Mashal Shabbir | Founder
Minerva Global Consulting

Dr. Mashal Shabbir is the Founder of Minerva Global Consulting, a geopolitical risk advisory firm specializing in the critical minerals and mining sector across sub-Saharan Africa. The firm helps mining operators, investors, and off-takers navigate political risk and opportunity through strategic advisory, market intelligence, and geopolitical risk assessment. She combines governmental and academic expertise at the intersection of international relations, security, and trade. At the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, she managed a 15-country Southern and Central Africa portfolio, advancing flagship initiatives including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the Lobito Corridor, and Power Africa, and was recognized for supporting Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's 2024 visit to Kenya. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from American University, where she specialized in political violence and instability, with research supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the United States Institute of Peace. Through Minerva Global Consulting, Dr. Shabbir advises clients navigating the intersection of resource nationalism and great-power competition, helping them anticipate disruption, price political risk, and negotiate off-take agreements that hold under pressure.