Speakers

Dr. Ghiath Shabsigh is the Secretary-General of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), leading the international standard-setting body responsible for the stability and soundness of the global Islamic financial services industry. A renowned economist with over 25 years of leadership at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), most recently as Assistant Director in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, he spearheaded the IMF’s global strategy on Islamic banking, fintech, and central banking policy. Holding a PhD in Monetary and International Economics, Dr. Shabsigh is a premier authority on cross-border financial stability, Sukuk markets, and regulatory frameworks across banking, capital markets, and Takaful.

Dr. Ahmed Rufai is the Acting Chief Executive Officer and Head of Shari'ah Compliance & Standards Development at the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM). With nearly 15 years at IIFM, he has spearheaded the creation of 16 global standardized documentations across liquidity management, hedging, Sukuk, and trade finance. Dr. Rufai also serves on the Shari'ah Supervisory Boards of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Meethaq Islamic Bank (Bank Muscat), holding a Ph.D. in Islamic Law of Transactions from the University of Malaya.

Dr. Humayon Dar is a renowned Cambridge-educated economist, global thought leader, and prominent architect of the modern Islamic finance ecosystem. He currently serves as Director General of the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance and Executive Chairman of the Cambridge-Edbiz Group. Throughout a distinguished career spanning senior roles, including Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, CEO at BMB Islamic, and Director General of the IsDB Institute, Dr. Dar has advised heads of state, central banks, and multinational institutions across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. As the founder of the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) and Global Islamic Finance Report (GIFR), he brings unmatched expertise in strategic policy, cross-border trade, and high-level stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Ahcene Lahsasna is the Chief Executive Officer of SALIHIN Shari’ah Advisory, Academic Advisor for SALIHIN Academy, and Chairman of the Shari’ah Committee at Standard Chartered Saadiq Bank Malaysia. A dual Ph.D. holder in Islamic Law (IIUM) and Business Economics (UM), he is an internationally award-winning Shariah scholar, prolific author, and fellow across leading professional bodies including CIIF, ASAS, and MFPC. In 2022, Dr. Lahsasna was recognized with the prestigious GIFA award for Shari’ah Advisory Leadership.

Mohieddine Kronfol is Chief Investment Officer for Global Sukuk and Head of Middle East Fixed Income at . A 25-year pioneer in regional capital markets, Dino has managed global Sukuk assets since 2008 and previously launched the first fund focused exclusively on MENA debt at SHUAA Capital. An internationally recognized industry leader, his teams have earned multiple top honors from the EPF, MENA Fund Manager, and Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards.

Mustafa Adil is the Head of Islamic Finance at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), leading the firm's global strategy, market engagement, and bespoke knowledge solutions. He collaborates with government entities, multilateral organizations, and global financial institutions to support industry growth through research, consulting, and content solutions. Prior to LSEG, Mustafa was a leading consultant in Ernst & Young’s Islamic Financial Services practice, advising prominent institutions across the GCC and globally. He is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) and holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Imperial College London.

Adnan Fasih is a global Islamic banking leader with 35+ years of banking experience, including 18+ years in Islamic finance. He has led the establishment and expansion of HBZ SIRAT’s Islamic banking business across Pakistan, UAE, UK, South Africa, Switzerland, DIFC and Canada. He holds an MBA from the University of Leicester and multiple Islamic Finance and AI certifications.

Ashar Nazim is a 30-year Islamic banking veteran and the Founder of Aion Group, a Saudi-headquartered digital infrastructure company leveraging AI and machine learning to mobilize capital in real time. Throughout his career, Ashar has shaped national Islamic banking regulations for Bahrain and Oman, advised GCC central banks, and launched over half a dozen regional Islamic and digital banks including two in the UAE. A serial FinTech innovator, he also built Spire, the first open banking platform licensed across both the GCC and Europe, taking it through to acquisition. Today, he focuses on closing the gap between traditional banking frameworks and the needs of SMEs and next-generation banking customers.

Nurym Ayazbayev is a senior development finance executive leading the strategic expansion of Islamic finance across Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region. As Executive Director for Islamic Finance at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), he oversees institutional lending, standard-setting partnerships, and the establishment of Shariah-compliant financial frameworks across member states. Working closely with international bodies such as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Nurym is instrumental in building cross-border capital channels, sovereign collaboration, and innovative financial structures to drive sustainable regional growth. 

Nargiz Shiraliyeva is the Head of the Financial Sector Development and Innovations Division at the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In her role, she leads strategic initiatives aimed at modernizing the national financial landscape, driving digital transformation, and fostering financial sector innovation. Nargiz plays a key role in advancing regulatory frameworks, sandbox environments, and emerging fintech capabilities, shaping a forward-looking, resilient, and inclusive financial ecosystem for Azerbaijan.

Dr. Omar Shaikh is a globally recognized pioneer in ethical, responsible, and Islamic finance. As Managing Director of GEFI and Board Member of the UK Islamic Finance Council (UKIFC), he has spent decades advising governments, regulators, and top-tier financial institutions on sustainable ecosystem building. A Chartered Accountant and former Head of Islamic Finance at EY London, Omar has spearheaded groundbreaking global initiatives, including the UNDP-backed SDG Financial Products platform and the UK Government/IsDB UN SDGs Taskforce. Holding a PhD from the University of Glasgow and an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University, he sits at the forefront of driving faith-aligned impact, ESG integration, and sustainable finance innovation worldwide.

Casiana Dușa is a multi-jurisdictional legal expert, AAOIFI Certified Professional in Shariah Standards (CPSS), and doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham. With over 14 years of international legal experience across Europe and the GCC, she specializes in Islamic finance, Shariah-compliant structuring, cross-border real estate, and corporate transactions. As Founder and President of the Romanian Arab Investments House (RAIH) and Exclusive Correspondent for Islamic Finance News (IFN) in Romania, Casiana bridges Middle Eastern capital with European markets, providing key expertise on the enforcement of Islamic finance contracts within European legal frameworks.