Dr. Shariat is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bolton, Manchester. In addition to her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Law, she holds an MBA in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the University of Nottingham and a PhD from Durham University. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice at Durham University’s School of Education.
Before joining the University of Bolton, Sadaf led seminars on Intellectual Property and Commercial Law at Durham University. She later served as Director of Law, Technology, and Innovation at the University of South Wales, where she was also previously Programme Leader for the Master’s in International Commercial Law, LLM Laws, and Module Leader for various technology- and business-focused subjects. From 2018 to 2024, as part of USW’s collaboration with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Sadaf delivered modules including International Business and Competition, Patent Law, and Information Technology Law for the UK IPO. She also acted as the Head of the Intellectual Property programme, which was designed and delivered exclusively for the IPO, liaised with IPO Talent and Learning Coordinators, and oversaw the quality of this bespoke postgraduate training.
Over the past 14 years, Sadaf has actively participated in and presented at international conferences on CSR, intellectual property, and business technology. More recently, she has contributed to the Palgrave Macmillan book series Studies in Governance, Leadership, and Responsibility. She has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, including PhD theses, in the fields of law and business, with a particular focus on emerging technologies and the legal and ethical dimensions of international business and intellectual property.
“Law and business are two sides of the same coin. Together they form the foundation of a system in which business can flourish within a framework of justice, transparency, accountability, and sustainability. My learner-centred, research-informed approach to teaching business law and international business cultivates analytical thinking and fluency in practical application. It is important that students learn how to utilise law as a practical tool for building fairer and more sustainable businesses. A solid understanding of law, empowered with ethical reasoning, forms what I consider the ideal combination to inspire future business leaders to make informed and responsible decisions that balance commercial success with social and environmental responsibility.”