Mr. Sajid Mian Mallam Hassam is a Principal Programme Officer at the IORA Secretariat and joined IORA in March 2006. He is tasked with the responsibility of supervising staff and junior employees. He provides assistance to professional staff in correspondence relating to Council meetings (COM, CSO, WGTI, BF, AG, WGHM) and updates the status of IORA projects.
He completed a Training Course for IORA Diplomats which was conducted by the Indian Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs from 4 to 14 September, 2013, in New Delhi, India.
Before joining IORA, Sajid Mian Mallam Hassam earlier worked in the private sector as a Data Analyst in the Data Processing and Analysis Division of the Market and Economic Studies Department from 1994 to 2004. He has been involved in various quantitative surveys and has acquired extensive experience, inter-alia, in areas such as customer satisfaction surveys, general consumption, brand evaluation surveys, etc.
Dr. Shamimtaz Sadally has a PhD in Marine Molecular Biology and Ecology and a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology from the University of Mauritius. She has presented her PhD work at several national and international conferences and has publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
She has been recognised for her scientific contribution at several occasions. She was nominated among the top five Mauritian Scientists at the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) Best Mauritian Scientist Award 2016 and won the Second Best Research for MRC Sponsored Post Graduates in 2014.
Dr. Sadally has been appointed as the Coordinator to lead the Blue Economy Team at IORA since January 2015. As part of her job, she has been analysing the need and capacities of IORA Member States in terms of the Blue Economy, based on which she formulates projects and draft project proposals to be implemented in Member States. She is also involved in the IORA Sustainable Development Programmes for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which aims at optimising benefits of all IORA Member States and enable LDCs to host events on specific topics based on their priorities. Dr Sadally is motivated to contribute to the sustainable development of the Blue Economy, as well as to provide expert assistance and support to IORA Member States.
Ms Kritika N Nuckchady is a Programme officer in the Secretariat’s Directorate responsible for the priority areas of Tourism and Cultural Exchanges (TCE) and Academic, Science and Technology (AST).
She provides support to IORA Member States, the Secretary General and the Seconded Director from South Africa (Zelda Vrolick) in initiating/carrying out projects in the afore-mentioned areas of work and in the management of relations with International Partners and relevant International Organisations. Inter alia, she conducts research, coordinates IORA events and projects, prepares substantive documentation, and liaises with Member States and International Partners.
Ms Nuckchady, who joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association in 2016, holds a Masters in Global Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kent. Ms Nuckchady is also a certified Project Management Professional PMP®.
Ms. Teelotma Ghoorah has over fifteen years of experience working in the field of women’s empowerment, youth development, civic engagement and policy making.
She has been involved in many national and regional projects/programmes and her key areas of expertise include Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting and Project/Programme Management.
She joined IORA as Programme Officer in the Secretariat’s Directorate responsible for the priority areas of Maritime Safety and Security (MSS) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in January 2023, after a six month’s internship at the Secretariat.
She provides support to IORA Member States, the Secretary-General and the Seconded Director from India in initiating/carrying out projects in the afore-mentioned areas of work and in the management of relations with International Partners and relevant international organizations. She also conducts research, coordinates IORA events/ projects, prepares substantive documentation and liaises with Member States and Dialogue Partners.
Ms Ghoorah holds a degree in Management, a Masters in Social Development and has recently been certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Ms. Hilla Lakhpatwala is a Programme Officer in the Secretariat’s Directorate of Public Diplomacy and Communication.
With ten years of experience in communication, she works to improve and strengthen IORA's visibility in the region. Her roles include media/press support, social media management, outreach program coordination, e-newsletter creation, content creation for website, and local/international events communication planning.
She also provides support to IORA Member States, the Secretary-General and Directors in initiating/carrying out projects and preparing substantive documentation and liaises with Member States and International Partners.
Ms. Lakhpatwala, who joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association in March 2023, holds a Masters of Science in Digital Marketing and a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has worked as a Journalist for more than 5 years, reporting on national and international events. She has been an Adviser on Information Matters in the public sector for 3 years.
Ms Selvana Mootien is a Programme officer (Secretariat Coordination) in the Secretariat’s Directorate responsible for Institutional Arrangement and Broadening Engagement (IABE) and Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE). She holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honors from the University of Mauritius and a certificate degree of Leadership in Public Management from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (USA).
She provides support to IORA Member States, the Secretary General and the Seconded Director in coordinating and carrying out the Committee of Senior Official (CSO), Council of Ministers Meeting (COM) and WEE Working Group meetings. She further contributes to the management of relations with International Partners and coordinates IORA events and projects.
Ms Selvana Mootien was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2022(USA) and the Pan-African Youth Leadership Program in 2014 (USA) under the aegis of the US Department of State. She further represented Mauritius at the Youth French Parliament in Albania in 2022 under the aegis of the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) following her selection by the Mauritian National Assembly and was selected to attend the Confucius Institute exchange program in China in 2018.
Before joining IORA, Ms Selvana worked as Project Coordinator in the private sector and Advocacy/Program officer in a non-governmental organization. She is experienced in Project writing, Grant writing, Legal research, Diplomacy and Coordination of events and programs.
Ms. Urvashi Appiah joined IORA as Programme Officer in the Secretariat’s Directorate responsible for the priority area Trade and Investment Facilitation in June 2024. She is also responsible for IORA Functional Body Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum and the development of the IORA Climate Change Strategic Agenda.
She provides support to the Seconded Director from Australia to further support IORA Member States, the Secretary General, Dialogue Partners, and various partnerships.
Before joining IORA, Ms Appiah has working experience in programme coordination and monitoring and evaluation in non-governmental organisations while working in collaboration with ministries and the private sector.
Ms Appiah holds a Master’s degree in Regional Integration from the University of Mauritius (in collaboration with COMESA) and a Bachelor degree in Psychology with Counselling Skills from Middlesex University (Mauritius). She also has additional certificates in Civic Leadership from the UNISA under the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Centre, South Africa, and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Professional Short Course from the Australian National University.
Ms. Samima Saumtally joined the IORA Secretariat in February 2007 and holds a BA Hons. Library and Information Science from the Open University of Mauritius and a Diploma in Communication/Business English from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Currently, she is pursuing an MBA at the University of Mauritius.
She has over 10 years of experience as a Secretary and Senior Administrative Assistant, developed useful secretarial, communication and organizational skills working for international organisations in London.
Ms. Saumtally is the Confidential Secretary to the office of the Secretary-General of IORA and provides secretarial support to all IORA Directorates in sending and receiving emails for Member States, Dialogue Partners, international organisations and other stakeholders.
She supports the broader administrative tasks of the IORA Secretariat in a key coordination role which includes managing the Secretariat headquarters email, circulation of Note Verbale to Member States and Dialogue Partners, scheduling high-level meetings and supporting the logistical arrangements for IORA events.
Miss Vijaya Rumon is a dynamic professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Minor Management, and holds affiliation with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). With her extensive experience across diverse sectors, including multinational corporation, offshore entities, and presently in the international diplomatic organisation, she has cultivated a robust skill set and expertise in financial management and reporting. Her track record speaks volumes about her capability to deliver relevant financial analysis and insights, thereby facilitating informed decision-making processes. Her adeptness in navigating various accounting systems and adapting to different organisational structures underscores her ability to excel in her role as an Accountant, consistently delivering professional financial insights and maximising efficiency. Miss Vijaya Rumon's blend of academic prowess, professional experience, and unwavering dedication makes her a valuable asset in any financial management capacity.
Beyond her professional endeavours, she is an active member of the Junior Chamber International of Curepipe, where she volunteers in different roles such as project director, project chairperson, and board member. Her involvement underscores her commitment to effecting positive change within her community. Through her leadership and participation in various projects, Vijaya demonstrates a passion for social responsibility and community development, showcasing her ability to make a meaningful impact beyond the realm of finance.
With seven years of dedicated administrative work experience, Mrs. Camila Murdun Delore brings a wealth of expertise to her role as an Administrative Clerk and Receptionist at the IORA Secretariat since May 2023. Holding a professional qualification in customer service and secretarial duties from Orian Educational Centre Ltd , she is committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming experience for all guests, serving as their initial point of contact.
Her primary responsibilities encompass the meticulous organization and planning of meetings and appointments, showcasing her adept organizational skills. Additionally, she acts as a proficient liaison officer for various projects, demonstrating her ability to facilitate effective communication and coordination. With a warm and professional demeanor, she consistently welcomes guests with a smile, embodying the commitment to excellence that defines her role at the IORA Secretariat.
Mr. Seewoogolam Seewoosagur is the IORA Secretariat's official driver and is responsible for taking care of the official vehicle, maintaining and servicing them as required. He assists in dispatching correspondence and other office work, whenever required.
Mr. Intiaz Khodabocus assists office staff with filing, photocopies, binding, sending faxes, and the dispatching of correspondence. He performs the duties of driver or receptionist whenever required.
Mr Raj Harel joined the IORA Secretariat in February 2019. He is responsible for the cleanliness of the office premises and such other responsibilities as entrusted to him from time to time. He is also a caretaker of the office premises.
