Miannaya Aja Essien, SAN, Chartered Arbitrator, FCIArb., Notary Public, is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria and the University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. She obtained her LLB (Hons.) and LL.M. respectively in 1984 and 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985. She was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2007.

She is the Managing Partner of Principles Law Partnership a firm of legal practitioners, notaries public and arbitrators. She became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2007 and a Chartered Arbitrator in 2015 and holds a Panel Appointment Certificate. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

She is a member of the Body of Benchers in Nigeria, the legal body of practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession and is responsible for the formal call to the Bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners amongst others. She was also recently appointed as a member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee which is the Statutory Body in Nigeria responsible for conferring the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the admission and licensing of legal practitioners, and the regulation and enforcement of professional standards amongst others.

 She is a member of the adjunct faculty of the Nigerian Law School Abuja and an approved tutor of the faculty of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) teaching all aspects of domestic and international commercial arbitration.

She is a member of the following Committees:

• Board Audit Committee (Chairperson)
• Board Nomination and Governance Committee (Chairperson)
• Board Risk Management Committee
• Board Remuneration Committee