Sharmila Bernau

Sharmila Bernau serves as the Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand High Commission to Malaysia and Brunei, a position held since February 2018, following a role as Senior Policy Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where responsibilities included participation in the international security policy team focused on counter-terrorism and the Christchurch Call. Additionally, Sharmila managed interagency relationships during the COVID-19 response as the MFAT Liaison to the Ministry of Health. Prior to this, Sharmila held various medical positions at Capital & Coast District Health Board, including roles as a Medical Doctor in Mental Health and Addictions Services and Clinical Quality and Safety, and undertook training as a Registrar in Internal Medicine. Educational qualifications include a MB ChB in Medicine from the University of Otago, and both BA and MA Hons with Distinction in History from Victoria University of Wellington, complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Addiction Medicine.