Welcome Address David Parker – Executive Director, Financial Services, Economic Development Board
09:15 – 09:50
CEO Corner: What do Islamic fintech start-ups need to thrive? What makes an Islamic fintech start-up successful? What support do they need? What makes a conducive Islamic fintech ecosystem? Listen first hand from leading Islamic financial enablers and Islamic fintech start-ups.
Moderator:
Wajeeha Hussain – Section Head of Digital Banking and FinTech, Al Baraka Banking Group
Making the case for Islamic Fintech From crowdfunding, AI, data analytics to payment solutions and digital banking – what can these offer Islamic finance and what challenges do new players face?
Moderator:
Umera Ali – Global Head Islamic Finance and Head of Banking and Finance Middle East, DWF (Middle East)
Panelists:
Dr Husam Yaghi – Group Chief Technology Officer, Alhamrani Universal Muhammad Shaheed – Advisor, Fintech Galaxy Salman Mujtaba – Investor Relations, Wahed Invest
11:40 – 12:00
TechTalk Hear from an entrepreneur leveraging on technology and Islamic financial instruments to create real positive impact on society
Speaker:
Rama Jalal Turkistani – Co-Founder, CBX Unit
12:00 – 12:30
Power Pitch Promising Islamic fintech start-ups pitch their ideas.
Welcome Remarks: David Parker – Executive Director, Financial Services, Economic Development Board
14:20
Panel 1: Accelerating Fintech Adoption Get a glimpse into the views of young Islamic banking, finance, regulatory and fintech professionals on the current state of industry innovation and the adoption of fintech. The session will hear the unique perspective that young professionals have to offer on the pace of current developments, if digital innovation is moving fast enough, major challenges and obstacles and the changes required in the cultures, attitudes and behaviours of institutions to effectively innovate. It will also examine the role that the next generation of finnovators can play in the development and implementation of fintech agendas and the fast tracking of industry advancement.
Moderator:
Ashley Freeman – Founding Member, UK Islamic FinTech Panel
Panelists:
Maritz Mansor – COO, Ethis Group of Companies Salam Slim – Director- Global Solution Lead/ Islamic Banking, Oracle Financial Services Wajeeha Hussain – Section Head of Digital Banking and FinTech, Al Baraka Banking Group Yasmeen Al Saffar – Senior Executive - Financial Services, Bahrain Economic Development Board Yasmeen Al Sharaf – Head of Fintech and Innovation Unit, Central Bank of Bahrain
15:05
Panel 2: Educating, Empowering and Leveraging the Power of Young Professionals This session will look at how institutions and the industry can harness the power of young finnovators through investment in education and greater empowerment to lead change. It will bring together HR professionals along with representatives and students of strategic, high-calibre programmes currently providing degrees, certification or on-the-job training. Participants will discuss the merits and value of existing initiatives, short comings as well as the need for further investment and expansion of training and skills development among young professionals so that the industry can keep pace with the expected growth in demand for digital Islamic financial products and services.
Moderator:
Dawood Al Ashhab – Head of Human Resources, Bahrain Islamic Bank
Panelists:
Ahmed Al Balooshi – Senior Vice President, Head of IT, Al Baraka Banking Group Mujtaba Khaled– Head of the Centre for Islamic Finance, Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance Raheel Iqbal– Managing Director, Finocracy Redha Al Ansari– Research Team Leader, Thomson Reuters Rose Murad– Research Analyst, Bahrain FinTech Bay Ziyaad Mahomed– Associate Dean - E-Learning/Online Programs and Director of Executive Education, The Global University of Islamic Finance (INCEIF)
15:50
Islamic Innovation Labs: Views from the Inside Innovation rarely happens in isolation and that’s why a significant and growing number of global financial institutions and banks are developing dedicated innovation labs and accelerators. This panel will highlight the growing emphasis that Islamic banks are placing on internal collaboration and knowledge sharing as a means for driving fintech innovation and the important role these labs are playing in accelerating fintech development, adoption and digital transformation.
Moderator:
Ashar Nazim – CEO, Waqfe
Panelists:
Ahmed Al Balooshi – Senior Vice President, Head of IT, Al Baraka Banking Group Ali Al Achkar– Head of Strategy and Innovation Management Office, Gulf International Bank Khaled Saad– CEO, Bahrain FinTech Bay Mohammed Roushdy– Founder, Fintech Bazaar Mourad Fathallah– Head of strategy and international partnerships, Casablanca Finance City
16:35
Closing Remarks followed by Networking and Refreshments
World Islamic Fintech Awards
WIFA's Winners
Best Alternative Finance Provider Winner:
StrideUp, the UK
Best Data and Analytics Platform for Islamic Finance Winner:
Arabesque, the UK
Most Innovative Use of Blockchain in Islamic Finance Winner:
Blossom Finance, Indonesia
Best Islamic Crowdfunding Platform Winner:
Yielders, the UK
Best Islamic Peer-to-Peer Finance Platform Winner:
EthisCrowd, Singapore
Best Islamic Digital Bank Winner:
Insha, Germany
Best Islamic Fintech Enabler Winner:
Albaraka Garaj, Turkey
Best Islamic Wealth Management Fintech Company Winner:
HelloGold, Malaysia
Best Islamic Financial Software Provider Winner:
Codebase Technologies, the UAE
Best Islamic Robo-Advisory Platform Winner:
Wahed Invest, the US
Best Shariah Compliant Payment, Remittance and FX Platform Winner:
Moneyar, Iran
Best Social Impact Islamic Fintech Firm Winner:
Global Sadaqah, Malaysia
WIFA People’s Choice Award Winner:
OneGram, the UAE
Most Promising Islamic Fintech Start-up of the Year Winner:
Primary Finance, the UK
Islamic Fintech Company of the Year Winner:
Insha, Germany
Program
7.00pm
Arrival of Guests
7.30pm
Welcome Address
7.40pm
Keynote Address By Chief Executive Office, FinTech Bay
