H.E. Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, Director General of the Institute of Public Administration and Member of the Supreme Council for Women, is a trailblazer in Bahrain’s public service. She became the first woman in the Arab world to serve as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017–2021), following earlier leadership roles, including Secretary-General of the Higher Education Council (2021–2023) and Assistant Undersecretary for Arab and Afro-Asian Affairs (2011–2017).
Dr. Al Khalifa is also deeply engaged in national and international initiatives. She sits on the Council of Administration of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), serves as Vice Chairman of the Government Service Centers Evaluation Committee, and has contributed to many national and international initiatives
Her achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Efficiency Medal of the First Class (2018), the Arab Woman Award for Social Leadership (2022), and the “Star of Italy” Medal (2023). She holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Exeter.