Jack Kennedy is analyst for the MENA Region at West Sands Advisory Limited, a political risk advisory firm based in St. Andrews, Scotland. He is focussed on uncovering the nexus between elite networks and informal mechanisms driving political and commercial decision-making across the Middle East. He also contributes to the Shadow Governance Compendium. He holds an MA Honours in Arabic and Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh and an MLitt in Middle East and Central Asian Security Studies from the University of St. Andrews.