Shamini began her career as a journalist at the New Straits Times in Malaysia covering current affairs. She found her beat writing health and social issues, with a particular interest in HIV and AIDS.

Nearly 7 years later, she moved on to the humanitarian relief organisation, MERCY Malaysia, as its Head of Communications and Fundraising for two years, where her primary role was building the organisation’s media profile and coordinating fundraising efforts. She then joined Monash University Malaysia as its Media and Communications Manager. For several years, she was also a columnist with The Malaysian Insider (now defunct).

After four years at Monash, she joined Amnesty International Malaysia as its Executive Director, a position she held for about 7 years. In between her time at Amnesty International Malaysia, she received a Chevening scholarship to pursue a Master of Science in International Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London in 2017/ 2018.

Shamini joined the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) in March 2020 as its Executive Director before joining International Justice Mission, where she is Senior Lead, Advocacy, for the APAC Forced Labour Slavery Hub in Bangkok, Thailand.