Shaik Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour is the 10th Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. He was appointed for a five-year term effective 1 July 2023. In his role as Governor, Rasheed also serves as the chair of the Bank’s Board of Directors, Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Stability Executive Committee.

Rasheed joined the Bank in 1988 and has helmed various positions across the breadth of the Bank’s primary functions. These include monetary policy and economics, international reserves management and financial markets, financial sector development, and banking regulations. In 2016, he assumed the role of Deputy Governor.

Rasheed has also played a leading role in driving the Bank’s advocacy efforts on economic affairs, including in the areas of social protection and labour market reforms. This includes to support and advise the Government on issues relating to the management of the pandemic. He also played key roles in the development and implementation of the Financial Sector Masterplan and Financial Sector Blueprints.

At the international level, Rasheed has served and been a member of various international platforms, such as the Islamic Financial Services Board and Bank for International Settlements. He has also championed various efforts to strengthen regional financial integration and cooperation, such as the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework. Previously, he also served as the Alternate Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Voting Group Office of the International Monetary Fund.

Rasheed attended St. John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur, prior to obtaining his Bachelor of Economics from Universiti Malaya. Rasheed also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Kamarul Bahrin Bin Haron is an award-winning Malaysian media and communication expert who is also a certified trainer by HRD Corp (Malaysia).

Kamarul was Editor-in-Chief and talk show anchor of Malaysia’s first 24-hour news channel, Astro Awani. At the record-breaking channel, Kamarul engineered Astro Awani’s affiliation with the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos as the first accredited Malaysian Media Leader at the forum.

This saw him moderating and anchoring in partnership with WEF in Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh and Hanoi.

Kamarul welcomes gigs of journalistic passion as journalist, director, producer, anchor, consultant, trainer, moderator and emcee for media and communication initiatives.

Dato Paduka Iqbal Khan is a Founding Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Fajr Capital, an Islamic investment firm focused on the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cravia Group, Jadwa Investment and MENA Infrastructure.

Prior to Fajr Capital, Dato Paduka Iqbal was the founding CEO of HSBC Amanah, where he built the business and team over eight years into one of the fastest growing and most successful emerging businesses in the HSBC Group. He was simultaneously a member of the Board of Directors of HSBC Bank Middle East, The Saudi British Bank, and HSBC Investment Bank (Saudi Arabia).

Dato Paduka Iqbal has played a prominent role in developing and promoting Islamic finance and investment on the international stage, serving as an advisor to government initiatives in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. He is currently a Member of the Global Development Council at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for International Development.

Dato Paduka Iqbal holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and chemistry and a master’s degree in political science and international Relations, both from Aligarh Muslim University. He is also the recipient of several industry and global accolades, including:

• The Royal Award for Islamic Finance (2012), a biannual award jointly organized by Securities Commission Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia, and presented by His Majesty the King of Malaysia;
• The State Award of “The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Brunei” (2014), presented by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam; and
• A Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), presented by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dr Humayon Dar is a world-known expert in Islamic banking and finance. In a career spanning over 25 years, he has served in academia, investment banking, advisory and most recently in advocacy. Dr Dar is the director general of the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance, a research institute specializing in the financial sectors of the countries with significant proportion of Islamic banking and finance and chairman of Cambridge IFA.

Dr Dar also served as Director General of Islamic Research & Training Institute (IRTI) of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). He is a Shari’a advisor, Islamic economist, and advocate for Islamic banking and finance. He has served as a member of the Shari'a boards of Arabesque Asset Management, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Omarco Holding, Hong Leong Islamic Bank Malaysia, FAA Malaysia, Hong Leong MSIG Takaful, Allianz Global Investors Luxembourg, and UMEX Securities. He has also served as CEO at Deutsche Bank for its Islamic finance subsidiary, and CEO of BMB Islamic, a global Shari’a advisory firm. He has also been a visiting Professor for Islamic Finance for universities in the UK, Malaysia and the Middle East.

Dr Dar is a graduate of International Islamic University Islamabad from where he received BSc. (Hons.) and MSc. in economics. Later he attended the University of Cambridge from where he obtained MPhil. and PhD. degrees.

Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ashraf Md Hashim is an internationally respected Shariah advisors and professor at INCEIF University, Malaysia. He serves as Chairman of the Shariah Advisory Councils of Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, and Tabung Haji, and sits on boards of major institutions, among others, the Securities Commision, EPF, and PNB.

Internationally, he is a Shariah board member for financial institutions in the UAE, Nigeria, and the Philippines, and advises investment funds in Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Dr. Ashraf has contributed to the development of Islamic finance regulations in Tajikistan, Algeria, and Afghanistan. He is also a member of the National Fatwa Council of Malaysia (Muzakarah MKI). He previously held academic leadership roles at INCEIF, ISRA, and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

He holds a PhD in Islamic Law from the University of Birmingham, along with degrees from the University of Jordan, Islamic University of Madinah, and IIUM. His work bridges academia, industry, and global regulatory bodies in Islamic finance.

Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar is currently the Chairman of Cypark Resources Berhad (Malaysia’s leading renewable energy company) and Senior Independent Director of IOI Corporation Berhad (Malaysia’s leading, globally integrated and sustainable palm oil company). He was formerly the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Economic Planning and immediate past Chairman of Bursa Malaysia Berhad.

He is regarded as one of the most accomplished corporate leaders in Malaysia having successfully led as CEO three major organisations in infrastructure development (UEM Group 2001 - 2004), telecommunications (Telekom Malaysia 2004 - 2008) and financial services (Maybank 2008 - 2013). He served as Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Malaysia's largest fund management company, from August 2016 to June 2018 following completion of his term as a Senator and Minister from June 2013 to June 2016. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Tan Sri Abdul Wahid was the President and CEO of Maybank, Malaysia’s largest public listed company and one of the leading banking groups in Southeast Asia. He was credited with transforming Maybank into a regional banking group and a global leader in Islamic finance.

He also currently serves as the Chairman of WWF-Malaysia and MySDG Foundation, Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Professor of Practice at INCEIF University and as the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Tan Sri Abdul Wahid is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). Tan Sri Abdul Wahid has received numerous awards throughout his career. These include Malaysia's CEO of the Year 2006 award from Business Times/American Express, The Asian Banker's 2013 Leadership Achievement Award for Malaysia and The Edge Value Creator: Outstanding CEO of Malaysia award 2013. Most recently in April 2025, he received the Saleh Kamel Islamic Economics Award from HRH the Governor of Madinah in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of Islamic banking.

Raja Amir was appointed as the CEO of HSBC Amanah in 2021 and Chief Sustainability Officer of HSBC Bank in 2024. As to date, he has over 18 years’ experience in corporate financing, advisory and sustainability, in particular Islamic Banking and the International and Malaysian sukuk market. He is responsible for executing the HSBC Group’s strategy for Islamic Banking in Malaysia, driving sustainability and Value-Based Intermediation (VBI) efforts. Since 2021, Raja Amir serves as counsel member of the Association of Islamic Banks Malaysia (AIBIM) and Chairman of SC4, Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3), a regulator – industry collaborative actions platform, wherein the SC4 is tasked with spearheading engagement and capacity building. Raja Amir is also one of HSBC Group’s representative on the Green Sukuk High Level Working Group with a mandate to promote the adaptation of Green, Social and Sustainable Sukuk globally.

In 2024, Raja Amir was appointed as a member of the Joint Sustainable Finance Working Group Industry Advisory panel by the ASEAN Working Committee on Capital Market Development and ASEAN Capital Markets Forum as well as a member of the Board of Trustees, for the endowment fund for the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance, a BNM established University. In 2025, he was also appointed to the PACE (Policy, Assumptions, Calculators, Education) working group, to be chaired by the SC Chairman under the Advisory Committee on Sustainability Reporting (ACSR), to develop Malaysia’s National Sustainability Reporting Framework.

Under his guidance, HSBC Amanah had established a Tripple Bottom Line Framework in 2022, aiming to align and classify the bank’s financing portfolio with value-based intermediation and the UN SDGs. The organisation has achieved exceptional recognition under his stewardship, solidifying its position as a global leader in Islamic banking, amongst others having been recognised as “Malaysia’s Best International Islamic Bank” 2024 “World’s Best Islamic Structured Products House” 2024 and "World's Best International Islamic Bank” 2023 by Euromoney Global Islamic Finance Awards, “ESG Bank of the Year” for the 5th consecutive year by The Asset Tripple A Islamic Finance Awards (2020-2024), “Best Trade Finance Bank” for the 7th consecutive year by The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards (2018-2024), “Islamic Bank of the Year for Sustainability” 2024 by the Banker Islamic Bank of the Year Awards reflecting the Bank’s strong leadership in fostering a culture of sustainability and responsible banking practices. Premised on the industry recognition and efforts undertaken in positioning HSBC Amanah as a Global Islamic finance leader, Raja Amir was personally recognised as “Islamic Banker of the Year” 2024, at the Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards, adding to his earlier recognition “Sustainability Icon Award (Corporate)” by the UN Global Compact at the Sustainability Performance Awards 2022.

Prior to his appointment, Raja Amir was the Country Head of Debt Capital Markets of HSBC Bank Malaysia. During his 11 year tenor in the role, he has made many material contributions to the development of the international and Malaysian debt capital markets, having originated, structured, and executed multiple first to market landmark bond/sukuk and syndicated loan transactions across Asia for both corporates, financial institutions, and the public sector, in which HSBC was recognized as the Best Debt House (Global) in Malaysia for over 15 years by the Asset Triple A, along a slew of deal related accolades.

He started his career in London in the tech industry and moved to a local investment bank in 2006, where he served in the Corporate Finance department. Thereafter, he joined HSBC Amanah in 2010 and held various roles within the Business Units and Debt Capital Markets team.

Suhaimi Ali has 27 years of experience as a central banker. He currently oversees the Financial Development and Innovation, Islamic Finance, LINK and BNM Offices, as well as Financial Inclusion departments.

Throughout his career with BNM, he has served in various areas which include financial sector development, regulation and supervision, strategic planning, consumer protection, market conduct, international negotiations digital and cyber strategies in IT services, as well as in the Governor's Office. In his previous role as the Director of the Financial Development and Innovation, he was responsible for the development of the financial sector and payments systems, as well as to drive digital innovation within the sector. He also recently led the development of the Financial Sector Blueprint 2022 – 2026.

Suhaimi Ali graduate from the University of Notre Dame, United States of America with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting).

Sami Mian is the CEO and Co-Founder of Blade Labs, with over 20 years of experience across global financial markets, blockchain innovation, and Islamic finance. Born in Japan, and a Duke University graduate, Sami began his career in fixed income trading and portfolio management with organizations like Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, and Capula Investment Management.

In 2017, Sami transitioned into blockchain as Head of Asia Pacific for Hedera, where he established strategic partnerships with major institutions including LG Electronics, Nomura Holdings, Shinhan Bank, and DBS.

Since co-founding Blade Labs in 2021, Sami has focused on building enterprise-grade Web3 infrastructure tailored to the needs of Islamic finance and underserved markets. He also serves as Chief Investment Officer at Spark Fund, aligning capital with inclusive and impact-driven innovation.

A best-selling author of books on financial literacy in Japan, Sami is a committed advocate for using technology and finance as tools for economic empowerment. Under his leadership, Blade Labs was awarded the Grand Prize International at Finopitch 2025 in Japan and recognized as the Best Islamic Fintech Platform at the Global Islamic Finance Forum 2025 in Dubai.

Over the past decade, Luqman has established himself as a leading figure at Astro AWANI—producing impactful news segments, steering editorial direction, and serving as one of the network’s principal anchors. Beyond the newsroom, he often participates as host, emcee, moderator, or speaker at numerous events, conferences, and forums. Luqman also plays a pivotal role in AWANI’s special programming and live coverage of breaking news and is a regular international correspondent for the network.

Afdhal Aliasar is an Islamic economy and finance practitioner and Islamic philanthropist. Before serve as Senior Partner of DinarStandard, Afdhal was a director of the halal industry in the National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance, Republic of Indonesia (KNEKS).

After accomplishing his degree from the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Indonesia in 1997, he started his professional career in the banking industry by joining Executive Management Training at Bank Niaga, where he engaged in various fields of banking and investment. Later, he continued his career by joining Citibank N.A., responsible for Global Transaction Services Business, while also pursuing a master’s degree in strategic management at Prasetiya Mulya Business School. He was entrusted with establishing a subsidiary, Citigroup Securities Indonesia, in the Citigroup Global Market and served as vice president and head of operations in Indonesia. In 2011, he was entrusted to reactivate Nomura’s securities business and served as the Vice President, Head of Operations of Nomura Asia Ex-Japan, before retiring from the investment and capital market industry in 2016.

His interest in Islamic finance and the Islamic economy made him pursue the industry by continuing to explore knowledge and expertise in various places, including the Master of Islamic Finance Practice (MIFP) at INCEIF Malaysia, Durham University UK, and the Islamic Finance Qualification/IFQ at the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment/CISI, UK. In 2016, Afdhal established PT. Pengelola Aset Islami Indonesia, and as a founding director, he directly takes part in various Islamic economy development and Islamic business projects that are closely associated with the real economy sector. Afdhal pioneered the productive waqf scheme that is applied to business assets, which fosters the sustainability of its business and benefits. The business focuses on the healthcare and agriculture sectors, etc., as founder and chairman of Yayasan Wakaf Produktif Pengelola Aset Islami Indonesia.

Since 2024, Afdhal has also shared his ability to manage the growth and development of MHDC Group, a dental clinic chain, as the most trusted and integrated dental healthcare solution in Indonesia, as Group CEO. Afdhal is also contributing to the education sector as a visiting lecturer in Islamic Finance and Halal Industry Development at the University of Indonesia (UI).

As part of his lifetime dedication to Islamic finance and Sharia economy, Afdhal keep continue to share his thoughts, insight and advising periodically to Indonesian government entities such as Bank Indonesia (Central Bank), The Financial Services Authority (OJK), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), Ministry of Industry, some Universities and globally to the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff is the CEO of CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad since 1 October 2019. In this role, he leads the Group Islamic Banking business operations across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia; overseeing leadership in wholesale, consumer, commercial, asset management and investment segments.

Shahriman also serves as a Board Member of CIMB Islamic Bank; the Secretary of the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (IBFIM); a member of the Standing Committee on Islamic Financial Reporting, Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB); and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Centre for Islamic Economics, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). As of 2 October 2023, he has also taken on the role of CEO of CIMB Foundation.

With over two decades in the corporate sector – including 19 years in Islamic Banking and Finance leadership roles at HSBC Amanah Malaysia (as the Director of Wholesale Banking) and at Citigroup, where he served as the Head of Islamic Banking at Citibank Berhad – he has been instrumental in shaping Malaysia’s Islamic finance landscape.

Tan Sri Andrew Sheng is a former central banker and financial regulator in Asia and a commentator on global finance. He currently holds key international advisory roles, including membership in China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration, China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Investment Corporation and serves on the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. He sits on the Bank Indonesia Institute Advisory Board, Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre Leadership Council and a Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Capital Market Research.

He served as chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong from 1998 to 2005, having previously been a central banker with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Bank Negara Malaysia. He also worked with the World Bank from 1989 to 1993. He was a board member of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and international advisory board member, Thailand Development Research Institute.

Tan Sri Sheng is pro-chancellor of Bristol University and distinguished fellow, Asia Global Institute, University of Hong Kong, chairman of George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies, Wawasan Open University (WOU). He has a first class honours in economics from Bristol University and honorary doctorates from Bristol University and University of Malaya. He is an adjunct professor Faculty of Economics, University of Malaya and professor by practice at School of Business and Administration, WOU and distinguished professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.

Tan Sri Sheng is author of “From Asian to Global Financial Crisis: An Asian Regulator’s View of Unfettered Finance in the 1990s and 2000s” (2009), and co-editor (with Ng Chow Soon) of the book, “Bringing Shadow Banking into the Light: Opportunity for Financial Reform in China” (2015). He writes regularly on international finance and monetary economics, financial regulation and global governance for leading economic magazines and newspapers in China and Asia. In April 2013, he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world and appeared in the Oscar-winning film “Inside Job” in 2011.

Dato’ Mohd Muazzam Mohamed currently serves as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (Bank Islam). He joined Bank Islam on 11 May 2015 as Chief Financial Officer before being appointed to his current position on 5 December 2018. Prior to his tenure at Bank Islam, he held prominent roles as a Partner with KPMG Malaysia and Executive Director with KPMG Management Consulting. Dato’ Mohd Muazzam is a Chartered Accountant with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, a Council Member of The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and a Chartered Islamic Finance Professional of the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.

Dato’ Mohd Muazzam is a key figure in advancing Islamic finance in Malaysia. His leadership as the President of the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) is backed by his extensive knowledge and over 25 years of experience in Islamic finance, accounting, and consulting.

Dato’ Mohd Muazzam holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the International Islamic University Malaysia. He is also an Advanced Management & Leadership Programme graduate from the University of Oxford’s Said Business School.

Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar is currently the Chairman of the Malaysia International Islamic Finance Centre (MIFC) Leadership Council, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the Chairman of INCEIF University (The International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance). Between June 2004 and July 2018, he was the Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia's strategic investment fund with AUM then of ~ USD40bn. Between December 2021 and December 2023, he was the Chairman of Lembaga Tabung Haji Malaysia (Hajj Pilgrims Fund Board with AUM of ~ USD20bn)

Other current affiliations include as a member of the Global Future Council on Investing of the World Economic Forum, the Steering Committee of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), a Development Leadership Dialogue Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London, the Investment Advisory Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Advisory Board of the University of Oxford’s Technology & Management Centre for Development, the Advisory Board of the College of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar and the board of the international humanitarian relief organization, MERCY Malaysia.

Azman obtained an M.Phil in Development Studies from Darwin College, Cambridge University, as a Chevening scholar, and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from International Islamic University Malaysia. He is also a CFA Charter Holder and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA). Between 2019 and 2022, Azman was a Bye-Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge and the Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge.

Omar is the Managing Director of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and Board Member of the UK Islamic Finance Council (UKIFC)

A Chartered Accountant by profession, he specialises in ethical/responsible finance, Islamic finance, and private equity. He has extensive experience in financial services and has advised multiple governments and regulators on ecosystem building as a leading advocate for sustainable and Islamic finance. His background includes working with EY London, where he qualified as a CA and was the former Head of Islamic finance.

Through his GEFI work, Omar has established a number of initiatives, including the Path to COP, the SDG Financial Products platform with UNDP, which promotes innovative financing structures for the SDGs, the Global Islamic Finance and UN SDGs Taskforce launched with the UK Government and IsDB, and the award-winning interfaith Edinburgh Finance Declaration—the world’s first shared values approach to finance between Islamic finance and the Church. He also served on the Board of the University of Oxford Faith-Aligned Impact Finance Project

Omar received a BAcc and a PhD from the University of Glasgow along with an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University conferred for his work in developing ethical finance. Beyond finance, he is actively involved with Colourful Heritage which works with Glasgow Museums to preserve and celebrate South Asian heritage in Scotland, The King’s Trust Scotland and Olivewood Primary School.

Mahmoud Mohieldin is a global economist and the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, with over 30 years of experience in international finance and development. He co-leads the UN Secretary General expert group on debt solutions. Formerly Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at the World Bank Group, he was Egypt’s first Minister of Investment. He chairs and serves at key international and regional advisory boards, co-chairs the WEF Global Future Council on the Business of Economic Growth.

He is a Professor of Economics and Finance, Cairo University, a Visiting Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University, a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science and Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution.

Head of Real Estate Funds, Rasmala Investment Bank Limited (United Arab Emirates) Ruggiero serves as Head of Real Estate Funds with responsibilities for managing international real estate investments. Ruggiero has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry and specializes in Sharia-compliant investment strategies. Prior to joining Rasmala, Ruggiero held senior management positions at JP Morgan Chase, HSBC Amana and ABN AMRO. Ruggiero holds a Magna-cum laude degree in Economics e Finance from La Sapienza University in Rome and is a qualified public accountant in Italy (Dottore Commercialista).