Shaheen graduated from Sunderland University in 2000 with a Business Studies Degree, and began her career in the housing sector. She has managed affordable housing programmes and took up a senior partnership position with the Birmingham Social Housing Partnership in 2008 which involved supporting the Executive Board to develop strategic housing delivery within the City of Birmingham. Whilst with the partnership Shaheen was seconded to the National Housing Federation to progress housing policy in the Midlands region.Shaheen joined Sporting Equals in June 2008 and has been a key figure in developing its research expertise on behalf of black and minority ethnic communities. She has produced a number of research papers including ‘Sporting Equality for black and minority ethnic communities’ published in the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events (2011). Her current role involves currently advising and supporting governing bodies on race, gender and faith in sport. She has worked with the equality and human rights commission on delivering equality and human rights in sport. In 2011-13 Shaheen led on the work for Age UK managing the fit as a fiddle faith and community strand which was delivered nationally in partnership with 39 third sector organisations.