Educational Background:
2016 - 2019 Bachelor
of Shar’iah and Law (Villa College, Maldives)
2007 - 2010 Bachelor of Arts in Dhivehi Language and
Culture (The Maldives National University)
2011 - 2013 Master
of Arts in Dhivehi Language and Culture (The Maldives National University)
1995 International Diploma in Educational
Planning and Administration, NCERT, Delhi, India
1992 Distance Education for Development
Institute of Education. (University of London, London, UK).
1981 Advanced Certificate in Primary
Teaching (Educational Development Centre, Maldives)
Work Experience:
Elections Commission - Commissioner
and Vice President (2014 - 2024)
Elections Commissioner for two
consecutive terms at the Maldives Elections Commission rising to the post of
the Vice Chairperson in the last three years.
Elections Commission - Elections
Administration (2007 - 2013)
From the position of Director General
rising to the Executive
Director, involvement includes all facets
of elections administration and management.
Centre for Continuing Education - Director
Education Development (1988 – 2007)
Developing learning materials, radio
& TV scrip writing, periodical production, and management development of
education sector staff.
Trainings:
22 International Workshops on Election and
Education
14 Local Workshops on Elections and Governance
Biographical Note:
Uz Ismail Habeeb has been a prominent advocate
of democratic governance and public participation in the Maldives, devoting
over two decades to the advancement of electoral integrity and representative
rule. Beginning his service with the Elections Commission in 2003, he rose to
serve as Vice Chairman until 2024, bringing to the institution extensive
expertise in election management, voter education, and monitoring. His
leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Office of the
Commissioner of Elections in 2007 and later Chief Coordinator of the electoral
taskforce under the 2008 Constitution, highlight his pivotal role in building
the country’s independent electoral framework. In 2013, he was appointed to the
Elections Commission with unanimous parliamentary endorsement, where he worked
to further strengthen institutional credibility and public trust in the
electoral system.
Prior to his contributions in governance, Uz
Habeeb has dedicated nearly two decades to education in the Maldives, serving
as teacher, head teacher, teacher educator, and later as Director of the Centre
for Continuing Education (CCE). He was instrumental in promoting adult and
continuing education, most notably through a weekly radio program that aired
continuously for 17 years and by editing the sector’s monthly magazine. He
coordinated the nation’s first distance education programs and second-chance
initiatives for school dropouts, thereby broadening educational opportunities
for marginalized communities.
In
addition to his public service, Uz. Habeeb has established himself as a
trainer, consultant, and writer. For over a decade, he has delivered management
consultancy and executive training to both public service officers and
corporate professionals. A fully accredited BRIDGE facilitator, he holds
advanced degrees in Dhivehi Language and Culture from the Maldives National
University and a degree in Sharia and Law from Villa College. His intellectual
pursuits extend into authorship, with numerous children’s storybooks, as well
as academic and awareness articles published in local newspapers and magazines.
Several of his research studies have also appeared in peer-reviewed journals,
underscoring the breadth of his scholarly and professional contributions.
