Shushmita Ahmed is a legal researcher and professional with a comprehensive background in both national and international law. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Technology Sydney on deep seabed mining. Her academic journey began with an LL.B. (Honours) and LL.M. from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, followed by a master's in environmental law at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Her professional experience is extensive, having served as a programme officer at Bangladesh Legal Aid Services and Trust (BLAST) and as a lecturer at BGC Trust University Bangladesh. Since 2014, she has been a distinguished member of the Bangladesh Judicial Service and is currently serving as Joint District & Sessions Judge (attached officer) at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, while on educational leave to pursue her PhD. In her judicial role, she has adjudicated a wide range of civil and criminal matters, with her most recent position being District Legal Aid Officer (Senior Assistant Judge) in Feni, Bangladesh, focusing on alternative dispute resolution and mediation. Additionally, she has contributed to academia as an adjunct faculty member at Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh.

Ms. Ahmed's expertise extends to maritime and environmental law, demonstrated through her completion of specialised diplomas in the Law of the Sea from the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea in South Korea. She actively participated in the IOI Summer School on Ocean Governance for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems in Germany and the Summer Academy on the Continental Shelf, organised by the University of the Faroe Islands and the National University of Singapore. Her research interests focus on the Law of the Sea, ocean governance, international law and development, and climate change law, with a strong commitment to advancing legal frameworks for environmental protection and promoting sustainable marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction.