Zeinab was born in the Sudan – her family moved to London when she was two years old. She studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and took a Masters Degree on Middle East History and Anthropology at SOAS London University. Zeinab is one of the best known broadcast journalists working today and has been named several times in Powerlist as one of Britain’s top 100 most influential members of the black community.
She is the current Chair of the Royal African Society, a Queen’s appointment to the Board of the Historic Royal Palaces, a trustee of BBC Media Action (the charitable arm of the BBC), a Vice-President of the United Nations Association UK, a trustee of Hampstead Theatre and a member of the advisory board of the Africa Innovation Summit.
Her current work includes Hard Talk for the BBC and presenting Global Questions and World Debates on BBC World TV. Through her own production company she has produced and presented many programmes, including The History of Africa in association with UNESCO.