Anita is an Expert in Office of CEO of the Capital Markets Authority of the UAE, H.E. Waleed al Awadhi. Prior to that she worked for over 12 years as an Associate Director Policy & Legal at the DFSA, DIFC. In her regulatory policy and strategy career she led projects on investment funds & asset management, recovery and resolution, Basel III, capital markets, digital assets, market infrastructures, benchmarks, client assets, derivatives and netting. Since 2019, she has been a member of the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group.

Prior to that, Anita worked at the European Commission as Advisor to Commissioner Michel Barnier on a package of financial reforms following the GFC. She also worked as technical expert at the Commission’s DG FISMA on financial market infrastructures and derivatives reforms, CSD reforms, financial collateral and SFTs (repo and securities lending). She represented the Commission at the FSB Shadow Banking Taskforce, IOSCO WG on Client Assets and the ECB working group on SFTs and collateral. She also worked at BNP Paribas CIB and SJ Berwin in London.

Anita qualified as a solicitor with SJ Berwin in the City of London in 2010. She is a graduate of BPP Law School, University of Cambridge, Harvard Law School, College of Europe and University of Silesia.

Basheer Ahmad is Senior Manager for Markets at the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), where he oversees primary market regulations and the DFSA Listing Authority, and leads the development of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) securities requirements and related guidance. With over two decades of international regulatory experience spanning capital markets, corporate governance, and ESG regulation, he is also a recognised subject matter expert in Islamic finance, with deep expertise across securities regulation, policy formulation, listing frameworks, market disclosures, and operating listing regimes. Ahmad represents the DFSA in international consultative and working groups of standard-setting bodies related to Islamic finance and serves on various internal expert committees. Prior to joining the DFSA, he held senior roles at the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia. He is a Barrister-at-Law (England and Wales) of Lincoln’s Inn and a Chartered.

Dr Bhaskar Dasgupta is a Board Chairman/Member, Adviser and Investor in banking, markets, crypto, asset management, healthcare and technology firms. Since 2022, he serves on the board or advises globally regulated firms (Apex Group, Peregrine, AusGulf, Aarna Capital, Bunat Ventures, Point72 (DIFC), Trillium Ventures, Cohesion Asset Management, ICICI Ventures, Caravella Asset Management, Truleum Ventures, Liongetivity, RudoWealth, Liminal Digital Custody, Safar Art). He advises UAE, India and UK-based families and runs his Abu Dhabi based family office foundation which invests in funds, real estate and start-ups. An advocate for education and thought leadership, he is a visiting faculty member and sits on advisory boards at various universities in the UK, UAE and India. Besides advising and working with regulators in UAE, India and elsewhere, he also serves as the Chairman of the Middle East Stablecoin Association and Secretary of the Middle East Investment Management Association.

Dr Bhaskar’s previous full-time role was leading the market development of Abu Dhabi’s award-winning Financial Centre (Abu Dhabi Global Market – ADGM) and Financial Regulator (Financial Service Regulatory Authority) for the exchanges, crypto, digital banking, broker/dealers, venture capital, fintech, sustainable finance and commodities sectors. He was also responsible for Emerging Markets and Europe as a region. He helped triple AuM, making ADGM the largest regulated crypto jurisdiction in the world, quadrupled the number of broker-dealers and helped launch ICE Futures Abu Dhabi (trading a million contracts within six months), making ADGM the biggest hub for VC in the region.

Prior to joining ADGM in 2019, Dr Bhaskar was the Chief Operating Officer of UK Export Finance (GBP 90B Capital) at the Department of International Trade, UK Government.  His 30-year career included senior-level leadership, business development and transformation roles in investment banking, transaction banking, technology and consulting in HSBC, ABN AMRO, Citigroup and PwC.

He obtained a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Bhopal, India; an MBA in Finance from Indore University, India; a PhD in Financial Modelling & AI from the University of Manchester, UK; a PhD in Terrorism and Politics from Kings College London, UK; a PhD in History of Spices from Brunel University, UK and is embarking on his next doctorate in Subtractive Sacred Architecture from University of Westminster, UK.

Elias is a Partner in Trowers & Hamlins’ International Banking and Finance Department. He has a broad range of experience both in the conventional and Islamic finance spheres. He has significant experience in representing the full spectrum of stakeholders on a range of banking and finance transactions including project and real estate financing as well as capital market issuances.

Fahad is a pioneering force in Islamic banking and fintech, with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He’s a visionary architect of Shariah compliant solutions, seamlessly integrating ethical finance with cutting-edge technology. This unique expertise has been instrumental in shaping Mabrook Canada’s groundbreaking framework, which blends traditional Islamic principles with next-generation digital assets infrastructure. Fahad is a globally recognized leader whose influence spans strategic brand positioning, international market expansion and fintech education. He has worked in leadership roles with major financial institutions and tech companies like Dubai Islamic Bank, Scotiabank and IBM in the US and co-founded TAIF, an award-winning Islamic finance education platform. He is leading Mabrook Canada’s launch of the world’s first AAOIFI compliant blockchain-powered Islamic tokenization platform, pushing the boundaries of ethical finance and Web3 innovation.

Fahd Chaudhry is Director of Client Coverage for the Middle East and North Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Türkiye at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). He joined S&P DJI in 2010 and is based in Dubai, UAE. In his role, he works to develop the passive market in his regions and works closely with clients to innovate, strategize and design products that serve the local markets across asset classes. Fahd has extensive experience in capital markets as well as commodity and fixed income markets, strategy, product development, marketing and selling passive solutions. Prior to joining S&P DJI, Fahd held multiple roles in the financial sector in various countries, which included trading and business development in Dubai, London, the US and Iran.  Fahd holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and is fluent in English and Urdu.

Hakan Ozyon is the Group CEO of Hejaz, overseeing a global Islamic financial group managing more than US$4 billion in assets. He has led the launch of Australia’s first and only Islamic fintech and is now driving the expansion of Islamic fintech and digital financial infrastructure into international markets. Under his leadership, Hejaz has grown from a domestic financial services provider into a multi-market platform spanning asset management, fintech and technology-enabled ventures serving Muslim and values-driven investors worldwide. Hakan is a visionary leader with a long-term view of Islamic finance. He believes the future of the industry lies in strong governance, technological independence, and institutions built from within the communities they serve, operating at the same standards as the world’s leading financial organizations. His focus is on building durable systems rather than short-term products, positioning Hejaz as a global financial and digital platform designed to empower individuals, institutions and communities to participate in the modern economy without compromising their values.

Luma Saqqaf is a recognized sustainable finance leader with more than 30 years of expertise in sustainable finance and investing, Islamic finance and entrepreneurship. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at three leading global institutions such as the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, Linklaters and Allen & Overy, Luma continues to play a leading role in the development of the sustainable finance ecosystem in MENA and IMEA regions.

Maya Marissa is a seasoned leader in Islamic finance and Shariah compliance, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Sabiq Advisory. She spearheads the firm’s mission to seamlessly integrate Shariah principles across the full value chain of Islamic finance. With extensive experience spanning transaction services, strategic advisory, and infrastructure development, Maya brings a holistic and forward-thinking approach to the evolving landscape of Islamic finance. Her work is centred on addressing modern industry challenges while strengthening the operational and governance frameworks that underpin sustainable, Shariah-compliant financial solutions.

Patrick, a Fixed Income Lead and Portfolio Manager, joined Saturna Capital in October 2014. He was a former Adjunct Professor of Finance for the Sustainable MBA Program at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute currently known as Presidio Graduate School. Patrick holds a BA in Economics from Western Washington University and an MBA from Seattle University Albers School of Business. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Financial Planner. Prior to joining Saturna Capital, Patrick led ESG research and was Director of Fixed Income Portfolio Management since 2007 with a private account group at UBS Institutional Consulting Services specializing in investment management for global conservation and national wildlife park endowments as well as sustainable-social screened client portfolios. He is a former Chair of the United Nation’s Principles for Investment Fixed Income Outreach Subcommittee and a current Member of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment’s Bondholder Engagement Working Group, an advisory committee working to elevate important ESG considerations and best practices among issuers and investors. Patrick’s past experience also includes business valuation at Moss Adams and portfolio management at Washington Mutual Bank. He lives in Bellingham and is a proud father of two. He enjoys sea kayaking, hiking and being part of the Pacific Northwest community. Patrick is a Member of the Board of Trustees to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma and a Rotary Member.

Sabir is responsible for Banking & Markets business for Group Islamic Banking comprising Sukuk, Islamic syndications, structured finance. infrastructure & development finance, leveraged finance and global markets transactions globally. Worked on 300 plus sovereign, quasi sovereign, corporate and FI Islamic syndications and debt capital markets transactions, across multiple geographies, including a number of debut and award-winning deals.

Salman Masaud is CEO and Managing Partner of Australian Gulf Capital (AGC), an ADGM-licensed alternative asset manager focused on frontier technology venture capital, Shariah-compliant private credit and sukuk, and AI infrastructure. Based in Abu Dhabi, he leads investment strategies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital assets and Islamic finance, with AGC having held positions in prominent AI and infrastructure ventures including Anthropic, xAI, Groq, CoreWeave, Lambda Labs and others, alongside leading global co-investors.

Salman is also Founder of Qintar, a Shariah-compliant USD-pegged stablecoin initiative designed for Islamic finance and cross-border settlement, and Co-Founder of Aurecore Holdings, a European AI datacenter platform exploring AI infrastructure and sukuk-linked financing opportunities. His workplaces him at the forefront of innovation spanning tokenisation, digital assets and responsible financial market development.

Prior to AGC, Salman held senior leadership roles across corporate finance, strategic advisory and industrial ventures, including with VHM Limited, where he led capital markets and strategic financing initiatives, as well as KPMG Government Advisory and other advisory and entrepreneurial ventures in Australia and the Gulf. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Innovation Committee of the Association of Shariah Asset Management and sits on several boards across finance and technology ventures.

A Chartered Accountant, Salman holds degrees in Commerce and Actuarial Studies from the Australian National University, where he graduated on scholarship with distinction.

Mohammad Ali Allawala Head of Islamic Banking UAE, & Head Wealth and Retail Banking – Group Islamic Banking

Mohammad Ali Allawala has 25-plus years of global experience, having worked in the UAE, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan. Mohammad Ali is currently working as the head of Islamic banking in the UAE as well as managing Standard Chartered’s global Islamic wealth and retail banking business covering the UAE, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Indonesia and Brunei.

Previously, Mohammad Ali has performed senior management roles including CEO 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 in launching new markets, business transformation, product management, distribution, digital banking, wealth management and marketing. As an advocate of fintech, sustainable finance and financial inclusion, Mohammad Ali has launched programs across geographies to create value in the Islamic finance ecosystem. His team has been recognized with 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. Ali has an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan.

Ali Ozyon is the Chief Marketing Officer at Hejaz Financial Services, where he leads global marketing, brand strategy and growth initiatives across Islamic finance, fintech and digital platforms. Over the past decade, Ali has played a pivotal role in scaling Hejaz’s assets under management and strengthening the group’s international presence across Australia, the GCC, the UK and Europe. He also spearheads the go-to-market strategy for Halal Money, Australia’s first Islamic fintech platform, successfully driving early market adoption and exceeding initial user growth targets. Ali operates at the intersection of strategic storytelling and technology-driven systems. He has led the development of integrated CRM ecosystems, unified telephony infrastructure and AI-enabled workflows across marketing, sales and client service functions, enhancing operational efficiency and customer engagement. Beyond his corporate role, Ali is the host of the Out of Interest, where he explores high performance, leadership insights and unconventional pathways to success.

Basheer Ahmad is Senior Manager for Markets at the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), where he oversees primary market regulations and the DFSA Listing Authority, and leads the development of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) securities requirements and related guidance. With over two decades of international regulatory experience spanning capital markets, corporate governance, and ESG regulation, he is also a recognised subject matter expert in Islamic finance, with deep expertise across securities regulation, policy formulation, listing frameworks, market disclosures, and operating listing regimes. Ahmad represents the DFSA in international consultative and working groups of standard-setting bodies related to Islamic finance and serves on various internal expert committees. Prior to joining the DFSA, he held senior roles at the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia. He is a Barrister-at-Law (England and Wales) of Lincoln’s Inn and a Chartered.

Darius Nass is an Associate Director for Global Equity Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). He is based out of the Singapore office and is responsible for the product management of S&P DJI’s global index suites, including the S&P Global BMI, S&P Global 1200 and S&P Islamic Indices. In his role, Darius leads efforts to develop new benchmarks, promotes existing offerings and regularly publishes market commentary, analytical reports and research.

Prior to joining S&P DJI, Darius was part of the Nasdaq Index R&D team, where he was led product development initiatives for the APAC region.

Darius holds a Master’s degree in Quantitative Finance from Singapore Management University.

Luma Saqqaf is a recognized sustainable finance leader with more than 30 years of expertise in sustainable finance and investing, Islamic finance and entrepreneurship. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at three leading global institutions such as the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, Linklaters and Allen & Overy, Luma continues to play a leading role in the development of the sustainable finance ecosystem in MENA and IMEA regions.

Mohammad Parekh is the Founder and Managing Director of MRP Premier Group, a leading real estate advisory firm based in London. He also serves as the CEO and Founder of Akhlaq Capital, a Shariah compliant real estate fund. Mohammed has over 17 years of experience in the real estate industry, specializing in investment and development acquisition, project management and affordable housing. He holds a BSc in Geography with Business and an MSc in International Real Estate and Planning from University College London. Under Mohammed’s leadership, MRP Premier Group advises a diverse clientele, including private and public sector organizations, on a wide range of real estate projects. The firm has a strong focus on inward investment into the UK and outbound investment for its global network of high-net-worth individuals, primarily from the Middle East and Far East. Mohammed founded Akhlaq Capital to provide ethical and Shariah compliant investment opportunities in the real estate market. Akhlaq Capital focuses on generating income and capital growth through strategic investment in real estate assets and select development opportunities in key markets such as London, Jakarta, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur.

Sohail Zubairi is an expert and qualified specialist in Islamic banking and finance, including green Islamic finance. He is an AAOIFI Certified Shariah Adviser and Auditor as well as an IICRA Certified Islamic Arbitrator and Expert.

He served as Senior Adviser in Islamic Finance for the Government of Dubai from 2017 to 2023 where he managed all advisory matters related to Islamic banking, capital market, asset management, Takaful and re-takaful, green Islamic finance and Islamic trusts (Waqfs) based on his strong expertise and considerable contribution to the industry spanning over two decades.

Zubairi is the former Founding CEO of the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Dar Al Sharia Group established by him in 2007 as DIB subsidiaries, which developed a number of groundbreaking products and services for the industry. Under his leadership, Dar Al Sharia won over two dozen international awards for being the best Islamic finance consultancy and advisory firm – notably the Dubai Global Islamic Economy Summit Awards 2016, the 1st Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Awards 2016 and numerous IFN Awards.

Zubairi holds over four decades of rare combined conventional and Islamic banking experience at senior executive and CEO positions in UAE. Zubairi has a passion for Islamic finance and currently authors weekly articles for IFN. He also participates in various conferences and conducts training workshops. Zubairi has also developed and delivered the syllabus, course handouts, class presentations, quizzes, mid-terms and final examination papers introducing Islamic Finance at universities in UAE.