Biography

A newly-appointed member of the expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).  She served as Regional Legislative Assembly for the ARMM Government. Noted as one of 500 Most Influential Muslims by Georgetown University’s Center for Muslim Christian Understanding. Samira Gutoc, has worked with an array of stakeholders for the past 17 years as a journalist, manager, consultant, environmentalist, trainor, activist and organizer. She was nominated to The Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) and awarded by Junior Chamber International  (JCI) as one of the country’s The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for Leadership.

She obtained her degrees in Communication and Master in International Studies at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, law degree from the Arellano School of Law and  obtained a fellowship at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.

She has lectured on Muslim leadership for entities such as the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Philippine Army and the Ateneo-supported Young Muslim Network program. She managed various projects in ARMM including the Lake Lanao Development Project by the Philippine Muslim Women Council, Mindanao Youth Speak to mainstream peace processes.

Having worked with young people for more than a decade and as a former member of the Local School Board in Marawi City, Gutoc has lectured on the value of education and youth development in thirty international and local conferences such as those organized by the Amnesty International, De la Salle University and St Benile, Miriam College, among others.

She has worked with projects supported by UNESCO, AUSAID, USAID, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to mainstream Muslim images in media publishing materials to popularize Code of Muslim Personal Laws among others.

She was the first lady Muslim president of the UP Muslim Students Association and the Metro Manila-wide Muslim Youth and Students Alliance. She is founding member of the Asian Peace Alliance, member of the Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association and a contributor to Asian Muslim Action Network’s AMANAH publication.

She was the Mindanao coordinator of the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) and is a convenor of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy. Currently, she is one of the directors of Al-Amanah Islamic Investment bank of the Philippines and  director of Marawi Resort Hotel, Inc. in Marawi City.