Heena Waleed has been appointed as the Chief Spokesperson of the President’s Office, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Waleed’s appointment follows the dismissal of her predecessor, Mohamed Shahyb, on 31 December 2023. Shahyb, who served nearly one month as the presidential spokesperson, was reassigned to a position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Waleed, who is serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), will retain her CEO responsibilities while undertaking her new role at the President’s Office. The President’s Office clarified that she would not receive additional remuneration for her new responsibilities.
Waleed served as the spokesperson for the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) during the parliamentary election campaign and previously held the position of Political Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Abdulla Yameen administration.
She started her media career as an announcer at the state broadcaster Television Maldives and worked her way up to senior roles within the news and current affairs department before venturing into politics.
