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.

Iqbal Khan is the Chief Executive Officer of Fajr Capital, a sovereignbacked private equity firm which invests in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Aster DM Healthcare (GCC), Cravia Group, and MENA Infrastructure.

Prior to Fajr Capital, Mr Khan 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).

Mr Khan 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 currently serves as Vice Chairman and Member of the Global Development Council at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for International Development and Member of the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) Leadership Council, among others.

Over the course of his career, Mr Khan has received several prestigious industries and global accolades. In 2012, he was honored with The Royal Award for Islamic Finance, a biennial award presented by His Majesty the King of Malaysia. In 2014, he was awarded Brunei’s state honour, the ‘Order of the Crown of Brunei,’ conferred by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. In 2015, Mr Khan was recognised with a lifetime achievement award, presented by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Mr. Khan 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, India.

Dr. Mohamed Ali Elgari is a globally respected authority in Islamic economics and finance, with decades of experience advising leading Islamic banks, Takaful companies, and international financial institutions. He has been instrumental in shaping global Islamic finance standards through his extensive work on Shariah boards and international councils.

He is a long-standing Member of the Shari’ah Council and Board of Trustees of AAOIFI and has chaired or served on Shariah boards of prominent organisations including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Standard & Poor’s, and International Islamic Liquidity Management (IILM). He also advises central banks and financial institutions worldwide, including the Central Bank of Bahrain, Saudi National Bank, Alinma Capital, and Dow Jones Islamic Market Index.

An academic at heart, Dr. Elgari is Professor of Islamic Economics at King Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah and formerly served as Director of its Center for Research in Islamic Economics. He is also an Expert at the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy of the OIC.

His contributions have been recognised globally, with honours such as the Islamic Development Bank Prize in Islamic Banking and Finance (2004), the KLIFF Islamic Finance Award, and Euromoney’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Islamic Finance.

Dr. Elgari holds a PhD and Master’s in Economics from the University of California and a Bachelor’s in Economics from King Abdul-Aziz University, in addition to his traditional studies in Shariah.

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).

Chris Skinner has been voted the most influential technologist in Britain and received a lifetime achievement award for his visionary approach to the future of money from the Payments Association. He has advised the White House, the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, the United Nations and many more on how to deal with technology, finance and the future. He is the go-to guy or, putting it simply, he is the fintech guy.

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).

Dr Qasim Nasar-Ullah serves as co-Founder and Senior AI Engineer at Arabesque AI, and has been with the Arabesque Group since 2014. Since 2021, Qasim has been in Singapore leading an AI and Data Analytics programme that has received funding (MAS AIDA grant). Qasim has served as an Honorary Researcher at UCL (University College London) since 2014. Qasim obtained his Ph.D. at UCL in the area of GPU-based high performance parallel financial derivatives computation.

Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed as the Finance Minister II effective 12 December 2023. Prior to assuming the role of Finance Minister II, he had helmed the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as Chief Executive Officer since March 2021.

With a corporate experience spanning more than 27 years, Amir Hamzah began his career with a decade-long tenure at the Shell Group of Companies. During this period, he held diverse roles in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Subsequently, he joined MISC Berhad in 2000 and held several senior management portfolios before being appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2009.

Following his tenure at MISC Berhad, Amir Hamzah took on the role of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad in June 2010. In August 2012, Amir Hamzah joined PETRONAS Lubricants International as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, concurrently serving as the Vice-President for Downstream Marketing, and subsequently as Vice-President of Lubricants for the PETRONAS Group.

In March 2016, Amir Hamzah joined Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) to steer its investee company Icon Offshore Berhad as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Subsequently, he took on the role of Group Chief Executive Officer at Themed Attractions Resorts and Hotel Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad. In April 2019, he further showcased his versatility across industries by taking on the role of President/Chief Executive Officer at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Amir Hamzah has also contributed to various organisations in non-executive capacities. He formerly served as the Non-Executive Chairman of Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) and held directorial positions on the boards of Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and Sime Darby Oils International Limited.

Amir Hamzah holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management (majoring in Finance and Economics) from Syracuse University, New York. He has also attended the Stanford Executive Programme at Stanford University, and the Corporate Finance Evening Programme at London Business School.

Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohamad Akram is currently a Professor at INCEIF University Malaysia. Prior to joining INCEIF he was an Assistant Professor at the Kulliyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM). In the period 2002-2004, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He was also the Executive director of International Shari'ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) established by Bank Negara Malaysia till 2023.

At present, he is the Member of Bank Negara Malaysia Shari’ah Advisory Council, Member of MIFC Leadership Council, Chairman of Shari’ah Board of Employees Provident Fund Malaysia (EPF), Chairman of Shariah Supervisory Council of Labuan Financial Services Authority (FSA), Member of Internal Shariah Supervisory Committee, Dubai Islamic Bank, Member of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, Member Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE), Central Bank of Nigeria, Member of Shariah Supervisory Board, Bank Muscat Meethaq Islamic Bank, Member of Shariah Board of Eco Islamic Bank, Kyrgyzstan, Chairman of Shariah Board of Tawhid Bank, Tajikistan. Dr. Akram was also involved in introducing Islamic Finance in Central Asia country by developing the legal and Shariah framework of National Bank of Tajikistan. He was also involved in the conversion of Eco Bank Kyrgyzstan to ECO Islamic Bank. He also has extensive experience working with some other entities in Central Asia.

Prof. Akram holds a B.A. Honours degree in Islamic Jurisprudence and Legislation from the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan and a Ph.D. in Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh) from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. He has presented many papers related to Islamic Banking and Finance and other Fiqh topics at national and International level and has conducted many training sessions particularly on Islamic Banking and Finance for different sectors since 1999. He is a registered Shariah Advisor for Islamic Securities with the Securities Commission of Malaysia and has acted as Shariah advisor in the issuance of many sukuks. In addition, he is also prolific author of academic works specifically in the areas of Islamic Banking and Finance. He is the recipient of Zaki Badawi Award for Excellence in Shariah Advisory and Research. Recipient of the Most Outstanding Individual Contribution to Islamic Finance during KLIFF 2016 organised by CERT. Winner of the 2017/1439H Malaysian Islamic Personality Award conferred by The Government of Malaysia on the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was awarded The Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN), Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service which carries the title `Datuk' on 06 June 2022 by DYMM the King of Malaysia.

Mustafa Adil is the Head of Islamic Finance for the London Stock Exchange Group. He is responsible for leading the Islamic finance business for the organization, providing knowledge solutions and bespoke services to support the continued growth of the Islamic finance industry. He works in collaboration with government entities, multilateral organizations and financial institutions to support them in fulfilling their aspirations and executing their strategies in the Islamic finance space. These include the delivery of content solutions, research, consulting services and market engagement. He also spearheads the development of new initiatives or services that meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of the industry across markets.

Prior to joining LSEG, Mustafa was a leading consultant in the Islamic Financial Services team at Ernst & Young, providing advisory services to some of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the GCC and globally. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Imperial College in London.

Lawrence Oliver is an Executive Director of DDCAP and its subsidiaries, DD&Co Limited and DDGI Limited. He is also a Director of DDCAP (DIFC) Limited. Lawrence has worked in the Islamic finance market for more than twenty-five years. He joined DDCAP in April 1998. Previously, he was a member of the team responsible for the Islamic Finance and Investment activity at Kleinwort Benson Limited. Lawrence is responsible for the company’s Business Development and Trading Desk including the evolvement and placement of its fintech solutions and has extensive experience of arranging asset-based transactions, which conform to Sharia stipulation. He specialises in Sharia compliant structured finance and asset origination. His broad knowledge of the physical commodity sector has enabled him to evolve the traditional merchant trading capabilities of DD&Co Limited for the benefit of institutional clients operating within the Islamic financial sector.

Lawrence is a member of the advisory board of CDIT, an initiative launched in September 2018 by the Responsible Finance & Investment Foundation (RFI) with the aim of improving transparency and accountability in the responsible finance industry. In 2021, Lawrence was invited by AAOIFI to join the AAOIFI Governance and Ethics committee’s Commodity Murabaha working group. Lawrence is a regular speaker at many annual Islamic conferences held in the GCC, South East Asia and Europe.

R. Eko Adi Irianto, SE, M. Com currently serves as Deputy Director at the Department of Islamic Economy and Finance, Bank Indonesia (2024–present). Previously, he was the Head of Bank Indonesia’s Regional Office in North Maluku Province (2022–2024) and Deputy Head of the Regional Office in North Sulawesi Province (2019–2021).

He has over two decades of professional experience in Islamic finance and banking supervision. His career includes roles as Senior Analyst at the Financial Services Authority (OJK) (2013–2016), Analyst at the Department of Islamic Banking, Bank Indonesia (2004–2007 and 2009–2012), and Assistant Project Manager at the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Malaysia (2008–2009).

Eko has also been actively involved in various international and domestic forums. He represented Bank Indonesia in the IFSB’s PSIFIs Taskforce (2005–2007) and the sub-committee on Guidance Notes on Alpha for Islamic banks’ capital adequacy standards (2010–2011). At the regional level, he served as Deputy Chairman of the North Maluku Regional Inflation Control Team (2022–2023) and was a member of the North Sulawesi Bankers Community (2019–2021).

He earned his Bachelor of Accounting from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (1998) and his Master of Banking and Finance from the University of New South Wales, Australia (2004).

With his strong academic background and extensive professional experience at both national and international levels, Eko is recognized for his dedication to advancing Islamic finance and strengthening the resilience of Indonesia’s financial system.

Dr. Al-Suwailem is currently the Acting Director General of the Islamic Development Bank Institute, a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Before joining the Institute in 2004, Dr. Al- Suwailem managed the Research and Development Center at Al-Rajhi Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He worked at the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America, Virginia; Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA; and King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He obtained his M.A. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, in 1990, and his Ph.D. from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1995. He authored several books and papers on Islamic economics and finance.

Mr. Goh Peng Ooi is the Founder and Group Executive Chairman of Silverlake Group, which he established in 1989. Under his visionary leadership, Silverlake has grown into a multibillion-dollar organisation, recognised globally as a leading provider of banking and financial technology solutions. Today, the Silverlake Group supports over 400 large customers across more than 70 countries, cementing its reputation as a trusted partner in digital transformation.

Mr. Goh began his career with IBM Malaysia, where he rose to the position of Marketing Manager for Banking and Finance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Tokyo, having studied there as a Monbusho Scholar. With his foresight into the future of digital and economic demands, he positioned Silverlake to be at the forefront of innovation in areas such as fintech, cloud computing, digital finance, and deep tech. In 2021, he spearheaded a major restructuring of the Silverlake Group and subsequently founded Zezz FundQ Pte Ltd in Singapore, focusing on symmetry and the digital economy.

His outstanding contributions have earned him numerous awards and recognitions. These include being named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 and 2014, receiving the World Chinese Economic Summit Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, the ASEAN Legacy Award in 2017, and the ASEAN Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019. Most notably, in 2022, the Emperor of Japan conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette upon him for his contributions to strengthening ties between Japan and ASEAN. In a 2015 article, Forbes recognised Mr. Goh as Malaysia’s first tech-billionaire.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Mr. Goh is deeply engaged in academics and thought leadership. He frequently shares insights on science, mathematics, and the application of intelligence to human actions and the economy. He has developed pioneering ideas such as the Sigma Scheme, which applies new perspectives on space-time physics to business and technology. He also holds advisory and fellowship roles across multiple institutions, including the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, MAJECA, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Puan Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting and Financial Management from University of Essex, United Kingdom and has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She is a Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and also a member of the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (CIIF) since 2019.

Puan Dafinah was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of HLISB on 6 June 2023.

She brings with her over 2 decades of conventional and Islamic banking experience and has previously held leadership roles across various areas of banking, including her last role as Head and Director of Commercial Banking at HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad. For the past 19 years, Puan Dafinah has been with HSBC, covering roles in Global Banking and Markets, Global Trade and Receivable Finance as well as managing Shariah-compliant Commercial Banking products and solutions. Prior to HSBC, she started her career in United Overseas Bank (Malaysia).

Adnan Zaylani is the Deputy Governor with responsibility over the investment, financial markets and financial sector development. Adnan started his career at the Bank as a foreign exchange trader and portfolio manager in 1994 and played key roles in managing the international reserves, the National Trust Fund and several other public sector funds. He also oversaw financial market operations and was involved in advising the government on its cashflow management and debt strategy. He became Assistant Governor in 2016 and has overseen various portfolios; among others the financial markets, investment, foreign exchange administration, currency management, legal and financial sector development. This portfolio includes the development and advancement of Islamic Finance.

Adnan is a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors and the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Stability Committee. He is also a Board Member of KWAP (Retirement Fund) and INCEIF University. He sits on the Board Executive Committee of International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) and is a member of the MIFC Leadership Council (MLC). He chairs the Financial Market Committee, which is a regulator-industry platform to advance and discuss developments in the financial markets. He is also a member of the BIS Markets Committee.

Adnan holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, MSc in Global Market Economics, London School of Economics and BSc in Economics, London School of Economics. He is an Adjunct Professor at University Malaysia Terengganu, a Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance (CPIF) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.

Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Mohd Azmi Omar is the President and Chief Executive Officer of INCEIF University - The Global University of Islamic Finance. Prior to his current position, he was the Director-General, Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank Group, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He has previously worked at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), as Deputy Rector (Academic & Research), Dean of Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF) and Dean of Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences. Concurrently, he is a member of the Shariah Advisory Committee at Securities Commission Malaysia, Bank Rakyat Malaysia, Etiqa Takaful Malaysia and MUFG Bank Malaysia and was formerly an Islamic Finance Expert Advisor to the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (Brunei Monetary Authority).

He also holds the post of Vice President of the International Association for Islamic Economics, a member of the Board of Trustees of RFI Foundation and formerly a member of the External Advisory Group for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Interdepartmental Working Committee on Islamic Finance. Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Azmi was awarded “The Most Outstanding Individual Contribution to Islamic Finance” in the KLIFF Islamic Finance Awards 2015 and “Lifetime Achievement Award in Islamic Economics and Finance” at the 3rd World Islamic Economics and Finance Conference Pakistan in 2020.

Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Azmi holds a PhD in Finance from Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom. He is also a holder of Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance qualification. Recently, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus during the 39th International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Convocation Ceremony in November 2023.

Mohd Zikri Mohd Shairy served as the founding executor, contributing to the early design and implementation of Malaysia’s iTEKAD programme since 2020, which has benefited over 1,500 underbanked micro-entrepreneurs under Bank Islam. He is currently the Director of the Social Finance Division at Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad. With 18 years of experience in Islamic finance, he focuses on integrating zakat, waqf, and sadaqah into the banking framework to promote financial inclusion. He drives Sadaqa House, Bank Islam’s flagship social finance catalyst, which mobilises philanthropic funds to support high-impact social projects. Zikri has a strong background in Shariah governance and advisory, including international consultancy work across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He is a Malaysia Acumen Fellow 2023.

Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail is the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad, bringing over a decade of experience in Malaysia’s insurance and takaful industry. He began his career with Bank Negara Malaysia, where he served as Deputy Director and Actuary in the Insurance & Takaful Supervision Department, gaining deep expertise in regulatory strategy and actuarial oversight.

In 2011, Wan joined Towers Watson as Director, leading the Insurance Consulting practice in Malaysia and advising on mergers & acquisitions, risk management, and actuarial reviews across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. He later assumed senior leadership roles at Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad and Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad, serving as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, before being appointed CEO in March 2020.

With more than 11 years of industry experience, including nine in regulatory supervision, Wan has practical insights into insurance and takaful operations, strategy, and market development.

Shahrildin Jaya is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam (Takaful Brunei) and its operational subsidiaries; Takaful Brunei Am (TBA) and Takaful Brunei Keluarga (TBK). He is currently the Chairman for Brunei Insurance Takaful Association (BITA) representing the industry nationally and regionally.

He started his career in 2000 as a general takaful underwriter and progressed to heading roles including general takaful, family takaful, retakaful, claims, agency administration, marketing, and risk management. With over 25 years in the industry experiencing various professional journey stages including takaful start-up, takaful merger, and takaful digital transformation throughout impactful business cycles.

Shahrildin is an Alumni of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Southampton University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies from The American University, Washington DC, United States of America. He is a Fellow of the Asian Insurance Institute (FAii), Malaysia. He is passionate to promote and advance the takaful and insurance industry in Brunei Darussalam and globally.

Yurivanno Gani is currently the CEO of Takaful Keluarga (since 2023) and serves as the IT & Operations Director at Asuransi Bintang (2023 – present). Before his current roles, he was the Operations Director at Takaful Umum from 2014 to 2016 and at Takaful Keluarga from 2016 to 2022.

He has also been serving on the Board of the Association of Life Insurance Indonesia since 2019 and is a member of the Board of the Association of Sharia Insurance starting in 2024.

Neslihan Neciboğlu is the Chief Executive Officer of Neova Participation Insurance, a role she has held since July 2022. She also serves as a Board Member of the Insurance Association of Türkiye.

She began her professional career in 2005 at Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank, where she held a number of senior positions, including Financial Analysis and Intelligence Manager, Corporate and Commercial Branch Sales and Marketing Manager, and Branch Manager. From 2013 onward, she took on several key roles in the bank’s risk management division, serving as Retail and SME Risk Monitoring Manager, Business Loans Risk Monitoring Manager, and ultimately, Risk Monitoring Group Manager.

Ms. Neciboğlu holds a degree in Business Administration from the Middle East Technical University and brings nearly two decades of experience in banking, risk management, finance, and insurance to her current leadership position.

Maricel handles Sustainability, Community Investment and Takaful at Pru Life UK. She is the Takaful Head of the company’s Takaful Window operation and a member of its Shariah Committee.

She is a GRI-Certified Sustainability Professional, a Certified Expert in Financial Inclusion Policy from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) & Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the sole participant from the Philippines to the UN Executive Leadership Programme for Sustainable Development (2023).

She holds an LL.M. degree in Intellectual Property and Competition on full scholarship (DAAD) from the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MILPC), an affiliate of the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Prior to joining Pru Life UK, she served as a consultant on policy, research and communications at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (2013-2015) and worked as a research analyst at Singapore-based think tank TRPC (2013-2014). She worked at BusinessWorld as a reporter and editor (2007-2011) and was a freelance writer at Geneva-based IP Watch (2012-2013).

He was born in Istanbul in 1981. After graduating from Kartal Anadolu Imam Hatip High School in 1999, he completed his undergraduate education in "Political Science and Economics" at Indiana University in 2002.

He continued his academic education with a master's degree in Public Administration at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Politics in 2004. For a while, he continued his doctoral thesis in the field of "European Studies" at Johns Hopkins University, where he discussed the economic growth models of Italy and Türkiye.

Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan served at various times as an assistant at Johns Hopkins University and the Woodrow Wilson Center, and as an expert at the World Bank.

Erdoğan, who is also the president of the New Türkiye Education Foundation as well as the İlim Yayma Foundation and the World Ethnosport Confederation, serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ibn Haldun University. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Science History Research Foundation and the Archery Lodge, Türkiye Youth Foundation High Advisory Board and Darülaceze Board of Directors.

Erdoğan, who is fluent in English as well as French, Italian and Arabic, is married and the father of three children.

Rifki Ismal is an Adjunct Professor at INCEIF University (Malaysia) and Director in Bank Indonesia (central bank of Indonesia). He has been a central banker for 26 years appointed in various departments and was awarded the best central bank employee in 2017. As an academics, he is a lecturer in more than 17 universities, amongst all are University of Indonesia, Tazkia Institute and, IPB and was a visiting lecturer in Strasbrough University (France). Since 2002, he has published 76 academic papers in reputable international journals (21 are scopus), books and chapter contributors of reference books published by international publishers such as John Wiley and Sons (USA), Springer (Europe and USA), Routledge (Europe and USA), Edinburgh Press (UK), ISRA (Malaysia), supervised 147 both master and PhD students and examined 96 thesis/dissertations.

As a researcher, he was a visiting researcher in Bank for International Settlement (BIS) in 2006 and as the global scholar in the field, he was an Assistant Secretary General (top management) of the Islamic Financial Service Board (IFSB) (2020-2022) a standard setting body with 188 members including 82 central banks from 57 countries, headquarter in Kuala Lumpur. Lately, he was one of the founding members (4 persons) of Cash Awqaf Linked Sukuk (CWLS) project which was awarded the IsDB prize for the most Impactful Achievement in Islamic Economics in 2023. Besides central banker, academics and global scholar, he is a member of the Indonesia National Sharia Board (DSN) – National Ulama Council since 2017. He got a bachelor degree in economics from University of Indonesia, master in applied economics from University of Michigan, ann arbor (USA) and PhD in Islamic finance from Durham University (England).

Imran Vilcassim is an accomplished leader with over 24 years of experience in Sales, Technology Strategy, and Digital Transformation. He is currently serving as Chief Commercial Officer - Digital Platforms at BPC, focusing on driving innovation in financial services through technology. Prior to this, Imran held leadership roles at Temenos, including Head of Sales for the India Subcontinent and Country General Manager in Sri Lanka & Maldives, where he led digital transformations for many banks and drew significant growth for Temenos across the region.

Before joining Temenos, Imran spent over 13 years at Microsoft, where he held key positions such as Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Director of Channel Sales, and Director of Enterprise Business. During his time at Microsoft, he was instrumental in driving cloud adoption, increasing revenue by over 35%, and securing strategic national projects. Imran played a key role in transforming the company’s relationships with government entities and establishing critical partnerships across Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Before joining Temenos, Imran spent over 13 years at Microsoft, where he held key positions such as Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Director of Channel Sales, and Director of Enterprise Business. During his time at Microsoft, he was instrumental in driving cloud adoption, increasing revenue by over 35%, and securing strategic national projects. Imran played a key role in transforming the company’s relationships with government entities and establishing critical partnerships across Sri Lanka and the Maldives.