Mr. Shaikh is a former supporter of extremism who changed his ways after the 9/11 attacks. After spending two years of studying Arabic and Islamic Studies in Syria, he self-deradicalized and returned to Canada where he was recruited to be an undercover operative with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. He was also extensively involved in counter-ISIS activities for the U.S. military (CENTCOM, SOCCENT, AFSOS, USASOC, DIA, and others) and Coalition forces between 2012 and 2023, directly engaging with numerous ISIS supporters and members, and supporting deployed elements involved in the fight against ISIS. He currently sits on the Joint Staff – Strategic Multilayer Assessment team as an expert on the topic.
Holding a Master of Policing, Intelligence, and Counter Terrorism (Macquarie), Mr. Shaikh is an internationally known specialist and practitioner and has addressed the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, U.S. State Department, the U.S. Senate, the Canadian Parliament, the European Parliament, and many others on the topics. He is currently a counter extremism specialist with the renowned NGO, “Parents4Peace” where he conducts interventions in extremism cases and appears before the U.S. Courts as an expert.
