Safaath Ahmed Zahir has been selected as this year's Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows.
The Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows program is a year-long, multi-disciplinary leadership development initiative by the Asia Society, established in 2006, that selects emerging leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to build networks, enhance skills, and collaborate on solutions to pressing challenges like policy, economic issues, environmental concerns, and societal changes.
Safaath, who is also the founder and president of the non-profit organization Women and Democracy, is an advocate for women's empowerment and political participation. She told Sun that she was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the Asia Society network. “The Maldives may be small in geography, but we are rich in vision, determination, and lessons in adaptation”, she wrote on her X handle.
Therefore, as a member of the Asia Society network, Safaath stressed the need to enhance regional cooperation. She said she would work for that.
Let’s celebrate our new class of @Asia21Fellows! ????Introducing 30 exceptional leaders from 27 countries and regions, dedicated to driving transformative change in their communities and the world for the greater good. United by a shared commitment to creating a more equitable,… pic.twitter.com/DrtZwoDIHp
— Asia Society (@AsiaSociety) September 4, 2025
This is the first time that Maldives has been selected as a member of the network.
The Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows program features an annual summit, which this year will be held from December 5 to 7 in Manila, Philippines.
This year’s summit will center on the theme “The Journey to Courageous Leadership”. The Manila Summit, a two-and-a-half-day event, will challenge Fellows and Asia 21 alumni to lead authentically, embrace vulnerability, and take bold, collective action. This summit aims to strengthen their leadership with courage, integrity, and purpose, while fostering lasting connections and cross-sector collaborations among Asia 21 alumni.
Safaath is active in politics and attends Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rallies. A leading Maldivian civil society figure, she has received global accolades such as the Queen’s Young Leader Award and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. Her work focuses on expanding civic space, feminist leadership, and inclusive governance in Asia.
The Asia Society is an internationally focused, nonpartisan organization founded in 1956 to foster connections and understanding among Asian and American leaders and institutions. Its network promotes the views of leaders from different countries in a variety of fields, including politics, arts and culture, business, education, and technology.