Sheikh Nizam Yaquby was educated in the classical Shariah sciences in his native Bahrain and in Makkah. He received his Bachelors in Economics and Comparative Religion from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Since 1976, Sheikh Yaquby has taught Tafsir, Hadith and Fiqh in Bahrain.

He is the member of Central Bank of Bahrain Shariah Board and a Shariah Advisor to several international and local financial institutions worldwide. He is also the author of several articles and publications on Islamic Finance.

Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari holds a PhD in Economics from the University of California. He is also a Professor of Islamic Economics and the Director of the Centre for Research in Islamic Economics at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Dr Elgari is also an expert at the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy (OIC), Jeddah and has published several articles and books on Islamic Finance. He is a Shariah advisor to several international and local financial institutions worldwide.

Dr Aznan Hasan holds a PhD in Islamic Law from the University of Wales, Lampeter, United Kingdom. He received his degree in Shariah from the University of Al-Azhar and a Masters degree in Shariah from Darul Ulum, Cairo University.

He is an Associate Professor in Shariah at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, International Islamic University Malaysia. He is the Deputy Chairman of Shariah Advisory Council of the Securities Commission Malaysia. He is also member of Higher Shariah Authority of the Central Bank of UAE. He serves as a Shariah Advisor and Shariah Consultant to several international and local financial institutions, government bodies and corporations.

Dr Mufti Irshad Ahmad Aijaz (Member Shariah Board) holds advisory positions at a number of institutions and regularly delivers lectures on Islamic Economics and Finance at different forums and educational institutions, including IBA (Institute of Business Administration), NIBAF (SBP) and CIE (Centre for Islamic Economics – a division of Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi). He holds Shadat-ul-Aalamia (Masters in Arabic and Islamic Studies) from Jamiatul Uloom Islamiyyah, Binnori Town, Karachi, Takhassus fi al-Iftaa (Specialization in Fatwa) from Jamia Darul Uloom, an MBA (Finance) from Iqra University, Karachi in addition to PhD from University of Karachi.

Dr Mufit Irshad serves in many Shariah boards including Bank Islami Pakistan, Summit Bank. He is also the chairman of the of the Shariah Advisory Committee of State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and member of AAOIFI Sharia standard committee.

He is the Chairman of the Shariah Advisory Council of Bank Negara Malaysia and a professor at International Centre of Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF). He obtained his PhD (Islamic Law) from University of Birmingham, Masters in Fiqh and Usul Fiqh from University of Jordan (1995) and his BA in Shariah from Islamic University in Medina, Saudi Arabia (1991). He is the Deputy Chairman of Securities Commission of Malaysia’s Shariah Advisory Council (SAC SC). He is also, a member of Shariah Committee for International Islamic Liquidity Management Cooperation (IILM) and the Chairman of Shariah Committee of Bursa Malaysia (Malaysia Exchange House). In addition, he also serves as member of National Fatwa Council of Malaysia, a Shariah committee member of Yayasan Waqf Malaysia (Malaysia Waqf Foundation), State Development Cooperation of Kelantan (SEDC), a committee member for Waqf Committee for Kelantan Religious Council and Finance and Investment Committee member for Selangor Religious Council. He is currently the President of the Association of Shariah Advisers in Islamic Finance (ASAS) Malaysia.

Holds a bachelor’s degree in Islamic law and jurisprudence from the university of Emir Abdel Kader, Algeria and has a masters and PhD from International Islamic University Malaysia.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Salihin Shariah Advisory and the Chief Academic Officer of Salihin Academy, a council member of the Malaysian Financial Planning Council, and the Academic Director of Singapore Islamic Finance Academy. He has authored more than 20 books and has been the recipient of the Global Business Leadership Islamic Finance Award in 2017 and 2019. and currently chairs the Shariah Committee of Standard Chartered’ s Saadiq Bank (Malaysia)

Holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Financial Law from the University of London, United Kingdom (UK) and masters in Islamic Banking and Finance from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

He has a wide research background with more than 10 yeas’ experience in academic institution in the UK and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He has been awarded the Rashid Award for scientific achievement and also serve Shariah board member in many Islamic banks in UAE.

He serves as the Director of Sharjah Islamic Centre for Economy & Finance Studies. Dr. Ibrahim was a faculty member in the College of Shariah  and Islamic Studies, University of Sharjah. He was a faculty member in Ajman University for Sciences and Technology and an Educational Controller on the Ministry of Education, UAE .

He held many academic and professional positions including as a teacher at the Ministry of Education, UAE, Director of Irtiqaa Centre for Consulting and Training, and Director of Innovation Centre for Consulting and Traininghas a wide research background with more than 10 yeas’ experience in academic institution in the UK and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He also serves as Shariah board member in many financial institutions including, Dubai Islamic Bank, Al Hilal Bank , Sharjah Islamic Bank among others. He is the author of various studies and papers on contemporary matters relating to Islamic Banking and various Shariah issues.

Holds a degree in Shariah and PhD in Islamic studies from the University of Birmingham, UK. Currently, he serves as General Manager of Minhaj Advisory in Dubai, UAE.

Dr Fateh served as an instructor in Shariah Management at Kuwait Finance House, a lecturer at University of Women in Jordan, and a lecturer at the Islamic American University in the United States of America (USA).

Dr Fateh has advised many Islamic institutions including Faisal Islamic Bank Sudan and Salama – Islamic Arab Insurance Company. He was the founding member of the Shariah Scholars Association of North America, and a former member of the Fiqh Council in the USA. Dr Fateh has delivered many lectures and provided many trainings on Islamic studies/Islamic banking, both in English and Arabic.

Mufti Muhammad Abdul Mubeen is the Head of Shariah Department for Group Islamic Banking function of Standard Chartered Bank for the past 14 years and Shariah Board Member/Shariah Advisor for Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan & Malaysia.

Mufti Mubeen obtained Shahadat ul Alamiyyah from Jamiat ul Uloom il Islamiyyah, Allamah Binnori Town Karachi, Pakistan. He has done his Takhassus fil Ifta from Jamiah Darul- Uloom Karachi, Pakistan. He received his Master of Commercial Law from The University of Melbourne, Australia and LLB (Hons) Shariah & Law from International Islamic University, Islamabad.

He was also a member of Shariah Advisors Forum (SAF) established by State Bank of Pakistan. He has taught different subjects of Shariah such as Usul ul Fiqh, Fiqh and Comparative Study of Law at different institutions in Pakistan. He has an extensive experience in the field of Islamic Finance and Insurance.

Dr Hakimah Binti Haji Yaacob is a Senior Assistant Professor of University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Brunei Darussalam. Currently, she is a consultant of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (“BIBD”) and Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB). Apart from that, she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK and certified mediator of Australian Accord Group and Malaysian Mediation Centre.

Being an expert in Islamic Law, Dr Hakimah’s expertise is not only limited to writing and drafting Islamic legal documentation, but she is also involved with various primary research, focusing on Islamic Finance and regulatory framework. She received her PHD in Law, Masters in Comparative Law, LLB Shariah Hons and LLB Hons from International Islamic University Malaysia. She also holds a diploma in Victimology from Tokiwa University Japan.

Dr Zurina Binti Shafii is a Professor of Islamic finance at the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and a research fellow at USIM’s Islamic Finance and Wealth Management Institute (IFWMI). Her areas of expertise include Shariah Compliance Audit, Islamic Wealth Management, Islamic Accounting and Halal Management.

She received her first degree in Accounting from University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and later obtained her Master’s degree and PhD both in Islamic Finance from Durham University, United Kingdom. She was awarded ACCA Professional Level Certificate and a Certified Islamic Financial Planner. She authored Islamic finance related books in areas of Islamic financial planning titled “Islamic Accounting and Halal Governance” published by IBFIM and two books titled “Governance and Shariah Audit in Islamic Financial Institution” and “State of Islamic Finance: A Retrospective Assessment and Looking Forward” published by Penerbit USIM.

Mufti Yousuf Sultan is the Founder and CEO of Adl Advisory in Malaysia which provides Shariah advisory, consultancy and training services related to Islamic Finance to various industries. He has also co-founded IFA Consultancy in Bangladesh, a pioneer institution promoting Islamic Finance to the mass through training, workshops, seminars and consultancies.

He received his MSc in Islamic Finance degree from INCEIF, Malaysia. Earlier, he graduated as a Mufti in Shariah and Islamic Jurisprudence from Jamia Shariyyah Malibag, Dhaka. He is also a registered Shariah Adviser with the Securities Commission of Malaysia and a Certified Islamic Finance Executive (CIFE) from Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance, Dubai. Apart from that, he is also a Certified Shariah Advisor and Auditor (CSAA) from Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Bahrain and an AAOIFI Master Trainer.

Mufti Yousuf has conducted various research and reports on Islamic Finance of which the most notable one is titled “Responsible Finance – Ethical and Islamic Finance: Meeting the Global Agenda” – published by RFI Foundation and IFSB, co-authored with Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia. Mufti Yousuf has been appointed as a Shariah Committee member for Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad (SCSB) with effect from 1 June 2022.

Mufti M. Sarfaraz Nihal has over eight years of Islamic Banking experience in the area of Shariah Compliance, Shariah Audit and Product Development with prestigious institutions such as Bank Al Habib Ltd, Faysal Bank Limited (Barkat Isl.Banikng), Albaraka Bank Pakistan Ltd.(formerly Emirates Global Islamic Bank).

He possesses both contemporary, conventional as well as religious academic qualifications. He has obtained the Takhassus Fil Fiqh il Islami (Specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence and Fatwa) & Shahadat-ul-Aalamia (Dars-e-Nizami) from Jamia Farooqia & Wifaq Ul Madaris repectively. Additionally, he holds an M.Phil and MSc in Economics from University of Karachi. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Arabic & Islamic Studies from University of Karachi alongwith the PGD in Islamc Banking & Finance from Centre of Islamic Economics (CIE).

Khurram is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Head Group Islamic Products at Standard Chartered Saadiq – the Global Islamic Banking business of Standard Chartered Bank.

As a career Islamic Banker, Khurram has more than two decades of core Islamic banking experience across Consumer, Wealth Management, Private Banking, Transaction Banking and Financial Markets. He has led the development and roll out of the bank’s Islamic banking proposition across SCB footprint in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe and North America. He has been an active contributor to the Islamic banking industry and regularly provides advice to regulators and industry bodies. Khurram is proud to have worked alongside some of the top scholars in Islamic Finance industry.

Standard Chartered Saadiq offers a wide suite of product capabilities and award-winning solutions across the corporate, institutions and consumer spectrum. Since inception the business has won over 400+ internationally recognized industry awards.

Khurram holds a master’s degree from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Pakistan and successfully passed CFA examination from CFA Institute, Charlottesville, USA. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in classical Islamic jurisprudence.

Rola Abu Manneh is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered UAE, a role she has held since August 2018. Rola was the first Emirati woman to head a bank in the UAE and, in her current role, has been responsible for transforming the UAE business into one of the biggest five markets for the Standard Chartered Group. Before joining Standard Chartered, Rola was the Head of Corporate & Investment Banking for Abu Dhabi at First Abu Dhabi Bank. Rola has since joined as a Director on the Boards of both Standard Chartered (Pakistan) Limited and Standard Chartered Uganda and also on the Boards of MyZoi Financial Inclusion Technologies and Appro Onboarding Solutions, digital ventures through the SCB subsidiary, SC Ventures. In 2021, Rola became a member of the Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE and the Dubai International Chamber, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai.

Over the years, Rola has championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through different initiatives and is committed to supporting the wider community by providing university students with mentorship programmes, in collaboration with leading partners, which aim to prepare participants with the necessary skills to succeed in their chosen professions. Rola is a member of the Global Council for Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality (‘SDG5’); a UAE delegate in G20Empower; a member of the NYUAD Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council; and an advisory council member for both the Global Summit of Women 2023, which took place in Dubai in May, and the Fortune Global Forum 2023, scheduled in November in Abu Dhabi.

As a testament to her efforts, in 2022 Rola was recognised as ‘one of the most powerful and influential’ in the ‘Women Business Leaders – Middle East List ’ by Arabian Business. In 2021, Rola was awarded Banking Leader of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards and, for the past four consecutive years, Rola has been featured as one of the ‘Middle East’s Power Businesswomen’ by Forbes Middle East. Previously, Rola has been included in Arabian Business’ ‘World’s Most Powerful Arabs’ list, recognised by Forbes ME as one of the ‘Top 20 Women Leading Top Companies in the Middle East’, and Financial News listing her ‘as one of the most influential female leaders’.

Ali Allawala has 25+ years global experience having worked in United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan.

Ali is currently working as Head of Islamic Banking in UAE as well as managing Standard Chartered’s global consumer and wealth management business covering UAE, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Indonesia, and Brunei.

Previously, Ali has performed senior management roles including Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Saadiq in Malaysia, Head of Retail Banking at Samba Pakistan, and Cards Business / Portfolio Manager at Samba Saudi Arabia and Citibank Egypt. He has extensive experience of launching new markets, business transformation, product management, distribution, digital banking, wealth management and marketing.

As an advocate of fintech, sustainable finance, and financial inclusion, Ali has launched programs across geographies to create value in the Islamic finance ecosystem.

His team has been recognized for multiple global and country awards such as ‘Best Islamic Retail Banking Group’, ‘Best Digital Islamic Bank’ and ‘Best Islamic Consumer Banker in Pakistan’.

He is passionate about people development and is a certified Master Life Coach of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Ali has an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan.

Bilal Parvaiz joined Standard Chartered Saadiq (Malaysia) in 2014. He currently heads the Islamic Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking team and is also responsible for regional coverage of Saadiq in the ASEAN markets. Bilal also leads the Halal360 initiative and is the country champion for sustainable finance.

Prior to his move to Malaysia, Bilal was based in UAE as part of the global Islamic banking team, managing structured trade and transaction banking. He played an instrumental role in originating and concluding landmark transactions across the GCC, South Asia and ASEAN, including market firsts such as the world’s first ESG Islamic collateralized commodity Murabahah transaction and sustainable Islamic supplier finance.

Bilal holds an MBA, alongside various academic and professional qualifications. These include a certification in sustainable finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and the Sustainability Leadership Programme at the University of Cambridge. He is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.

Faezah Abdullah is currently the Head of Shariah Department in Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Islamic Revealed Knowledge majoring in Fiqh and Usul-al-Fiqh from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Faezah has 15 years’ experience in Islamic Banking industry and her experience in Islamic Banking industry covers Islamic Banking products and services, Shariah Compliance Risk, Shariah Governance, Advisory and Research. She is a registered member of Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance Malaysia (ASAS), a member to the Shariah Governance Committee of Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) and currently completing the Certified Shariah Advisor programme by ASAS.

Mufti Mohammed Valli is an Islamic Finance professional with extensive experience in the field of Shariah advisory, compliance and governance. He is currently part of the Compliance team at Standard Chartered Saadiq based in DIFC and was previously employed as a Shariah consultant and advisor to various financial institutions in South Africa, such as FirstRand and Absa. He also served as an academic and lecturer in Islamic jurisprudence and Shariah sciences at different institutions in South Africa.

Mufti Mohammed, who is an AAOIFI Certified Shariah Advisor and Auditor (CSAA), graduated cum laude with a Masters in Islamic Finance from INCEIF in Malaysia. Prior to that, he completed both his Aalim Fa’dhil and Ifta’ course at Darul Uloom Zakariyya, a leading institute for Higher Shariah Studies in Johannesburg, South Africa. He also holds degrees in Islamic Studies and Accounting Sciences from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Alaa Alaabed has earned her PhD in Islamic finance from INCEIF, Malaysia where she also won the President’s Award in 2012 and 2016. She qualified as a Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP) in 2011. Alaa was awarded Bachelor of Commerce; major in Finance from Macquarie University, Australia in 2007. Prior to joining Standard Chartered Saadiq, she worked with Wethaq group of companies; first advising Wethaq Capital Markets on core FinTech proposition and integrating qualitative research and market insights into strategies and high level initiatives before managing Wethaq Capital Platform Company’s corporate and regulatory affairs in Saudi Arabia. Alaa is a member AAOIFI’s Fintech Working Group. She is also part of the RFI Foundation’s Emissary Steering Group; advocating ESG, sustainability and responsible finance. Her work experience includes Treasury products’ development in HSBC Amanah, Malaysia, buy side research analysis in SICO investment bank, Bahrain, education in the College of Banking and Financial Studies, Oman, rating in the Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA), Bahrain, and FinTech focused research and advisory in Finocracy . Alaa has presented in a number of international Islamic banking and finance fora and has published a number of research papers in journals of repute. Since 2018, Alaa has been recognized among the “100 Most Influential Women in Global Islamic Banking & Finance” by Cambridge IF Analytica’s WOMANi Index.

Mustafa Adil is the Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, for the London Stock Exchange Group. He is responsible for leading the Islamic finance and Islamic markets business for the organization, providing knowledge solutions and bespoke services to support the continued growth and increasing depth of the Islamic finance industry. He works in collaboration with government entities, multilateral organizations and leading financial institutions to support them in fulfilling their aspirations and executing their strategies in the Islamic markets 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 the acquisition by London Stock Exchange Group, Mustafa was the Head of Islamic Finance for Refinitiv and for Thomson Reuters. Mustafa has also served as 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 Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Imperial College in London.