Born and bred in Leeds, Shamima holds an undergraduate degree in English and an MA degree in Postcolonial Literary and Cultural Studies from University of Leeds. She previously worked at Leeds Playhouse from July 2017 to March 2019, and at Yorkshire Dance as the Marketing and Communications Officer from April 2019-April 2020. She is now the Marketing and Communications Manager at Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Alongside her role as a board member at Cheshire Dance, she is also a member of the board of trustees for Utopia Theatre, a touring theatre company based in Sheffield. A Creative Access Alumni, she is passionate about utilising digital tools and developing strategies to reach new audiences and increase diversity in the arts.