Meet Naff Asim, a marine biologist and environmental conservationist from the Maldives working towards conserving and restoring the environment and its climate. Naff is currently working for the European Union Switch Asia-funded project called Project PROMISE which seeks to address environmental and climate change issues in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and India. She is actively advocating for the climate issues happening across the Maldives and working with different NGOs and other international and national enterprises to spread awareness of climate change and its impact. Naff is also a professional freediver and PADI Rescue Diver who seeks to teach and empower people, especially women and girls to be involved in the field of environmental and marine conservation. She has taught over 100+ girls and women to snorkel/swim/free dive who are currently working in the environmental fields.

Naff used to work with Six Senses Laamu Resort as a Marine Biologist where she engaged and conducted scientific research activities with experts in the field. She also worked for Blue Marine Foundation and Maldives Resilient Reefs Project during this period where she helped to establish the Maldives’ first-ever Sustainable Reef Fishery Program called “Laamaseelu Masveriya – Exemplary Fishermen” which is currently supporting research activities for protected areas in Laamu Atoll. Also, she supported the delivery of BLUE’s education and capacity-building programs for schools, resorts, councils, and other organizations in the Maldives.

She has an extensive wealth of information and experience from her previous role as Sustainability Coordinator for Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru Resort where she was responsible for oversight of all sustainability and CSR programs under Banyan Tree in the Maldives. During her time at Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, she was also working for the Marine Lab of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru where she has assisted in many conservation and research activities carried out in the Maldives with over 7 international publications. Nafha is a licensed auditor for EarthCheck and has worked with other governmental and international organizations such as Maldives Marine Research Institute, Manta Trust, Olive Ridley Project, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and United Nations Development Program.