Salman Shaikh

Syria in Transition: What Comes Next?

Description

More than a decade of war has reshaped Syria and the wider region. With Bashar al-Assad no longer in power and a fragile transitional government now in place under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the country stands at a historic turning point. 

This panel brings together leading experts to explore what the future holds for Syria: from rebuilding institutions and seeking justice to managing sectarian tensions, regional influence, and refugee return.  

As Syria re-emerges on the international stage, what will it take to move from survival to stability — and can a lasting peace ever be built on the ruins of the past?

About the Speaker

Salman Shaikh

Salman Shaikh

Salman Shaikh is the Founder and CEO of The Shaikh Group (TSG), a specialised peace-building organisation dedicated to mitigating and resolving violent conflict, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Shaikh has extensive experience leading mediation and Track II diplomacy initiatives with local actors, governments, and key international actors – with a focus on Syria, the broader Levant, the Gulf region and Iran. Before establishing TSG, Shaikh was the director of the Brookings Institution’s Doha Center, where his research focused on conflict resolution, domestic policy, and geopolitics of the Middle East. Shaikh previously worked the United Nations in a number of offices. Shaikh also served as director for policy and research in the private office of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bin Nasser al-Missned, the Consort of the former Emir of the State of Qatar.