Alaa is a DPhil student researching the relationship between leadership and culture in higher education, and its impact on equity and performance. She is an accomplished policy researcher, data analyst, and strategic planner, with over a decade of experience driving impactful public policy research.

Alaa previously held roles at the United Nations, Universities UK, the Scottish Funding Council, and the National Union of Students, working with substantial budgets and ambitious national strategic objectives. In her previous roles, she delivered national workforce planning and economic modelling for ministers, and has been a leading figure in aligning upskilling, reskilling, and workforce strategies to the changing needs of UK industry and economy.

Alaa’s research has been commissioned by ministers, senior civil servants, and Vice-Chancellors. Her work has been quoted in the House of Commons and has led to direct changes in legislation. Her achievements include successfully lobbying the Migration Advisory Committee to introduce exemptions in the UK Immigration Act 2016, establishing the APPG for International Students in UK Parliament, and securing £220 million in additional funding for higher education during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has written and spoken publicly on the need for more robust research-driven and data-informed higher education policy and legislation.

Alaa holds a Master’s degree in Gender and International Development from the University of Warwick, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the University of Birmingham.