Counsellor Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., is a distinguished public servant and a legal professional who has served in numerous public portfolios for more than a decade and has also had many years of practicing law in Liberia. He is a graduate of the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, Carey Law School where he did his specialized legal studies and earned Master of Laws. He is also an outstanding member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia having been engaged into the active practice of law for more than a decade. In his public service, Counsellor Lighe has been entrusted with presiding over and managing critical state institutions and in these roles, he has demonstrated incredible leadership, earning him the confidence of two Presidents of the Republic of Liberia. In 2014, Counsellor Lighe was appointed as the Minister of Labor of the Republic of Liberia, a position which he held until 2017. Prior to be appointed as Minister of Labor, Counsellor Lighe had served in several key portfolios at the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Liberia. These portfolios include: Deputy Minister for Manpower Planning & Human Resource Development at the Ministry of Labor (2012-2014); Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Internal Affairs (2010-2012); Donor Coordinator, Ministry of Justice, UNDP funded program (2010); Program Analyst, National Implementation Unit/Integrated Framework, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2010). In his legal practice, Counsellor Lighe has held critical positions in two reputable law firms noted for high quality professional legal services in Liberia. Counsellor Lighe served as Associate Legal Counsel at the Sherman & Sherman Inc., where he was responsible for leading several high-profile cases on behalf of numerous clients of the firm. Counsellor later served as Senior Legal Counsel at the Justice Advocates & Partners, Inc. His focus in the practice of law has been in corporate, commercial and trade law and in civil litigations. He provides valuable legal advisory services to a number of corporate clients. Counsellor Lighe has been a member of the Liberia National Bar Association since 2012 when he completed his law studies at the Louise Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia. He also a member of the African Bar Association. Counsellor Lighe currently serves as the Commissioner/CEO of the Liberia Maritime Authority, a position he was appointed to by the President of Liberia in 2024. He has presided over much need reforms aimed at strengthening the maritime sector of Liberia and ensuring that Liberia retains its place as a premier maritime nation. Under his leadership, Liberia has retained its global leadership role in the maritime industry.