Lina Belbouche is a Master of Arts in Global Governance student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and holds a Combined Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Business Technology Management and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of global governance, political economy, corporate governance, technology, and environmental sustainability.

Lina’s interest in governance research began through her undergraduate honours thesis, where she conducted a systematic literature review examining the barriers startups face in adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. This work catalyzed a broader interest in how institutions shape sustainable development and influence responses to complex global challenges.

After graduation, Lina worked as a Research Assistant on a governance and behavioural science project at the University of Calgary, contributing to a systematic review on governance structures and behavioural insights. Working alongside researchers from multiple disciplines reinforced her interest in interdisciplinary research.

Lina is interested in how small-scale decisions and organizational practices can generate broader institutional and governance transformations. Her research interests are influenced by complex adaptive systems and micro–macro linkages, especially how localized actions and ideas can accumulate into larger patterns of change. She is also interested in knowledge mobilization and epistemic communities, particularly how knowledge moves through systems and influences governance responses in uncertain environments.

Outside of academia, Lina has worked on governance and strategy initiatives for nonprofit organizations and community-based sustainability projects, applying research to questions of stakeholder engagement and public impact. Through the MAGG program, she hopes to deepen her research on how governance systems respond to environmental sustainability challenges.