Colonel (Retired) Norsuriati binti Haji Sharbini (born August 1973)[4] is a Bruneian civil servant and former judge-advocate who became the first female to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).[3] She has also been a constant advocate of putting women into positions of professional leadership throughout her career.[5] Her experience include mediation, policy making, teaching and research, disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration of fighters, capacity building, program monitoring and evaluation, networking, and interfacing.[6]


Norsuriati Sharbini

PJK
Major Norsuriati in 2013
Native name
نورسورياتي شربيني
Birth nameNorsuriati binti Haji Sharbini
BornAugust 1973 (age 51)
Brunei
Allegiance Brunei
Service / branch Royal Brunei Air Force[1]
Years of service2001–2022
Rank Colonel
Service number643[2]
UnitWomen's Company
Judge Advocate General's Office
Known forFirst woman in the RBAF to be promoted to colonel[3]
Alma materRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
Defence Academy RBAF
Spouse(s)Amirul Adly Ali

Military career

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Norsuriati joined the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) in 2001.[5] She earned the Best Student award throughout her military training as an officer cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[7] She went abroad to study law.[5] At the Command and Staff College, she was among the twenty-eight students who completed the second series of the Command and Staff Course (CSC) were given certificates of course completion on 12 October 2012. In addition, she was given the "Outstanding contribution of the RBAF CSC Commendation Award."[8]

Norsuriati oversaw the overhaul of the air force's military justice system as well as the execution of important changes to the force's rules and regulations. In order to improve troops' compliance with both common and military law and their sense of discipline, she has also arranged for legal training. She became the Head of Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Office at the Commander of the RBAF Secretariat Office and was the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) and the RBAirF's primary legal advisor.[5]

On 29 November 2013, the RBAF stated that Norsuriati was one of the eight senior officers who had given their assent to be elevated to the rank of acting lieutenant colonel, with the Sultan of Brunei's approval.[2] On 19 November 2018, the Australian Government presented her with the OBOE Endeavour Academic Excellence Award in honour of her exceptional performance in the just finished 12th RBAF Command and Staff Course (CSC) at the Defence Academy RBAF (DA RBAF).[9] Following a ceremony on 20 May 2021, newly promoted officers received their rank insignias from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, making Norsuriati the first female military officer to attain the rank of colonel.[3]

Later career

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On 1 August 2022, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah gave his approval for her, the head of JAG Office, to be reappointed to the post of permanent secretary (Policy, Finance, and Administration) in the MINDEF.[10] She has since served as her nation's representative at several international gatherings and events.[5] On 10 November 2022, PT Pindad hosted a visit from the MINDEF delegation, which was led by her, at the Auditorium of PT Pindad Bandung.[11][12] A group from Brunei was headed by her on an initial visit to Singapore from 4–7 December 2022.[13][14] On 9 December 2022, MINDEF placed an order with Airbus for new C295MW transport aircraft.[15] Permanent Secretary Norsuriati signed the agreement in front of the deputy defence minister and RBAF commander.[16][15]

Retired Colonel Norsuriati handed up a $12,914 gift to the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCYS) for the Pakistan Flood Humanitarian Fund 2022 on 4 January 2023.[17] She and Jonathan Knight co-chaired the 16th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting between MINDEF and the Ministry of Defence on 25 January 2023.[18] Held in Shinjuku on 5 December 2023, she attended the 4th Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Seminar and the 18th ADMM–Plus Experts' Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations.[19]

Advocacy

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Norsuriati urges ASEAN to do more to support women in peacekeeping, having deployed women on UN peacekeeping operations. In addition, she represents her nation on the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry, where she advocates for gender equality, especially in the defence and security industries.[5] The MINDEF was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Norsuriati in the inaugural discussion held on 7 March 2021, in honour of International Women's Day.[20]

Personal life

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Norsuriati has a son and a daughter with Lieutenant Colonel Amirul Adly.[21]

Honours

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Norsuriati has earned the following honours;[9][3]

National

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  •   Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 7 May 2016)[22]
  •   Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
  •   General Service Medal
  •   Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal (31 May 2011)

Foreign

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References

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  1. ^ "USCGC Munro Crew Attends Women, Peace, and Security Exchange During CARAT Brunei 2023". DVIDS. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "9 RBAF Senior Officers Promoted". land.mindef.gov.bn. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Saerah Haji Abdul Ghani (21 May 2016). "Suntik semangat terus berjuang" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). p. 15. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Norsuriati HAJI SHARBINI personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Women, Peace and Security". wps.asean.org. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Let. Col. Norsuriati binti Hj. Sharbini" (PDF). asean-aipr.org. p. 30. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ Bachamiya A Hussainmiya (1 January 2012). "Royal Brunei Arrmed Forces 50th anniversary Commemorative History". RBAF 50th Golden Anniversary Commemorative Book. Southeastern University of Sri Lanka: 42.
  8. ^ Siti Zahira Abu Bakar (12 October 2012). "Twenty-Eight Completed RBAF Staff College Course 2012". land.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hakim Hayat (19 November 2018). "OBOE Endeavour Award for six RBAF officers". borneobulletin.com.bn. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "His Majesty appoints two senior officers". borneobulletin.com.bn. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Kunjungan Delegasi Kemhan Brunei Darussalam ke PT Pindad". pindad.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  12. ^ Adly Bara Hanani (14 November 2022). "Brunei Darussalam Beri Peluang PT Pindad Indonesia untuk Pasok Alutsista". ulasan.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  13. ^ "PERMANENT SECRETARY (POLICY, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION) CONDUCTS INTRODUCTORY VISIT TO REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AND CO-CHAIRS 9th BRUNEI DARUSSALAM–REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE DEFENSE POLICY DIALOGUE". www-mindef-gov-bn.translate.goog. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Singapore and Brunei Reaffirm Defence Relations through 9th Defence Policy Dialogue". www.mindef.gov.sg. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Brunei signs contract for acquisition of Airbus C-295MW transport aircraft". www.asiapacificdefensejournal.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  16. ^ David Donald (9 December 2022). "Brunei Expands Airlift Capability With Airbus C295s". www.ainonline.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Humanitarian Fund Donation Presentation". www.rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Reaffirming longstanding Brunei-UK defence ties". www.thestar.com.my. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  19. ^ "18TH ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING PLUS EXPERTS' WORKING GROUP ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, 4TH WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY SEMINAR AND HANDOVER CEREMONY". www.mindef.gov.bn. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  20. ^ Izah Azahari (8 March 2021). "Empowering women, key to driving country's development". borneobulletin.com.bn. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ "DEPUTY COMMANDANT". da.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  22. ^ Nooratini Haji Abas (7 May 2016). "Penerima pingat kehormatan menjunjung kasih" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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