Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1997 Kerala cadre. A medical doctor by training, she also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, USA.​

She currently serves as the Principal Secretary of the Local Self Government Department (LSGD)  and Department of Higher Education in Kerala . Additionally, she is a member of the Governing Council of the K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts (KRNNIVSA),  .​Throughout her career, Dr. Joseph has held various key positions at both state and central government levels, contributing significantly to public administration