Norsuriati Sharbini

Military career Norsuriati joined the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) in 2001. She went abroad to study law.

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. 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). 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.

Later career

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. She has since served as her nation's representative at several international gatherings and events. A group from Brunei was headed by her on an initial visit to Singapore from 4–7 December 2022. On 9 December 2022, MINDEF placed an order with Airbus for new C295MW transport aircraft. Permanent Secretary Norsuriati signed the agreement in front of the deputy defence minister and RBAF commander. She and Jonathan Knight co-chaired the 16th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting between MINDEF and the Ministry of Defence on 25 January 2023. 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.

Advocacy 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.

Personal life Norsuriati has a son and a daughter with Lieutenant Colonel Amirul Adly.

Honours Norsuriati has earned the following honours;

Foreign