Prof. Dr. Shabnam Delfani, an internationally recognised environmental scientist, professor, and geopolitical analyst specialising in climate change modelling, sustainability, and international peace advocacy, and UN Senior Associate, which has been nominated for the International Recognition Award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes her extensive work spanning academia, research, humanitarian, media, and diplomacy. She holds a PhD in Environmental Management–Climate Change Modelling and was associated with Cranfield University lately, and she serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of the Eurasia Policy Council (EPC), an independent, non-partisan think tank focused on geopolitics, economics and environmental security across Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region, which was officially launched at the House of Lords in London in November 2025.
Her academic and research expertise focuses on water diplomacy, peace advocacy, waste-to-energy systems, climate resilience, and food security. With 25 years of academic and advisory experience, she has authored more than ten books spanning environmental management, carbon management, GIS-based landscape scenario planning, and environmental sustainability, which have been referenced in over 2,300 academic citations. She is serving as a UN Senior Associate and has served as a fellowship researcher and lecturer at various universities in the UK and abroad, and her work has been published internationally, including articles on the intersecting crises of food insecurity, water, and climate as they relate to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Beyond her academic work, Prof. Delfani is a dedicated advocate for peace and women’s empowerment. She serves as a World Women Peace Ambassador, a role she was awarded at the Global Women’s Peace Conference in Warsaw in November 2024 for her commitment to advocating for gender equality, peace, and justice worldwide. She has been recognised as a “Global Top 32 Influencer Women” for 2025 and works as a UN Senior Associate and Advisor. Her work as a peace advocate extends to her leadership in the community, where she is a national campaigner on Mental Health Awareness and Climate Change Emergency, and a White Ribbon Champion working to stop violence against women and girls.
In the media and political spheres, Prof. Delfani acts as Deputy Editor (London) for the London Post and frequently appears as an expert political analyst on major networks including Pakistan TV Global, Asia One, Sky News1, BBC English, and NTV, where she provides live analysis on high-stakes global security issues such as US-Iran relations, Middle East stability, and the global energy crisis. She was previously a parliamentary candidate and serves as Vice Chair of the Community Committee for the West Bletchley Council, roles which demonstrate her commitment to public service and local politics. She has also been running a local supplementary school in Milton Keynes since 2013, freely teaching children and young people several languages and helping them towards GCSE and A-Level exams.
What distinguishes Prof. Shabnam Delfani is her ability to bridge the worlds of science, UN Associate, diplomacy, and community leadership. Her work with the Eurasia Policy Council places her at the forefront of shaping UK engagement with Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region, including strategic discussions with ambassadors and high-level diplomatic meetings that address bilateral relations, regional stability, and economic cooperation. Her nomination for the International Recognition Award at IMA 2026 celebrates her extraordinary contributions to environmental science, peace advocacy, international diplomacy, and community development, and her enduring legacy as a leader who works to create a more resilient, sustainable, and peaceful world.
