Ahmed Iyaadh (Iyad) grew up in Laamu and often spent his weekends exploring the neighbouring island of Gaadhoo; a sea turtle hotspot known for its turtle-centric culture. Here is where Iyad’s early fondness for everything-turtle began.
As a son of a fisherman and boat-owner, Iyaad spent every weekend in the sea or on the beaches, learning the intricate web between the waters and life from the elders of his community.
With a strong passion for education, learning and teaching has always been a driving factor for him, leading him to accumulate a decade of experience as an English Language instructor for private education centres such as Knowledge Hub and My Study Space. Iyad also honed his leadership, team and event management skills in his role as the first Secretary General (and the youngest Exco-member) of Endometriosis Association of Maldives.
After finishing degree programme in International Relations from the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia in 2022, he served in multiple levels of the Maldivian government. He learnt how to launch, monitor and manage multiple international donor-funded projects in both public health and social sectors that were administered and implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. These roles also gave him an opportunity to gain experience in public policy-making and bill-drafting.
Now, Iyad is excited to return to his roots and reconnect with the marine world through ORP. Iyad joined the team in June 2025, and is responsible for coordinating project logistics towards increasing local awareness and education, as well as partnership-building and fundraising. With his passion for coordinating donor-funded projects and making a difference, he hopes to give back to the ocean community through his role.
