Date: 4th September 2019
Venue: Mansion House, London
Attendees: 445
Speakers: 70 Speakers
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About The Forum
With six licensed Islamic banks and over 20 international banks offering Shariah compliant financial products, the UK’s Islamic finance industry is a favorite destination for investors, particularly for its flourishing real estate sector. Apart from the banking industry, the London Stock Exchange is also one of the most active Sukuk-listing destinations, with 67 listed Sukuk and three Islamic exchange-traded funds to date. On top of this, implications from Brexit has also led the Kingdom to boost its international trade and financial relationships with existing non-EU trade partners, especially with key Islamic finance markets from the regions of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Last year’s UK Islamic Finance Week saw many breakthrough sessions in a week-long event, including the official launch of iE5, an Islamic economy accelerator, during IFN Fintech Huddle UK. Following on from the success of 2018, IFN returns to London for the third time for various hard-hitting sessions and discussions in conjunction with leading European regulators, global standard-setters, world leaders and UK and European Islamic finance practitioners.
Forum Agenda
09:10 – 09:15
Welcome Remarks
09:15 – 09:25
Welcome Address: Lord Mayor Peter Estlin
09:25 – 09:45
Keynote Address: John Glen MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister
09:45 – 10:50
State of Play: UK and European Islamic Finance and Investment
What are key influencers for UK and European Islamic banking, asset management and capital markets in the coming year? What factors will drive the industry, what will provide opportunity and what will represent challenges? We ask a panel of industry leaders for their views.
Moderator:
Jawad Ali, Managing Partner – ME Offices, King & Spalding
Panelists:
Amir Firdaus, CFO, Al Rayan
Anne Plumb, CEO and Head of Underwriting, Cobalt Underwriting
Dr Usman Chaudry, Chief Risk Officer, Gatehouse Bank
Dave Matcham, Chief Executive, International Underwriting Association of London
Fabrice Susini, CEO, Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company
Stella Cox, Managing Director, DDCAP Group
10:50 – 11:05
Keynote Address: Syed Zaid Albar, Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia
11:05 – 11:25
Coffee & Networking
Fintech Huddle
11:25 – 12:15
Technology and Islamic Financial Services in the UK - Driving Change and Promoting Financial Inclusion
How is the wave of technological innovation and digitization continuing to drive evolution in the UK Islamic financial services industry? Through an expert panel we look at Fintechs operating in traditional spaces such as retail banking, mortgage financing and property investment and discuss why this sector is so important in the drive for financial inclusion. What are the challenges still facing Fintechs in the UK and what can be done to help their funding and development?
Moderator:
Abradat Kamalpour, Partner, Ashurst
Panelists:
Abdulkadir Ali, Founder and CEO, Niyah
Gareth Lewis, Associate Director of Product, Eiger Trading Advisors
Mohamed Damak, Senior Director, Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings
Niclas Nillson, Founder and CEO, Capnovum
Youness Abidou, Founder and CEO, Nester
12:15 – 12:25
Presentation
12:25 – 13:00
Power Capital: Shariah Compliant Funding and Capital-Raising
We cast a critical eye over the Islamic capital markets in Europe. Where’s the supply coming from and what can we expect in the coming year? We also examine how technology - particularly AI and big data - are disrupting how money is raised and managed.
Moderator:
Nitish Bhojnagarwala, Vice-President – Senior Credit Officer, Moody’s Investor Service
Panelist:
Mohamad Safri Shahul Hamid, Senior Managing Director and Deputy CEO, CIMB Islamic
Najib Al Aswad, Director, IFAAS
Robin Lee, CEO, HelloGold
Sharjil Ahmed, Co-Founder, Cykube
13:00 – 14:00
Luncheon
14:00 – 15:00
Islamic Finance and Environmental, Humanitarian and Socially Responsible Investment: Opportunities for Development and Growth
With SRI regulatory frameworks in place, the rise of stewardship, assets available – and in many cases fully Shariah compliant – responsible finance and investment has a bright future. Through an expert panel we examine responsible, humanitarian, environmental and green finance in Europe and ask how ethical and Islamic finance can become closer interlinked. We also discuss how Europe can grow its existing ESG niche among asset managers and owners and what role Islamic and ESG asset management can play towards achieving humanitarian and Sustainable Development Goals. Do green bonds and Sukuk offer viable long-term investments and how can the industry address the relative scarcity of credible climate related and socially responsible investment opportunities?
Moderator:
Lauren McAughtry, Contributing Editor, Islamic Finance News
Panelists:
Kristina Alnes, Senior Advisor, Center for International Climate Research – CICERO
Lydia Piddock, Head of UK Private Sector Partnerships, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Martina McPherson, President, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets
Samina Akram, Managing Partner, Samak Ethical Finance
Simon Meldrum, Investment Specialist, Global Innovative Finance Team, British Red Cross
15:00 – 15:10
Presentation: Exporting the UK Islamic Finance Centre of Excellence - English Common Law as the Jurisdictional Basis for the AIFC Governing Law
Sheikh Bilal Khan, Chief Islamic Finance Officer, Astana International Financial Centre
Sheikh Bilal Khan, Chief Islamic Finance Officer, Astana International Financial Centre
15:10 – 15:45
Waqf – Uses and Applications
What is Waqf? How are Waqf typically structured, and what are the main variations? What are the challenges that Waqf face in making investments and accessing the financial markets? What solutions might be available?
Moderator:
Shibeer Ahmed, Partner, Winston & Strawn
Panelists:
Farmida Bi, Chair, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Norton Rose Fulbright
Hisham Daftedar, Advisor, International Islamic Institute of Waqf
Sami Salman, Advisor to the Board of Directors, Qurba Real Estate investment
15:45 – 16:15
Gold – Recent Market Developments and Outlook for the Gold Market
Moderator:
Natalie Dempster, Managing Director, Central Banks and Public Policy, World Gold Council
Panelists:
John Durham, Manager – Depository, Gold Corporation, The Perth Mint
Philip Newman, Director, Metals Focus
16:15 – 17:00
Real Estate Finance and Investment in the UK and Europe
We discuss the current environment in the UK and Western Europe for real estate investment and explore the continuing role played by Islamic finance. What are the latest trends, structures, themes and opportunities? We also assess the role technology plays and predict where disruption will be seen.
Moderator:
Sarah Gooden, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Panelists:
Asal Saghari, Counsel, King & Spalding
Hakan Ozyon, Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Ethical Fund
Mohamed Isarti, Head of Asset Management Europe, Wafra Capital Partners
Philip Churchill, Founder and Managing Partner, 90 North Real Estate Partners
Stuart Jarvis, Investment Director, Rosette Merchant Bank
Trevor Norman, Director, VG Trust & Corporate Services
17:00
End of Forum
Forum Keynotes
John Glen MP
Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister
Syed Zaid Albar
Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia
Forum Speakers
Abdulkadir Ali
Founder and CEO, Niyah
Abradat Kamalpour
Partner, Ashurst
Amir Firdaus
CFO, Al Rayan
Anne Plumb
CEO andHead of Underwriting, Cobalt Underwriting
Asal Saghari
Counsel, King & Spalding
Dave Matcham
Chief Executive, International Underwriting Association of London
Fabrice Susini
CEO, Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company
Farmida Bi
Chair, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Norton Rose Fulbright
Gareth Lewis
Associate Director of Product, Eiger Trading Advisors
Hakan Ozyon
Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Ethical Fund
Hisham Daftedar
Advisor, International Islamic Institute of Waqf
Jawad Ali
Managing Partner – ME Offices, King & Spalding
John Durham
Manager – Depository, Gold Corporation, The Perth Mint
John Glen MP
Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister
Kristina Alnes
Senior Advisor, Center for International Climate Research – CICERO
Lauren McAughtry
Contributing Editor, Islamic Finance News
Lydia Piddock
Head of UK Private Sector Partnerships, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Martina McPherson
President, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets
Mohamed Damak
Senior Director, Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings
Mohamed Isarti
Head of Asset Management Europe, Wafra Capital Partners
Mohamad Safri Shahul Hamid
Senior Managing Director and Deputy CEO, CIMB Islamic
Najib Al Aswad
Director, IFAAS
Natalie Dempster
Managing Director, Central Banks & Public Policy, World Gold Council
Niclas Nilsson
Founder and CEO, Capnovum
Nitish Bhojnagarwala
Vice-President – Senior Credit Officer, Moody’s Investor Service
Philip Churchill
Founder and Managing Partner, 90 North Real Estate Partners
Philip Newman
Director, Metals Focus
Robin Lee
CEO, HelloGold
Samina Akram
Managing Partner, Samak Ethical Finance
Sami Salman
Advisor to the Board of Directors, Qurba Real Estate investment
Sheikh Bilal Khan
Chief Islamic Finance Officer, Astana International Financial Centre
Sharjil Ahmed
Co-Founder, Cykube
Shibeer Ahmed
Partner, Winston & Strawn
Simon Meldrum
Investment Specialist, Global Innovative Finance Team, British Red Cross
Stella Cox
Managing Director, DDCAP Group
Sarah Gooden
Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Stuart Jarvis
Investment Director, Rosette Merchant Bank
Trevor Norman
Director, VG Trust & Corporate Services
Dr Usman Chaudry
Chief Risk Officer, Gatehouse Bank
Youness Abidou
Founder and CEO, Nester
Advisory Board
Abdul Haseeb Basit
Co-Founder and Principal, Elipses
Charles Haresnape
CEO, Gatehouse Bank
Prof Emilio Escartin
Professor of Islamic Finance, IE Business School
Fara Mohammad
Legal Director, Clyde & Co
Farmida Bi
Chair, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Norton Rose Fulbright
Harris Irfan
Managing Director, Cordoba Capital
Hassan Waqar
Founder, MoneeMint
M Iqbal Asaria
Visiting Faculty, Cass Business School
Martina McPherson
President, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets
Natalie Schoon
Principal Consultant, Formabb
Natalie Dempster
Managing Director, Central Banks & Public Policy, World Gold Council
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Founder, Utrujj
Sean Kidney
CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative
Stella Cox
Managing Director, DDGI
Tariq Al Rifai
CEO, Quorum Centre for Strategic Studies
Wayne Evans
Senior Advisor International Strategy, TheCityUK
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Last Visit to London
Following on from the success of 2017, IFN Europe Forum once again returns to London – this time for a full week of activities in conjunction with leading European regulators, global standard-setters, world leaders and UK and European Islamic finance practitioners.
Working closely with the UK authorities and hosted in tandem with the UK government’s annual Global Islamic Financial Investment Group, the event will comprise a full one-day event covering all the latest developments and key topics in Europe’s Islamic finance landscape; along with a series of additional events, breakout sessions and focus groups throughout the following week to bring together leading practitioners and drill down into the nuts and bolts of doing business in Europe. Across an array of sectors from real estate and fintech to human capital, education and regulation, the Islamic Finance Week will shine a spotlight on the latest opportunities in the region and how to take advantage of them.
European markets have continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to Islamic finance with an emphasis on growing the Islamic investment industry. In addition to real estate investment funds, Europe is also a vibrant market for alternative investment funds, private equity, retail, hedge funds and SRI investing. While the UK has made strides forwards with its supportive regulatory environment, attractive Sukuk listing location and booming real estate market, other countries are also making their mark. Luxembourg continues to be a key platform for Shariah compliant funds while also pioneering the green finance movement, while France is making leaps and bounds in the Islamic fintech arena and Germany continues its headway into the retail banking space. And of course, the exclusive announcement from the UK government at IFN Europe Forum 2017 regarding the reissuance in 2019 of its GBP200 million (US$264.1 million) Sukuk refocuses attention on the European capital markets, and how they can leverage sovereign support to kick-start corporate issuance.
IFN London: Islamic Finance Week 2018 is expected to gather participants from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East and will encompass everything related to the continent’s growing Islamic finance industry, attracting a truly global audience with a focus on central issues and latest developments.
I would like to confirm that the event was definitely a real success. I really appreciated the quality of the discussions and the importance of the topics selected for the different sessions.
Ali Khokha
Senior Manager, PwC
Very much enjoyed the event. Looking forward to next year’s.
Bruno Martorano
CEO of ADIB UK
I enjoyed the event in London and I thought it was very well organized, with good speakers and a discussion that covered all the important subjects related to the global/UK development of the Islamic finance industry.
Mohamed Damak
Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings
As always it was a great event and very helpful for the whole industry. I enjoyed my participation a lot and am looking forward to supporting and participating in any future events.
Marco Lichtfous
Partner, Strategy and Operations, Deloitte Tax & Consulting
I really enjoyed the event and found it interesting and valuable. From a VG perspective, I was very pleased with the profile it gave us and the opportunity to catch up with clients and contacts.
Mark Hucker
Managing Director, VG
Indeed, I can’t agree more, I think IFN UK Islamic Finance Week 2018 was well organized and attended, offering an interesting mix of topics and discussions with many experts in different sectors of the Islamic finance industry. You may quote me on this if you want.
Najib Al Aswad
Director, IFAAS
I enjoyed the sessions and meeting other panelists during the event.
Nikhil Rathi
CEO, London Stock Exchange
For any inquiries contact us
Our team will be glad to answer any questions you may have about this event.
