Salma Shaheen

Manager, Research and Data Analytics Unit, Kotinos, Aspire Sports Management and Consulting

Salma Shaheen is Manager of the Research and Data Analytics Unit at Kotinos, Aspire Sports Management and Consulting, where she leads data-driven research, strategy, and evidence-based advisory work across sport, policy, and development in the GCC and MENA region. Her work includes sports economics, socio-economic impact analysis, market research, and the use of data and evidence to support decision-making across the sports ecosystem. She also remains engaged with the Oxford–LSE International Growth Centre (IGC) as a Senior Country Economist for Jordan on a part-time basis, supporting applied research, policy engagement, and partnerships with government counterparts. Previously, Salma led IGC Jordan’s day-to-day programme and research portfolio, working closely with the Prime Ministry, line ministries, and leading economists from the global IGC network to advance evidence-based policymaking. Earlier in her career, Salma worked as an Economist at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in London and as a Researcher at Yale University’s Economic Growth Center, alongside private-sector experience at McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, and the Palestinian consulting firm Solutions. Salma has over five years of experience in applied, data-intensive research and strategy, with expertise spanning sports economics, labour markets, development economics, spatial economics, and policy reform in the MENA region. She holds an MSc in Economics for Development from the University of Oxford and a BA in Economics, with a concentration in mathematics and econometrics, from Yale University.