management. Additionally, they contributed to international legal processes in Cambodia with the United Nations. Their interdisciplinary expertise spans legal compliance, advocacy, and digital transformation strategies, applied across regional and national scopes.

The expert has extensive geographic experience in New Zealand, where they held significant roles at Immigration New Zealand in Auckland. They also worked in Cambodia with the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, gaining insight into international legal processes and regional cultural dynamics. This experience reflects a robust understanding of local governance and human rights issues within these regions.

Languages and education

The expert is a native Arabic speaker and is fluent in English. They possess basic proficiency in French. These language skills have been utilized in various professional contexts, including work in New Zealand and Cambodia, and in roles that required liaising with international stakeholders, conducting interviews, and preparing legal documents.

The expert holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where they received the Bahrain Ministry of Education Scholarship. Additionally, they completed Professional Legal Studies at the New Zealand College of Law and were admitted to the High Court of New Zealand as a barrister and solicitor. The expert also earned a New Zealand Certificate in Regulatory Compliance and a Certificate in Digital Transformation from MIT Management Executive Education. They have a background in Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design, USA.