Catherine Perez-Shakdam

Catherine Perez-Shakdam is a former distinguished research fellow at the American Centre for Levant Studies and serves as the Director of Forward Strategy Ltd, and Executive Director for the Forum of Foreign Relations, a specialised consultancy focusing on political and media strategies across the UK, Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Indo-Pacific region.

With a notable career including consultancy for the United Nations Security Council, Catherine has significantly influenced policy, particularly regarding Yemen’s War Economy. Her work has revealed complex networks of corruption, trafficking, and money laundering.

A respected media commentator, Catherine regularly contributes to major outlets like I24, the BBC, The Jerusalem Post, Politico, Daily Express, and the Daily Mail. Her tenure as a Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society saw her crafting pivotal policy papers on Iran’s rising influence and nefarious activities.

Catherine gained global recognition in 2021 for her decade-long undercover investigation within the Iranian regime, which led to ground-breaking insights into its inner workings. Despite being declared an 'enemy of the state' by Iran, she continues to use her unique expertise to challenge the regime's narrative and unveil its covert operations, contributing invaluable perspectives on Iran’s geopolitical strategies.