Lihini Ratwatte is the Gender Specialist at UNDP Sri Lanka. Lihini has over 10 years of experience in the development sector in Sri Lanka, having worked with government, non-government, and international organisations, alongside several UN agencies including UNFPA, UN Women, and the ILO. Her work largely focuses on streamlining intersectional development priorities for conflict-affected women within the broader mandate of the women, peace, and security agenda. Lihini also has an extensive background in gender mainstreaming and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. Lihini also contributed as a sessional lecturer attached to Northwood University (USA), and she has published her work across diverse academic platforms, including the Journal of International Women's Studies (JIWS). . Lihini holds a BA in International Studies, Communications, and Gender Studies from Monash University; a MA in Global Diplomacy from SOAS - University of London; and an MBA in Project Management from the Cardiff Metropolitan University.