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Shaista Latif is an Afghan artist, writer, host, and consultant hailing from the working class, born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. Her works and collaborations have been featured at Why Not Theatre, the Koffler Centre for the Arts, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Mercer Union Gallery Theatre, Mercer Union Gallery, Blackwood Gallery, AGO, National Arts Centre, and festivals such as SummerWorks, Undercurrents, Progress, SOLO Theatre, and 7A*11D. Shaista is a 2016 Siminovitch Protege named by Nadia Ross.

Latif is a published playwright (Graceful Rebellions/Playwrights Canada Press) and portrayed the character of Soraya in the Oscar-nominated animated film, The Breadwinner. In 2019, she advocated for and co-created How I Learned to Serve Tea in association with Why Not Theatre and the Koffler Centre for the Arts, a work that was also presented at SummerWorks 2022 as a lecture and performance workshop. In 2020, she showcased her critically acclaimed production, The Archivist (co-produced by Ontario Presents and Why Not Theatre), touring throughout Ontario. The Archivist also traveled to Scotland for the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the Spotlight Canada Pitch program.

As a director, Shaista Latif has helmed 11 comedic productions at Bad Dog Theatre, Annex Theatre, and the Toronto Fringe Festival, including ELLAmentary, Welcome to Town, and Beyond the Moors. She was the youngest graduate of Second City's conservatory program and served as an assistant director for The Wanderers under the guidance of Nina Lee Aquino. In 2017, she assisted in directing On Trial the Long Doorway by Deanna Bowen and Turbulance by Keith Hennessey.

Shaista Latif is currently leading a research residency at Dancemakers Theatre with her project, Working Class Lab. As the creator and facilitator of this lab, she collaborates with 8 working-class artists across Canada to promote better support and understanding for precarious creatives.

Latif's works explore inclusion and class politics. As a facilitator, she has collaborated with numerous organizations to help marginalized artists and creators from immigration and the diaspora gain visibility. She thrives on the challenge of building partnerships, advocating for mentorship experiences, and maintaining a care ethic in her practice.