En.Sharkawi's career in the judicial and legal service spans almost 25 years in various capacities. In the normal course of career development for a young Lawyer entering the Government service, En.Sharkawi was made a Magistrate in 1972. In 1975, he was made a Senior Assistant Registrar of the High Court. In 1979, he was made a Deputy Public Prosecutor and assumed specific tasks as the Deputy Head of Crime Division. He took office as the Deputy Registrar of Companies in 1980 which involved him in surveillance and compliance work. The surveillance and compliance functions were further extended during his appointment as a Senior Federal Counsel for the Income Tax Department which included responsibility as the Collector of Estate Duties. His last appointment was as the Group Legal Adviser in the Malaysia Mining Corporation Berhad (MMC).

In the Market Supervision Division of the SC, En.Sharkawi will oversee the surveillance, compliance, examination, investigation, enforcement, prosecution and licensing functions of the securities and futures market.

En.Sharkawi received his secondary education at the St.Thomas Secondary, Kuching and tertiary education (Barrister-at-Law) at Middlle Temple, London.