Shima Barakat

Dr. Shima Barakat is an accomplished academic, entrepreneur, and advisor with extensive experience in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and engineering. She currently serves on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) for Engineering.13

Professional Background

Dr. Barakat has held several notable positions:

• Founder and CEO of Cambridge BAST Ltd1
• Associate Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Programme at the University of Cambridge (until spring 2024)1
• Food Enterprise Manager and Director of the Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Programme at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge2

Her academic career at the University of Cambridge spanned 14 years, including 10 years as the Head of Entrepreneurial Learning Programmes at the Judge Business School.2

Expertise and Impact

Dr. Barakat's work focuses on:

• Helping organizations embed sustainability into their core practices
• Supporting startups and entrepreneurial women (over 200 startups and 450 women entrepreneurs)1
• Developing mindsets and competencies for addressing global challenges
• Integrating environmental considerations into organizational strategy2

She has been involved in founding several organizations aimed at community development, including Nahdet El Mahrousa, which became a successful Social Enterprise Incubator in the Middle East.2

Board Memberships and Advisory Roles

• Trustee of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the UK1
• Member of the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) for Engineering1
• Experienced board member and chair in various organizations12

Education and Background

Dr. Barakat holds an MBA and began her career as an engineer working in infrastructure construction before transitioning to sustainability and entrepreneurship.2

Her LinkedIn profile can be found under the username shima-barakat-4276016.4