Dr Ahmet Aysan is a full professor, associate dean for research and the program coordinator of the PhD and Master of Science programs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. He has been a board member and Monetary Policy Committee member of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkiye and served as a consultant at various institutions such as the World Bank, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkiye and Oxford Analytica. Dr Ahmet, who has many articles published in academic journals, is a recipient of the Bogaziçi University Award and the MEEA Ibn Khaldun Prize. Dr Ahmet is also a research associate at the University College London Centre for Blockchain Technologies and a non-resident fellow at the ME Council.

Akber Khan has more than 25 years of experience in the investment industry. He is a senior director of the asset management group at Al Rayan Investment (ARI) and has been with ARI since 2009, with overall responsibility for the management of client portfolios. ARI has an enviable track record of investing in Shariah compliant GCC equities and global Sukuk. Prior to ARI, Akber was at Deutsche Bank, London for more than 11 years in European and emerging markets equities. Akber graduated from University College London in economics and history. In each year since 2013, he has been in MENA Fund Manager Magazine’s ‘Power 50’ list of the most “influential, innovative and powerful people” in the regional industry.

Dr Andrew Dahdal is an associate professor at the College of Law, Qatar University and the chair of commercial law at the International Association of Law Schools. Dr Andrew researches and publishes on a range of financial services topics focused on the Middle East and beyond, particularly relating to technological innovations. His most recent book is ‘Qatari Business Law’ (2003, published by Qatar University Press). He has taught law in Australia, Europe and the Middle East and is currently part of an international project exploring financial inclusion and technology in Qatar. Dr Andrew holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from Macquarie University, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree and PhD from the University of New South Wales.

Ayman Doukali has over a decade of experience in Islamic finance, particularly in the debt capital markets and corporate and institutional banking areas. He is currently the head of Islamic and structured finance at the Qatar Financial Center (QFC). Prior to joining the QFC, Ayman worked for HSBC in Malaysia and held multiple positions within the global banking and debt capital markets teams, with his last assignment being the head of Sukuk for Asia Pacific. Before working at HSBC, he was part of the debt capital markets team at Dukhan Bank in Qatar, leading the execution of a flow of Sukuk and syndicated financing transactions in the GCC.

Dr Dalal Aassouli is an assistant professor of Islamic and sustainable finance at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Dr Dalal was previously a visiting academic at the Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, Durham University Business School. Prior to that, she worked at the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) in Malaysia where she assisted with the establishment of the IILM’s Sukuk program. Before that, she held several corporate finance positions in Europe where she had exposure to the African, European and Latin American markets.

Dr Dalal serves on several industry working groups and non-profit global forums such as the CIBAFI Sustainability Working Group, Qatar Financial Center Islamic Finance Taskforce and the Global Impact Fintech Forum. She is also an invited speaker in international conferences and events and provides her consultancy expertise to various organizations on issues related to sustainable and Islamic finance.

Dr Dalal holds a Master’s degree from NEOMA Business School and Paris Dauphine University and a PhD from ENS de Lyon in France.
Dr Dalal’s areas of research interest include Islamic finance in general and its implications for liquidity management, corporate finance, ethical finance, development finance, green finance, food security, sustainable development and SRI.

George Barakat is an ex-banker and corporate treasurer with over 16 years of professional experience in banking, treasury and finance; his experience extends to corporate credit ratings, corporate Sukuk, capital restructuring and investment management.

George is currently the group treasury director at Power International Holding (PIH) where he is strategically managing group treasury; prior to joining PIH, George was heading group treasury and investments for Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana & Group of Companies and group treasury for Ezdan Holding Group. Prior to Ezdan, he spent over nine years with Mashreq Bank where he held numerous positions in business, treasury and finance.

George had served as a treasurer and board member for IMA Qatar Chapter, for the 2012/2013 term.

George holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics, and he is a certified management accountant by IMA–US.

Henk Jan Hoogendoorn is the chief of the Financial Sector Office at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), where he is responsible for delivering on QFC’s mission of attracting financial and regulated businesses to Qatar through the QFC platform, in line with the Second Financial Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.

Henk has extensive experience in international finance, management and transforming and building businesses in the financial sector. Henk has held senior management roles at ABN AMRO Bank and Deutsche Bank in the Netherlands and the Middle East and has a solid track record of implementing businesses in the financial sector.

Prior to joining QFC, Henk served as Mashreq Qatar’s country CEO, and as the managing director–head of non-bank financial institutions of Deutsche Bank where he was responsible for insurers, pension funds, fintech and implementing strategic and business plans across Europe.

Henk holds a Master’s degree in law from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and has participated in executive education at the London Business School and INSEAD.

Ibrahim Mohammed Hassan holds the position of executive director of finance at Qatar Development Bank (QDB), overseeing financial planning and participating in taking significant strategic and investment-related decisions to ensure the sustainable growth of the bank’s operations. Ibrahim sits on various boards of directors and executive committees being in charge of the strategic and operational overseeing of QDB’s portfolio of investment in subsidiaries and associates. In addition to his role as the CFO of QDB, Ibrahim is also acting as the executive director of investment, a role that he has held since March 2017. The investment team is managing a QAR365 million (US$99.6 million) venture capital fund with a mandate to support Qatari and local entrepreneurship aiming to build the required capacities to achieve scalability. Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and he is a member of CFA Institute.

Mohsin Mujtaba is the director of products and market development at the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) where he is leading new initiatives to position the QSE as a multi-asset platform of global significance. He has been responsible for launching the largest exchange-traded fund platform in the MENA region at the QSE. He is currently focused on developing new products such as derivatives, REITs and ESG investment solutions for QSE customers. He also works closely with market participants and regulators to further improve the Qatari market structure.

Mohsin played an instrumental role in achieving Emerging Markets status for Qatar by MSCI and FTSE. Prior to that, he spearheaded the launch of the secondary market for treasury bills and government bonds at the QSE. He also served as the executive advisor to the CEO and helped in charting the exchange strategy that led to a strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and NYSE Euronext in 2009. Before joining the QSE, Mohsin was the chief systems architect at Wavetech where he was responsible for delivering customer-centric solutions and advising the capital market industry in Pakistan and the GCC region. He works closely with asset owners, investment managers and brokers to develop ideas and exchange traded products for the Qatari market.

Mohsin Shaik Sehu Mohamed is currently heading the investment banking and capital markets at Maisarah, Bank Dhofar. He is responsible on the overall business of investment banking of Maisarah covering debt capital markets, private equity, asset management, corporate finance, wealth management and direct investments.

Mohsin is a well-known figure in the Islamic finance market in Oman due to his role in the Sukuk space. He has been instrumental in executing the first-ever Sukuk in Oman back in 2013. In 2020, Mohsin advised the government of Oman on issuing the first ever sovereign retail Sukuk.

In 2022, Mohsin was appointed as the ‘Grand Councilor’ for Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance in Malaysia. Mohsin is also a chartered professional in Islamic finance and has been certified by the International Academy of Business and Financial Management as a certified private equity specialist. He is also a chartered Islamic finance professional with INCEIF, Malaysia. He graduated with a Master of Business (Applied Finance) degree from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia and holds a Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) degree from University Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia.

Munaf Usmani is a senior vice-president in the Treasury and Markets Division at QInvest with a career spanning 15 years in the Islamic finance industry, having closed over US$5 billion in investment and advisory transactions. In his current role, he is responsible for managing the firm’s proprietary capital in financial market investments including fixed income funds, equities, derivatives, structured products, etc. He is also responsible for asset liability management, hedging and funding for the firm. Additionally, he oversees the financial institutions function, focusing on establishing and enhancing relationships with local, regional and global financial institutions.

Prior to QInvest, Munaf was in the Treasury and Financial Institutions Department at Meezan Bank, where he started as a trainee dealer and rose to the level of deputy treasurer. During his time at Meezan, he oversaw the sales, trading and liquidity management portfolios with a total balance sheet size of US$15 billion; led key initiatives for the bank, including establishing the Equity Capital Markets and Fund Transfer Pricing units; and successfully closed landmark agreements in the Islamic banking space.

Munaf holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance and a Master’s degree in management from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

Nurein Said Mohamed joined QFC Regulatory Authority in June 2008 as the senior manager in internal audit and was promoted to his present role in January 2017.

Nurein began his career with PwC in Kenya from where he attained his certified public accountant and certified information systems auditor designations. He subsequently spent four years at Barclays Bank in Kenya in various roles, the last of which was as the regional head of risk and control assessments for Africa and the Middle East as well as acting head of operational risk. There, he was a key member of the Basel II operational risk workstream for the Advanced Measurement Approach waiver application.

Nurein graduated from ICMA Centre, Henley Business School with Master of Science degree in international securities, investment and banking. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments, a certified internal auditor and holds the CAMS designation.

Prior to QFC Regulatory Authority, Nurein was with a start-up Islamic bank as the head of risk and compliance.

Sabir Ahmed is responsible for the structuring and execution of Shariah compliant capital markets, syndications, corporate finance and financial markets transactions in the GCC, the Southeast Asian region (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore), the UK and Turkey.

Sabir has arranged 100-plus sovereign, quasi-sovereign, corporate and financial institution Islamic syndications and debt capital market transactions across multiple geographies, including a number of debut and award-winning deals.

Sabir joined Standard Chartered in 2005 and has over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry of which 17 years were in Islamic banking.

Sabir holds an MBA degree from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

Simon Chan has been based in Doha since July 2010. Prior to joining K&L Gates, he worked for Allen & Overy. Before moving to Doha, he spent 10 years practicing in London, from 1999 to 2009. Simon has extensive experience advising financial institutions, corporate sponsors and borrowers on general financing, including project finance, leveraged finance, asset finance and Islamic finance, and also on restructurings. He has experience in advising project companies, sponsors and lenders on the development and financing of large infrastructure projects.

Simon was ranked as a leading lawyer (Band 2) by Chambers Global 2021 for ‘Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance in Qatar’. Simon is well-versed in a wide range of finance matters, acting for both borrowers and lenders. He is also noted for his skills in fintech and banking regulatory matters. Sources agree that he is “an experienced guy”, with one client adding: “I find him to be really reliable”. Simon is rated by The Legal 500: Qatar, with one peer noting: “Simon is a good guy, dedicated to the work and an expert in his field.”

Tahir Hayat Pirzada joined the Masraf Al Rayan Group in December 2021 as part of the merger with Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) where he held a similar position since 2015 and had been with the bank since 2007.

Tahir has over 25 years of banking experience in leading regional and international banks, having previously worked in Dubai Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, Prime Bank and First International Investment Bank in a variety of roles in treasury, investments, debt capital markets and corporate/institutional banking.
Tahir has an MBA in finance from the Imperial College of Business Studies, Pakistan.

A thought leader in Takaful and microTakaful, Ajmal Bhatty is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Takaful industry internationally. He has pioneered research, promotion and development of Takaful, contributing to the evolution of ideas and concepts of ethical savings and protection, working with standard-setting bodies such as IFSB, AAOIFI (1998–99) and the insurance regulatory bodies of Bahrain, Malaysia, Brunei and Afghanistan.

Ajmal heads MassesGlobal UK, is the executive director of Badri Management Consultancy UAE and is on the advisory board of the UK’s Islamic Finance Council for the promotion of micro financial solutions with a focus on Takaful’s global promotion including the ESG metrics of the green economy.

Ajmal’s professional and leadership experience spans over 30 years in managing insurance and Takaful businesses globally, holding C-level and board positions with HSBC (in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), with Tokio Marine Group (in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) and other insurance entities in the GCC.

Ajmal is a registered actuary in the UAE and Bahrain, a member of Actuaries Without Borders and has worked as a member of the special committee of the IsDB and Bank Negara Malaysia to develop and promote Takaful among the members of the OIC.

Akber Khan has more than 25 years of experience in the investment industry. He is a senior director of the asset management group at Al Rayan Investment (ARI) and has been with ARI since 2009, with overall responsibility for the management of client portfolios. ARI has an enviable track record of investing in Shariah compliant GCC equities and global Sukuk. Prior to ARI, Akber was at Deutsche Bank, London for more than 11 years in European and emerging markets equities. Akber graduated from University College London in economics and history. In each year since 2013, he has been in MENA Fund Manager Magazine’s ‘Power 50’ list of the most “influential, innovative and powerful people” in the regional industry.

Amjad Hussain is a partner in the firm’s Doha office. He focuses his practice on finance, corporate and commercial matters with a particular emphasis on banking and Islamic finance.

Since 2002, Amjad has worked for clients in the Arabian Gulf across a range of sectors including financial services; telecoms, media and technology; and infrastructure. He advises government and private sector clients based within and outside the Middle East on matters of English, Qatar and Qatar Financial Centre laws.

In 2021, Chambers Global directory of lawyers in Qatar rated Amjad as Band 1, stating: “Amjad Hussain is widely considered a leader in Qatari finance matters. He is acclaimed by clients for his strengths in Islamic and asset finance, and offers further expertise in M&A [merger and acquisition] transactions and commercial contract work. Sources describe him as a lawyer who is ‘very pragmatic, practical and offers a good level of service,’ further noting: ‘He’s a really pleasant guy to work with.’”

Dr Andrew Dahdal is an associate professor at the College of Law, Qatar University and the chair of commercial law at the International Association of Law Schools. Dr Andrew researches and publishes on a range of financial services topics focused on the Middle East and beyond, particularly relating to technological innovations. His most recent book is ‘Qatari Business Law’ (2003, published by Qatar University Press). He has taught law in Australia, Europe and the Middle East and is currently part of an international project exploring financial inclusion and technology in Qatar. Dr Andrew holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from Macquarie University, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree and PhD from the University of New South Wales.

Dr Dalal Aassouli is an assistant professor of Islamic and sustainable finance at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Dr Dalal was previously a visiting academic at the Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, Durham University Business School. Prior to that, she worked at the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) in Malaysia where she assisted with the establishment of the IILM’s Sukuk program. Before that, she held several corporate finance positions in Europe where she had exposure to the African, European and Latin American markets.

Dr Dalal serves on several industry working groups and non-profit global forums such as the CIBAFI Sustainability Working Group, Qatar Financial Center Islamic Finance Taskforce and the Global Impact Fintech Forum. She is also an invited speaker in international conferences and events and provides her consultancy expertise to various organizations on issues related to sustainable and Islamic finance.

Dr Dalal holds a Master’s degree from NEOMA Business School and Paris Dauphine University and a PhD from ENS de Lyon in France.
Dr Dalal’s areas of research interest include Islamic finance in general and its implications for liquidity management, corporate finance, ethical finance, development finance, green finance, food security, sustainable development and SRI.

Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Eskandar Shah Mohd Rasid is currently an associate professor at the College of Islamic Studies, HBKU Qatar Foundation. He holds a PhD in finance from the University of Nottingham in the UK. He also has a Master in International Economics and Finance degree from the University of Queensland, Australia and a Bachelor in Business Administration (Finance) degree from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Before joining HBKU, Dr Eskandar was an associate professor and associate dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance or INCEIF, a postgraduate university specializing in Islamic finance, established by Bank Negara Malaysia.

Dr Eskandar’s primary teaching and research interests are in corporate finance, portfolio management and the Islamic capital market. He has published articles in several top-tier journals and participated in conferences as an invited speaker, panelist and paper presenter.

Dr Eskandar was a financial sector specialist consultant for the World Bank and advisor for the Brunei Institute of Leadership and Islamic Finance in Brunei. He was involved in several consultancy projects with government agencies and financial institutions such as the Ministry of Energy, Malaysia; Afghanistan Ministry of Finance; CIMB Islamic Bank; Responsible Finance Institute; and ZICO Shariah Advisory.