Dr. Maleeha Lodhi is a distinguished Pakistani diplomat, political scientist, and author. She made history as the first woman to serve as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position she held from 2015 to 2019. Dr. Lodhi has also held significant diplomatic roles, including Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in political science from the London School of Economics, where she also taught political sociology. In the realm of journalism, she became the first woman in Asia to edit a national daily newspaper, The Muslim, and later founded The News International.​

Dr. Lodhi is the author and editor of several influential works, including Pakistan: The External Challenge, Pakistan’s Encounter with Democracy, and Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State. Her contributions to international diplomacy and public service have earned her the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award. Recognized globally, she was named by Time magazine in 1994 as one of the 100 people who would help shape the 21st century.​