Shinra's full name is the Shinra Electro Power Company. The company rules over the world with money and fear. They created Mako energy, which is made from compressing spirit energy. It can produce electricity and energy for the city and when it's compressed more, it solids into a crystallizes object called the materia. When materia is used, it interfaces with the Earth to cast or summon spells. They are eager to find the Promised Land of the Ancients, which only ancients know. It is believed to be a place full of mako energy and reactors.
Shrina Charaters President of ShinraThe president is the creator of Shinra. He rules the world with power and money and is believed to be killed by Sephiroth. Then his son, Rufus, takes over his place. Rufus is afraid of death and he only becomes President because his father is dead.
Palmer
Palmer is a fat guy who is the leader of the Galactic Department. He is found on the Tiny Bronco when Rufus is trying to borrow it from Cid. He escapes after you defeated him.
Heidegger
Heidegger is the leader of the Public Welfare. He got a strange kind of horse laugh which Rufus dislikes (Gya ha ha ha ha ha). He hired the Turks and beat everyone up when Rufus made him mad.
Scarlette
Scarlette is the leader of Weapon Developement. She also laughs a lot like Heidegger (Kya ha ha ha ha ha).
Hojo
Hojo is the leader of Chemical Developement. He is a crazy scientist and keeps a lot of secret infomation to himself. He work on a lot of specimens and keeps the body of Jenova (the one in the Shinra buliding).
Reeves
Reeves is the leader of Municipal development.