Maryam Mariya, PhD
Writer
Profile
About
Dr. Maryam Mariya holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Massey University, New Zealand, and has held academic positions at the University of Waikato, where she lectured in Digital Learning and supported students as a Senior Tutor in Learning Development.
She has served as a Cabinet Minister of the Republic of Maldives, holding portfolios in Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, and Agriculture and Animal Welfare under President Muizzu’s administration — until her resignation in April 2026.
Her work spans education policy, curriculum design, food security, and sustainable agriculture. She has published across applied linguistics, digital education, and academic development, and has delivered keynote speeches at international forums.
She has a deep love for her mother tongue, Dhivehi, and has contributed to Dhivehi language research as a consultant with overseas universities and organisations. From time to time, she writes about history, culture, and what it meant to grow up in the Maldives.
Beyond policy and academia, she is a keen writer and a creative — equally at home with words and art, in the Maldives and in New Zealand.