Sharmin Subrina is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She holds Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration from Bangladesh, with academic specialization in Finance and Human Resource Management. She has further strengthened her expertise through professional certifications and international training in Human Rights and People’s Diplomacy, Global Tobacco Control Leadership, Migration, Child Advocacy, and victim-centered approaches for addressing child sexual exploitation. These experiences have shaped her strong interest in international affairs, public policy, human rights, and global development.

With more than 20 years of professional experience, Sharmin has built a distinguished career in programme leadership and community development. She has led over 80 donor-funded projects and provided strategic oversight to multidisciplinary teams across a wide range of development initiatives. Her work has focused on promoting safe migration, combating human trafficking, advancing gender equality, strengthening child protection systems, and improving the well-being of vulnerable and marginalized populations through evidence-based programming and policy engagement.

Prior to pursuing graduate studies in Canada, Sharmin served as Director Program at Association for Community Development (ACD), Bangladesh, where she provided strategic leadership to projects supported by organizations such as UNICEF, IOM, ILO, UNODC, Oxfam, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Free a Girl Netherlands and The Carter Center. She has also held senior positions in advocacy, communications, programme management, and migration programming, most recently serving as Migration Technical Specialist with Terre des hommes Foundation, a Switzerland based child rights organization.

Throughout her career, Sharmin has collaborated with UN agencies, international NGOs and networks including UN Network in Migration, government institutions, and civil society networks across Asia and beyond. She has represented organizations at national, regional, and global forums and has actively contributed to policy dialogues on migration, human rights, child protection, climate justice, and labour mobility.

Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of migration and mobility, global governance, social policy, human rights, gender-responsive policymaking, and international development. Through her studies and professional engagement, she seeks to contribute to inclusive, evidence-informed public policy that advances equity, dignity, and sustainable development for communities worldwide.

Present Engagement

• Alumni, Diplomacy Training Program, Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales, Australia
• Alumni, May 18 Memorial Foundation, South Korea
• Alumni, Asia Europe Foundation, Singapore
• Associate Member, International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN), USA

Past Engagement

• Member Representative Committee, ECPAT International, Thailand
• Ambassador, Global Advocacy, Family for Every Child, United Kingdon
• Member, Expert Advisory Group, Child Participation, ECPAT International, Thailand
• Member, 2019 and 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Nomination Committee of Bangladesh, The May 18 Memorial Foundation, South Korea
• Focal Person, ECPAT International Child and Youth Advisory Committee (EICYAC), Thailand
• Professional Content Advisory Group Member, Online course on participatory research methods in child sexual violence research; Terre des Hommes Netherlands, University of Bedfordshire, and University of Central Lancashire