Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah was appointed as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports on 11 of ​April 2019. Previously, she was a Senior Assistant Professor since 7 of July 2015 and the Director of the Brunei Studies Academy at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (re-appointed since 2016 until 2019). Her first appointment in the public service of Brunei Darussalam was as an Education Officer, Department of Schools, Ministry of Education in 1995, and she taught at Menglait Secondary School. She then took up a position as a Tutor at the Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam in 1996. Dr Siti Norkhalbi was promoted to Lecturer in 1999 after obtaining a Master's Degree. In 2008, she was promoted to Senior Lecturer. In 2015, she transferred to the new SPTA as a Senior Assistant Professor.

In 2007, Dr Siti Norkhalbi was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Brunei Studies Academy and then appointed as the Director of Brunei Studies with effect from 2009 to 2011. At the same time, she was appointed as the Secretary and Head of the Secretariat of the Malay Islamic Monarchy Supreme Council, and was reappointed as a member of the Secretariat Committee of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Malay Monarchs until 2015. Dr Siti Norkhalbi is also the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2014–2016). From 2016 to February 2019, she was appointed as a Member of the Board of Directors for SEAMEO SPAFA representing Brunei Darussalam.

Dr Siti Norkhalbi holds a PhD from the University of Western Australia which was awarded in 2005. She obtained her first degree in Islamic Studies Education from the University of Brunei Darussalam in 1995. She then continued her studies in the field of Social Anthropology at the University of Durham, United Kingdom. Her field of research is on material culture, specializing in traditional textiles in Brunei Darussalam.

Dr Siti Norkhalbi used to teach the Brunei Material Culture and Brunei Malay Customs modules. She is also part of the team that teaches the Islamic module in Brunei. In addition, she is also involved in teaching Introduction to Malay Islam Beraja Negara Brunei Darussalam, which is a compulsory module offered by the University for undergraduate students. In addition, she is also involved in supervising undergraduate research projects as well as graduate research students.

Dr. Siti Norkhalbi has works that have been published and presented at international and national levels. Her first book entitled "Textiles and Identity in Brunei Darussalam" was published in 2007 by White Lotus Press, Bangkok. Her other book "Kain Tenunan: Ceremonial Clothing of the Malay Culture of Brunei Darussalam" was published by the Department of Brunei Museums in 2014. A coffee table book titled "Kain Te​n​unan Emas Negara Brunei Darussalam" written by her was published by the Academy of Brunei Studies which was launched in November 2017.

Dr Norkhalbi's duties at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports include assisting the Permanent Secretary in coordinating Cultural and International Affairs.