Date: 11th March 2018 Venue: Ritz Carlton DIFC, Dubai
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The IFN World Leaders Summit is a unique invite-only annual meeting gathering CEOs of Islamic financial institutions, top business leaders, policymakers, legal experts, economists and thought leaders from key Shariah finance markets to critically discuss and debate the most pressing issues facing the Islamic finance industry.

The one-day summit is a rare opportunity for the industry’s most influential figures to congregate and openly address some of the biggest and most crucial topics in a conducive environment, providing invaluable international insights on the biggest challenges and opportunities for the posterity of the Islamic financial industry.

CEOs of some of the biggest names in Islamic finance and industry captains will share their expectations for the coming year, their thoughts on subjects rarely discussed in other public forums and their insights into some of the most controversial issues hitting the industry. Market pundits will discuss how unfolding international and regional geopolitical events are influencing Shariah finance performance and corporates will tell their side of their capital-raising story on the difficulties (and benefits) of choosing the Islamic route. Fintech experts will also share the stage speaking on real issues in fintegration.

Convening on the 11th March in Dubai, the inaugural IFN World Leaders Summit will coincide with the industry’s leading gathering of market practitioners and issuers – the IFN Awards Ceremony – making this a truly global networking event for like-minded market elites.

 

Presentation slides

 

Agenda

09:00 – 09:10 Welcome Remarks
09:10 – 09:20 Keynote Address
Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar – CEO, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre
09:20 – 10:20 Mega Trends: Global and Regional Influencers for Islamic Finance and Investment
We examine and discuss key issues and themes influencing global Islamic finance and investment. What will offer opportunity and what will disrupt?
Moderator: Khalid Howladar – Managing Director and Founder, Acreditus
Panelists: Mohamed AlMutaweh – CEO and Board Member, Al Baraka Islamic Bank
Najmul Hassan  Director of Financial Institution Development Department, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Salman Bajwa
Head of Asset Management, Emirates NBD Asset Management
Yavar MoiniFinancial Sector Expert, World Bank Group
10:20 – 11:00 Capital-Raising Roundtable
We ask a panel of market participants to reveal their thoughts and insights on raising capital through Islamic finance. What are the positives and what does the industry need to address to allow Islamic finance to truly compete with conventional? What are the risks in issuing and investing in Sukuk and how can these risks be addressed and managed?

Moderator: Qasim Aslam – Partner, Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East, Dentons
Panelists: Ahmad Tarmidzi Al-Muttaqi Mahmood – Executive Director and Group Head of Shariah, First Abu Dhabi Bank
David Testa – Executive Director, DDCAP Group
Gokul Mani – Head of Primary Markets – Middle East, Africa, India and London, Stock Exchange Group
Onur Aksoy Director, Debt and Structured Finance, Aktif Bank
Sohail Zubairi – Projects Advisor, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee & Networking
11:30 – 12:15 Building Regulatory Frameworks in Islamic Finance
We ask a panel of senior representatives of regulators, standard-setting bodies and exchanges for their views on the evolution of regulatory frameworks for Islamic banking and finance.
Moderator: Neil Miller – Global Head of Islamic Finance, Linklaters
Panelists: Dr. Bello Lawal Danbatta – Secretary-General, IFSB
Ijlal A Alvi – CEO, International Islamic Financial Market
Peter SmithManaging Director, Policy and Strategy, Dubai Financial Services Authority
Syed Samar Hasnain – Executive Director-Development Finance Group, State Bank of Pakistan
12:15 – 12:55 Gold – All that Glitters
Gold has come to prominence of late, either as an underlying asset or an asset class in itself. We take a closer look at recent financial products structured on or around gold and ask if the upward trend is set to continue.
Moderator: Mohammed Paracha – Partner, Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East and Africa, Norton Rose Fulbright
Panelists: Andrew Naylor – Director, Central Banks and Public Policy, World Gold Council
Bishr Shiblaq
Counsel, Head of Dubai Office, Arendt & Medernach
Ismail Dadabhoy – Advisor to the Board and CEO, International Islamic Financial Market
Meng-Chan Shu – Director of Business Development, Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange
Robin Lee  CEOHelloGold
12:55 – 14.00 Lunch and Networking
14:00 – 14:30 Comparing Notes: From Financial Hubs to Fintech Hubs
Leading Islamic financial centers and Islamic fintech start-ups engage with each other on what makes a conducive Shariah fintech ecosystem, what measures are in place to attract start-ups, spur and support innovation among financial institutions.
Moderator: Muneer Khan – Partner, Head of Middle East Financial Markets, Regulatory and International Islamic Finance, Simmons & Simmons
Panelists: Bryony Travers – Head of Marketing and Communications, NOW Money
Junaid Wahedna
CEO, Wahed Invest
Thomas Hirschi – Executive Director, Banking and Insurance of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Abu Dhabi Global Market
14:30 – 14:40 REDTalk: The Next Generation Islamic Finance Business Model
Presenter: Najmul Hussein Rassool – Co-founder and Director, Ethis Finance
14:40 – 15:10 Changing Times: Islamic Finance 2.0
Technology has triggered a wave of change in the world of Islamic finance. We take a look at how fintech is altering consumer behavior, redefining financial services and how financial players are adapting to an evolving environment.
Moderator: Vineeta Tan – Editor, Islamic Finance news
Panelists: Ambareen Musa – Founder and CEO, Souqalmal
Ashar Nazim – Managing Director, Finocracy
Awad Kaidoo – CEO and co-founder, Ethis Finance
Mohammed Kateeb – Group Chairman and CEO, Path Solutions
15:10 – 15:40 The Cryptocurrency Conundrum: Friend or foe? Fear or embrace?
We debate the key issues surrounding cryptocurrencies and discuss their role in the global Islamic finance industry. What is the potential for initial coin offerings and will asset-linked coins feature in the corporate fundraising process?
Moderator: Khalid Howladar – Managing Director and Founder, Acreditus
Panelists: Alan Laubsch – Founder and Chief Strategist, Blufolio
Robin Lee – CEO, HelloGold
Tobias Young  Head of Hydrocarbons, Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange
15:40 – 16:10 The Wider View: Influential Trends, Opportunities and Events
We ask a panel of leading analysts, commentators, investors and economists to provide us an insight into the growth of the Global Islamic Economy, diversification of GCC economies, geographical and region-specific insights, industry shifts and macro events and offer insight into how Islamic finance can manage and benefit from these opportunities.
Moderator: Abdulkader Thomas – CEO, SHAPE Financial
Panelists: Anita Yadav – Head of Fixed Income Research, Senior Director - Wholesale Banking, Emirates NBD
Arvind Raman – Head of Financial Institutions, Middle East, Societe Generale
Ivo Detelinov – Vice-President, Head of Private Equity Funds, Riyad Capital
Sharif Eid 
Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income, Franklin Templeton Investments
Zeina Rizk  
Director – Fixed Income Asset Management, Arqaam Capital
16:10 – 17:00 Coffee and Networking
17.00 End of Forum

 

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