Shadi Rouhshahbaz

Shadi Rouhshahbaz (she/her) is a futurist and peacebuilder researching the futures of multilateralism at the University of Melbourne. With a background in postcolonial studies and international development, Shadi has previously worked with Deakin University, UN Women, UNICEF, various youth networks and civil society organizations in Europe and Iran. Her research focuses on the intersections of foresight studies, youth, gender, peace and security, the Middle East and multilateral institutions. 

Shadi is committed to conducting research that influences policy by bridging the gaps between the lived experience of individuals and the required developments of systems and academia. She is a Woman Peacemaker Fellow at Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and a Next Generation Foresight Practitioner Nuclear Security Fellow at the School of International Futures. Rooted in her personal experiences of being a young woman leader who contributed to shaping many intersectional spaces, Shadi's work captures intergenerational experiences that create peaceful futures for generations to come. She has conducted fieldwork in Tunisia, Iran, France, Australia, Italy and the USA. 

In addition to her research, she has many experiences as a journal editor, trainer, facilitator, strategy developer, consultant, mentor, rapporteur, teacher and public speaker. Shadi has founded the first young-women-led peacebuilding initiative, PeaceMentors, in Iran.