Biography

Dr. Shah is an influential academic voice in global energy and public policy, specializing in governance systems for sustainable development in small economies and island states. With close to two decades of international and academic experience, Dr. Shah brings deep expertise to the complex nexus of energy transition, climate adaptation, and institutional reform.

A Fulbright Scholar whose career spans academia, multilateral consulting, and regional diplomacy, Shah’s scholarly portfolio includes over 60 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Policy, Circular Economy and Policy Sciences. His recent research dissects clean energy transitions, circular economy innovations, and regulatory frameworks across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Africa. Notably, his work is cited in United Nations’ flagship environmental reports, and he is a current Chapter Author for GEO-7.

Shah also hold leadership roles in global policy forums including the UN’s Small Island States Consortium (UCSIS) and the OAS High-Level Committee on Caribbean Data-Driven Policy. As a consultant to international development banks and UN agencies, he has advised on climate governance, adaptation planning, and sustainability policy across more than a dozen countries. With scholarly depth and frontline policy insight, Shah is redefining how vulnerable nations navigate grand challenges through evidence-based governance.

Degrees

• PhD,  Public Policy, George Mason University
• M.Sc., Natural Resource Management, The University of the West Indies

​Research Interests

Institutional Theory; Energy, Environmental, Climate Policy; Corporate Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Islands, Small Economies

Island Policy Lab

​The Island Policy Lab is an open, participatory space dedicated to Island Policy Research where innovative researchers can experiment and carry out professional projects. The overarching goal of all work is to contribute to sustainable policy solutions in island contexts. Researchers brainstorm fresh ways of thinking about complex socio-economic and environmental questions, so as to create practical solutions. The laboratory works collaboratively with public and private partners across the globe. Researchers benefit from the lab's flexible and experimental approach, that combines research and action, mobilizes skillsets from different disciplines, and enhance the evidence base for data driven, science based policy strengthening in island jurisdictions.

Website

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