Malta Islamic Finance Conference: A New Beginning 2010 · Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Mr. Aziz Hashmi (ABC Islamic Bank), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel,

Malta Islamic Finance Conference:

A New Beginning 2010

PROGRAMME

www.maltamanagement.com

Malta Agenda, 27th & 28th of October 2010 Conference Chairmen:1 Mr. Reuben Buttigieg, Chairman of the Management School of MIM; Managing Director of Eremme Business Advisors2 Mr. Oliver Ali Agha, Managing Partner, Agha & Co, and Co-Founder of Agha & Shamsi, the first Shari’ah Compliant Law Firms

Malta Institute of ManagementFRCC Building, Alamein Road Pembroke. PBK1777

Tel: 2145 3097 - Fax: 2145 1167 email: [email protected]

8.30 AM - Welcome Coffee & Registration

8.45 AM(Recital of Al-Fatihah (pre-recorded; to be played prior to commencing conference))

8.50 AM(Reading from the Holy Qur’an & Translation)Malta Islamic Call Society

9:00 AMIntroduction: Mr. Reuben Buttigieg

9:10 AMOpening Speech: The Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment, The Hon. Mr. Tonio Fenech* Featuring: Signing of Founding Statute by founding members of Mediterranean Institute for Islamic Finance (MIIF).

9:30 AM“Commercial Ethics in Islam” Dr. Ahmed Akgunduz, Author, Studies in Islamic Economics (Islamic Banking and Development)

9:55 AM - Coffee Break

10:10 AM“Islamic Finance at its Core: Philosophy, Principles & Practice” Mr. Oliver Ali Agha

11:00 AMLeading Figures in Islamic Finance & Shari’ah Scholars Panel:“The Importance of AAOIFI Standards as Reflecting Ijma’a

(consensus): ‘Can There Be a Material Deviation from These in Future Structures?’” Moderator:Mr. Oliver Ali AghaPanelists: Prof. Mahmood Faruqui (Senior Advisor, BLME),Dr. Hussein Hamid Hassan (Prominent Shari’ah Scholar), Sheikh Esam Ishaq (Prominent Shari’ah Scholar), Dr. Ahmed Akgunduz, Mr. Murat Unal, Founder and Executive Board Member, Funds@Work, Dr. Azeemuddin Subhani (Shar’iah Scholar and Professor)

12.00 PM to 12.20PM“Question & Answers with Shari’ah Scholars” Moderators: Chairmen. Interactive session with Audience.

12.20 PM - Lunch & Prayer

1.30 PMPanel Session: “Role and Responsibilities of the Leading Conventional Institutions in Islamic Finance: Have the Top Conventional Banks and Funds Molded Islamic Finance in Their Vision?”Moderator: Prof. Abdullah Al-Shami, The Petroleum Institute, Abu DhabiPanelists: Prof. Mahmood Faruqui (Senior Advisor, BLME),Dr. Hussein A. Hassan (Deutsche Bank), Mr. Anas Osman, (Vice President, Discover Financial Services),


A New Beginning 2010 DAY 1 PROGRAMME


Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Mr. Aziz Hashmi (ABC Islamic Bank), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel, Unicorn Investment Bank), Mr. Germain Birgen (Managing Director – Global Head of Fund Solutions, HSBC Securities Services (Luxembourg) S.A)

2.20 PMOpportunities in the GCC: “Is Islamic Finance the Key to Open the Door to such Opportunities? Is Shari’ah Compliant Ijara Financing the Sleeping Giant in Saudi Arabia?” Moderator:Mr. Oliver Ali AghaPanelists: Mr. Tariq Kazim (DGM, Al Baraka Islamic Bank), Mr. Paul Melotto (CFO, Deutsche Gulf Finance, Saudi Arabia), Mr. Aziz Hashmi (ABC Islamic Bank), Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel, Unicorn Investment Bank)

3.20 PM“Shari’ah Governance Framework: Social Networks and Impact on Corporate Governance in the Islamic Finance Industry” Mr. Murat Unal, Founder and Executive Board Member, Funds@Work

3.50 PM - Coffee Break 4.05 PM “Mortgage Finance: Penetration in the GCC? What Opportunities Exist?”

Moderator: Mr. Oliver Ali AghaPanelists: Mr. Alex Gemici (Head of RMBS, Middle East & Africa, Deutsche Bank), Mr. Tariq Kazim (DGM Al Baraka Islamic Bank), Mr. Aziz Hashmi (ABC Islamic Bank), Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel, Unicorn Investment Bank)

5.00 PMClosing Remarks: Chairmen

7.30 PMDinner & Awards Ceremony Black Tie Event or National DressVenue: GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR BallroomMediterranean Awards for Global Excellence in Islamic Finance: Under the distinguished patronage of his Excellency Dr. George Abela, the President of Malta

1. Islamic Banking Award: Commitment to Principle,

Innovation & Quality2. Islamic Advisory Award: Leading Mediterranean Advisory

Group3. Excellence in Shari’ah Mortgage

Finance: Commitment to Principle,

Innovation & Quality 4. Major Contribution to Islamic

Finance Award5. Most Developed Zakat/Charity

Program AwardNomination Forms Available at Conference


8:10 AM “Dispute Resolution: The Shari’ah Considerations – Case in Point: The Nakheel Sukuk Default” Interactive Panel with Claire Grainger, Head of Projects & Dispute Resolution, & Partner, Agha & Co

8:40 AM “North America – Islamic Financing for Home Ownership & Investments”Presentation:Mr. Pervez Nasim, Chairman, Ansar Financial & Development Corporation

9:10 AM “Liquidity Management in Islamic Banking” Presentation: Mr. Aziz Hashmi, Executive Director, ABC Islamic Bank

9:40 AM Coffee Break

9:55 AM Round Up of Morning Session with Panelists

10:20 AM “Credit Cards – Is there an Islamic Finance Solution to Meet the Opportunity? What are the Commercial Drivers?” Moderator:Mr. Oliver Ali AghaMarket Credit Card Structure Presentation by Siraj Ahmed, Senior Associate, Agha & Co Panelists: Mr. Tariq Kazim (DGM, Al Baraka Islamic Bank),

Mr. Anas Osman (VP, Discover Financial Services), Dr. Hussein Hassan (Deutsche Bank), Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel, Unicorn Investment Bank)

11:15 – 12:00 PM “Next Steps Forward for Malta and Islamic Finance?”Moderator:Mr. Reuben ButtigiegPanelists: Mr. William Portelli (Malta Union of Bank Employees), Mr. Kenneth Farrugia (Finance Malta), Dr. Arthur Galea Salomone (Malta Stock Exchange), Mr. Oliver Ali Agha (Agha & Co), Mr. David Zahra, Mr. Miguel Borg (Group Risk Consultant, BOV)Dr. Alberto G. Brugnoni(President and Founding member ASSAIF (www.assaif.org))

12:00 AM – 12.15 PM Closing Address: The Hon. Dr. Charles Mangion, Main Spokesman on Finance for the Labour Party

12:15 – 12:20 PM Closing Remarks: Chairmen

12:30 PM Lunch & Networking Session, Hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Dr. Tonio Borg at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.


A New Beginning 2010 DAY 2 PROGRAMME



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Mr. Reuben Buttigieg - School of the Malta Institute of Management

Reuben is the managing director and founder of Erremme Business Advisors, an accountancy, business and management consultancy firm. Apart from his responsibilities as managing director Reuben has a direct involvement in the Corporate Finance and consultancy services of Erremme. Reuben is

Chairman of MIM Training and Development Limited, the training arm of the Malta Institute of Management. The company represents amongst others Edinburgh Business School. Until recently Reuben was Hon Treasurer of the Malta Institute of Management, acted as a Membership Services Committee Chairman and chaired the Investments Committee of the Institute. He has been a council member for the last 8 years. Reuben has been the pioneer in the discussions on Islamic Finance in Malta and has prepared various papers and articles on the subject. Reuben is a regular speaker in International Islamic Finance conferences. Reuben acts as consultant on various Islamic Finance transactions in Malta and abroad. Reuben is the first Islamic Finance Advisor in Malta. Reuben is an experienced business, management and financial consultant who has worked with two of the Big Four accountancy and audit firms, namely, Ernst & Young (Malta and Milan) and KPMG. Reuben has conducted various Corporate Finance and due diligence assignments as well as audits and consultancy work both in Malta as well as in Milan. Reuben has serviced various international clients amongst others Osh Kosh Truck of the US, IVECO (Fiat subsidiary), Daewoo Italia, Electrolux, Block Drug Group, Reebok Italia, Bonomi e Pagani BOPA S.r.l (FININVEST Group), Rietschle Group and Prima Communications Group Reuben has also worked in various industries in the Maltese Islands and abroad. During the Euro Changeover process in Malta, for a short span,. he was a member in the National Euro Changeover Committee and chaired the Pricing Task Force within the said committee which falls under the umbrella of the Ministry of Finance. Reuben has vast experience in the Euro changeover as he acted as consultant even during the changeover in first wave countries. Reuben is also Director in various other companies and organisations.Education and Professional Qualifications: MBA Warwick (2003)Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified AccountantsMember of the Malta Institute of ManagementMember of the Islamic Banking Institute Member in the Worshipful Company of International Bankers

Mr. Oliver Ali Agha - Agha & Co

Oliver Agha is a founding partner of Agha & Co and Agha & Shamsi boutique law firms, believed to be the first Shari’ah compliant law firms. The law firms were established to put principles before profit and their representations is limited pursuant to an express ethical code. The firms’ members provide

world-class transactional skills seamlessly coupled with comprehensive Shari’ah knowledge and backed by a leading Shari’ah Advisory board that includes Sheikh Mohamed El Gari, Abdul Sattar Abu Ghuddah and Esam Ishaq. Mr. Agha is a New York licensed attorney, formerly with leading international (top 50 Am Law) firms. He has extensive experience in corporate (M&A), project finance, banking and cross-border structured financings, including


A New Beginning 2010 Panelists and Speakers

for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Asia (Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and as a lead lawyer in many of the leading and award winning deals in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Mr. Agha is also on the board of the leading supra-national Islamic finance standard-setting body. Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Finance Institutions (“AAOIFI”), and is recognized as a top Islamic finance lawyer by numerous publications. He is the author of various notable published papers, articles and presentations regarding salient Islamic finance topics and is regularly invited to speak at numerous Islamic conferences and as a guest on television (e.g., CNBC) and radio.

Sheikh Esam Ishaq - Prominent Shari’ah Scholar

Sheikh Esam Ishaq is another renowned Shari’ah scholar who holds a degree in Political Science from McGill University, Canada. He is currently teaching Fiqh, Aqeeda, Tafseer, Islamic Law and Theology, courses in Bahrain and is recognized as an emerging leader in the discipline of

Islamic Finance. Sheikh Ishaq serves on the Boards of many financial institutions including Arcapita Bank, AAOIFI, and Al Baraka Islamic Bank. His other positions currently include Member, Technical Committee for Interpretation and Application of Standards, Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Bahrain, Consultative Council, Kingdom of Bahrain (First Legislative turn). He is very active as an educator.

Prof. Ahmed Akgunduz - Author, Studies in Islamic Economics

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Akgunduz obtained his Ph.D., Law History. (Law School, Dicle University, Turkey) in 1986. He is currently the Rector of the Islamic University of Rotterdam, Netherlands. He is highly knowledgeable in Islamic law, Turkish History , with specialization in the Ottoman Legal System and

Archives. He is proficient in Arabic, English an Persian. In the past Prof Akgunduz was the Dean of Faculty, at the Dumlupinar University in Turkey and also an Expert Adviser at the Ottoman Archives (Prime Ministry, General Directory of State Archives) and Member Committee for teaching Ottoman Scriptures

Dr. Hussein Hamid Hassan - Prominent Shari’ah Scholar

Dr. Hussein Hamid Hassan does not need any introduction in the field of Islamic finance. He did his PhD. in the Faculty of Sharia from Al Azhar University, Egypt, and Master of Comparative Jurisprudence from University of New York, USA. He graduated in Law and Economics from

University of Cairo, Egypt. In his Professional career, spanning over half a century, he has been a prominent scholar and teacher of universal dimensions, having established Islamic universities and Islamic faculties in various parts of the world including, Makkah, Islamabad, Kazakhstan and Libya. He has been Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (at whose request he prepared Civil Codes framework for Kazakhstan in the early 90s and most recently prepared the Islamic banking law for the country), various Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, President of the Islamic Conference of the Muslim World and General Secretary of the Muslim World League,



Saudi Arabia. Dr. Hussein is also the President of the US Muslim Jurists Association. He is Chairman, Sharia Supervision Board, of several Islamic financial Institutions including Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Amlak, Tamweel, National Bonds, Liquidity Management Centre, AMAN Takaful Company, and others besides beingcore member of the Sharia Board of Islamic Development Bank. He has converted conventional banks into Islamic ones and was instrumental in the creation of the DFM as the world‘s first Islamic stock exchange. Dr. Hussein has given many landmark innovative products to the Islamic finance industry, including the World‘s First: Convertible Sukuk, Multiclass Sukuk, Currency and Rate Swaps, Personal Finance, and others.

Prof. Abdullah Al-Shami - The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi

Abdullah Al-Shami is a Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies at the Petroleum Institute (PI). He came to the PI from Saba University in the Republic of Yemen where he was the Chancellor as well as an Islamic Law Professor. His previous appointments include

Fulbright Visiting Professor of Islamic Law at the Law School of the University of California Los Angeles; Full Professor and acting Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professor of Islamic Studies at Hodeidah University in Yemen; and Professor of Islamic Law at the University of Brunei Darussala. Professor Al-Shami obtained his B.A. in Islamic Law (Shari‘ah), Master Degree in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from Saudi Arabia and PhD in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from the University of Manchester, UK. He has written and edited a total of six books and over 40 research articles on Islamic Law and Islamic Studies. His research focuses on Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies including the Judicial Authority System in Islamic Law; Islamic Family Law; Islamic Law of Transactions and Finance; Contemporary Islamic Thought and Culture; Professional ethics, Islamic Philosophy and Faith; Islamic Ethics and Values; Islam and the Environment; and Islamic Law and Human Rights.

Dr. Azeemuddin Subhani - Shar’iah Scholar and Professor

A Shari’ah Scholar and Professor, Dr. Azeemuddin Subhani holds an MA and PhD in Islamic Law/Islamic Finance from the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University, coupled with an MBA in Accounting (Karachi) and an MBA and Doctoral course work in Finance from the University of Southern

California. His PhD dissertation on the Divine Law of Riba [usury] and Bay‘ [exchange], officially recognized as a seminal theorization in Islamic law, posits a pioneering and original new interpretation of the rationale of the foundational prohibition of riba, with far-reaching conceptual and practical structural implications for the emerging Islamic Finance industry. Dr. Subhani is well-versed in Islamic Law and in both Western and Islamic Finance, with over four decades international professional experience in academia, industry, and government in addition to financial Shari‘ah consulting. As a Canadian independent Financial Shari’ah Scholar and Professor, Dr. Subhani has several professional affiliations, consulting assignments, Shari’ah Board memberships and speaking engagements at international Islamic Finance conferences.



Mr. Tariq Mahmood Ahmed Kazim - Al Baraka Islamic Bank

Mr.Kazim’s responsibilities as DGM Support Services include Information Technology operations, Human Resources, Administration, Public Relations and Security Departments in addition to overall Pakistan Unit Operation supervisory. His departments are responsible for more than 600 staff

members in both units. Having an established Pakistan subsidiary since 1992 and have since grown to 29 branches, with a plan to reach 100 branches in the next 3 years. Mr.Kazim headed the negotiations of this merger and currently heading the merger task force. He is also responsible in the Head Office for Pakistan Operations and issues and frequently visits, monitors and review Pakistan branches operation at least once every quarter. He is also responsible for Managing and monitoring Pakistan Regional Office Performance as well as IT, HR and Admin Operations. He is responsible for developing and implementing Banks short and long term IT Operation Strategy through the IT Senior Manager. He also supervises implementation of Core Banking and Delivery Channel modules for the Bank and supervises the implementation and maintenance of Disaster Recovery Plans for IT Infrastructure. Bahrain Human Resources, Administration, PR and Security & Safety Departments: He is also directly responsible for HR, Admin, PR and Security divisional heads and their operation and involved in senior management job and performance evaluations and annual appraisals. AlBaraka Banking Group (ABG): His involvement with ABG, in addition to extending the normal support services (IT, HR and Admin.), extends to being a key member in defining the Key and strategic support initiatives and plans.

Mr. Alex Gemici - RMBS, CEEMA, Deutsche Bank

Alex Gemici is a Managing Director and the Head of Deutsche Bank’s RMBS real estate mortgage origination, trading and warehouse lending businesses in Middle East and Africa. Alex has relocated from New York to Dubai in August 2009. Alex is a 27-year mortgage and real estate industry

veteran with deep vertical experience in retail mortgage origination businesses, commercial and residential real estate, asset management of mortgage assets, and business strategy. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 2007, Alex’s entrepreneurial abilities (as Founder and CEO) were showcased in the establishment and management of Montgomery Mortgage Capital - a mortgage banking platform with origination volume exceeding $1 billion annually. Between 1999 and 2001, Alex was a Senior Vice President at MortgageIT, Inc. (a top U.S. mortgage lender later acquired by Deutsche Bank) and was responsible for new business development and M&A. During Alex’s tenure, mortgage origination volume of the company increased from $10 million per month to over $1 billion per month. Between 1997 and 1999, Alex was Managing Partner of a firm which acquired and managed nearly 1,000 residential apartment units located in four states in the U.S. Between 1995 and 1997, Alex was Managing Director of the Clifford Companies and ran their multi-family property acquisition fund. Between 1983 and 1995, Alex had a variety of roles at the LFC Group of Companies and was appointed Managing Director and Head of LFC Equities, the real estate investment arm of LFC.



Dr. Saqib Awan - Unicorn Investment Bank

Saqib was formerly a member of the commercial and projects Jeddah-based international Saudi law firm, The Alliance Law Firm, and advised on Islamic finance, corporate, commercial and transactional deals, with his clients ranging from major Saudi companies to local and international

banks. Saqib was relocated from Dubai to DLA Piper’s office in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he worked on various projects and provided assistance to international clients on the ground. In addition to advising on some of the largest Islamic financing deals in the Arabian Gulf region, Saqib has extensive experience in representing multinational and regional corporations in relation to foreign direct investment, incorporations, compliance, capital markets and regulatory regimes. Saqib has acted for the National Commercial Bank, the largest Saudi bank, in engineering Shari’ah compliant retail products for real estate scheme. Saqib also served as Saudi Counsel to the Rabigh petrochemical project and the SAAD sukuk issue.

Mr. Paul Melotto - Deutsche Gulf Finance, Saudi Arabia

Paul is the Chief Financial Officer heading the Financial Controlling Department at Deutsche Gulf Finance. He offers an expertise in financial control which he has gained from his 10 years of experience. Prior to joining Deustche Gulf Finance in the year 2007, Paul served as the Financial

Controller of MortgageIT from 2001 to 2007. During Paul’s tenure with MortgageIT, the company underwent an Initial Public Offering, followed by a secondary offering and the acquisition of the largest mortgage brokerage in New York. During MortgageIT’s IPO, Paul was proactively involved in converting the company’s Mortgage Banking Platform to a Mortgage REIT Platform. Paul remained with MortgageIT until it was eventually acquired by Deutsche Bank. Furthermore, Paul holds a bachelors degree in Accounting from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.

Prof. Mahmood Faruqui - BLME

Professor Mahmood Faruqui is Senior Advisor, Bank of London and the Middle East. He is a Fulbright Fellow and a senior Lawyer on Policy, Governance, transactional and Shariah Advisement aspects of Islamic Finance. He was Advisor and Board Member of several Islamic

& Conventional Financial Institutions and is invited to Islamic Finance round tables and conferences.

Dr. Alberto G. Brugnoni - ASSAIF

Arabist, he is a former director of Merrill Lynch Private Bank (Suisse). He runs from Milan and London ASSAIF (www.assaif.org) a consultancy on Islamic finance that advises governments, international organizations, public agencies, companies, international law firms, banks, management

companies, universities and stakeholders associations. He has personally been involved with Islamic finance since the late ’80s and has authored ‚Pilot Project Genoardo‘, a multi-



disciplinary study for the establishment of a Mediterranean Development Bank based on Islamic principles. He regularly chairs the major Islamic finance events around the globe.

Ms. Claire Grainger - Agha & Co

Claire is a dual qualified lawyer having first obtained a degree in Civil Engineering and Construction Management at the University of Leeds England and worked in the construction industry before qualifying as a Solicitor in England and Wales. Claire brings to the firm a unique knowledge

of Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Projects having first studied and worked as a civil engineer coupled with, following her qualification as a Solicitor, hands-on experience in structuring, documenting and negotiating landmark deals in Europe and the MENA regions with a business-savvy, client friendly and responsive approach. She is the preferred choice of lawyer by many national and international clients due to her in-depth, hands on experience, meaning that clients do not waste valuable time and energy having to educate her first about the intricacies of the project.

Mr. Anas Osman - Discover Financial Services

Anas leads new cardmember acquisition strategies that leverage over 7Bn touchpoints across all marketing channels, card products, and behavior / risk segments. He also oversees marketing, engagement and post-booking profitability for these new cardmembers during their early tenure.

Anas successfully introduced strategies to significantly increase new account profitability, even in light of the strong consumer economic headwinds and sweeping regulatory change (CARD Act). He recently launched consumer-empowering acquisition tools such as Find My Offer and Cardbuilder which enable prospects to be matched with customized offers based on their credit profile prior to applying and then allow them to modify these offers to meet their particular financial needs – both online and via phone. Anas also developed and negotiated Discover’s first large-scale point-of-sale acquisition partnership with a large national retailer, set to launch in November 2010.

Dr. David Zahra - Lawyer

David graduated as Doctor of Laws at the University of Malta in November 2006 after submitting his thesis on the Maltese Parliament’s role in the scrutiny of European legislation. David’s main interests are in financial services, competition law, trust law and Arab commercial laws. He has

concentrated on these areas in his post-graduate studies at the University of London. In partial fulfilment of the LL.M. degree, he submitted a thesis on the competition law aspects of the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications and its implications on small EU Member States under the supervision of Professor Richard Whish. David has also studied at the Università degli Studi di Roma Tre, Rome as part of the Erasmus exchange programme. At Camilleri Preziosi, David is actively involved in M&A and corporate finance transactions, both locally and internationally.



Mr. Germain Birgen - HSBC Securities Services (Luxembourg) S.A

Germain Birgen, a Luxembourg national, is a Managing Director of HSBC Securities Services (Luxembourg) S.A. and Global Head of Fund solutions HSS. He has been active in the Investment fund sector in Luxembourg for more than 25 years. In the local industry, he was a member of the

Luxembourg Stock Exchange Commission for more than 10 years. Within the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI), he created in 2008 a dedicated Committee with a focus on Islamic Funds and he is presently chairing such Committee. Furthermore, he is coordinating a task force on the same subject implemented by the governmental agency for the development of financial services .

Mr. Kenneth Farrugia - Finance Malta

Kenneth joined Bank of Valletta plc in October 1985 and has occupied various roles within the BOV Group. Kenneth, is a director on the Board of Valletta Fund Management Limited and Chief Officer on the executive committee of Bank of Valletta plc. Within the financial services industry,

Kenneth is a member on the Financial Services Consultation Council and also serves as Chairman of the Committee of the Malta Funds Industry Association and Chairman of the Board of Governors of FinanceMalta.

Mr. Miguel Borg - Group Risk Consultant, BOV

Miguel Borg occupies the position of Group Risk Consultant at Bank of Valletta plc. He is mainly responsible to advice the Board and senior management on risk management issues and polices. In addition, he is responsible for the smooth and effective implementation of the banking

regulations including the Basel Accord. Miguel is also a member of various internal risk-related committees. Prior to his employment in the private sector, he was employed as a Senior Analyst with the Financial Stability Office at the Central Bank of Malta. His responsibilities included macro stress testing, quantitative risk modelling, liquidity risk management and banking regulation.

Mr. Murat Hasan Ünal - Funds@Work

Murat Hasan Ünal studied Business Administration and graduated from the University of Adelaide/Australia (with research in Asia/Pacific) with a Bachelors Degree in Commerce (B.Com). He worked for an international management consulting firm after his studies and joined the mutual fund/

financial services business in 1998 acting finally as a Management Committee member for a German Asset Manager where he was mainly responsible for integrated marketing, sales and PR. As Head of Investment Marketing and Sales within Citibank Northern Europe (focusing on Belgium & France) in Brussels he managed the third party fund business (CitiChoice) and brokerage activities. Before Murat founded Funds@Work at the end of 2001, which he now represents as the responsible board member, he took over the bank marketing business at Fidelity Investments for a short period of time. Murat has a Master of Business Administration degree (M.B.A) from the Kellogg School of Management/USA



in joint cooperation with WHU/Germany and its network programs at Tel Aviv University/Israel and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology/China). Murat also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the School of Law at Northwestern University (NLaw) in Chicago. Murat is a Doctoral Candidate and about to complete his Doctorate in Business Administration at IE Business School (Instituto de Empresa, www.ie.edu) in Madrid focusing on Social Network Analysis and its impact on Strategy but particularly Corporate Governance. He is also a Senior Researcher with the Center of Islamic Economics and Finance (www.centerief.org) at IE Business School. He has published and contributed to more than 1000 articles in leading international dailies, practitioner magazines, industry books looking specifically at the investment sector.

Mr. Pervez Nasim - Ansar Financial & Development Corporation

Br. Pervez Nasim is a Bachelor of Commerce and a Certified Management Accountant. He is a founding member and Chair of the Board of the Islamic Co-operative Housing Corporation Ltd. and he has been volunteering his time since its inception in 1980 in Toronto, and Ansar Co-operative

Housing Corporation, first Interest-Free Home Ownership and Investment projects in North America. Br. Pervez Nasim is also Chairman & CEO of a number of Ansar Financial Group of Companies that organized the 3rd International Islamic Banking, Finance & Insurance (Takaful) Conference held in Ottawa, Canada in May 2007. Ansar Financial Group Companies are managing investments on Interest-free basis in various Projects and Joint Ventures in excess of $85 Million in Canada. Br. Pervez Nasim was employed by the Ministry of Finance in Canada from where he retired in 2004 after twenty-seven years of service so that he can devote more time to the various Islamic Financing & Investment Projects. During the past twenty-three years he has made a number of presentations on ISLAMIC FINANCE in various INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE conferences held in Chicago, Houston, Los Angles, Toronto, Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, Trinidad, Chittagong, Jakarta, Riyadh, Monterrey Mexico, Brunei Darussalam and at Harvard University, London School of Economics in England and at Crans Montana Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Rehan Noor Pathan - NCBC

Rehan Pathan is the Head of International Sales at NCB Capital covering Asset Management, Brokerage and Investment Banking sales outside Saudi Arabia. NCB Capital is among the leading regional investment managers as well as the world’s largest Shariah Compliant Asset Management

Company. NCBC ranks among the top 3 brokers in Saudi Arabia and is a leading player in the domestic Investment Banking arena. Rehan and his team focus on growing NCBC’s presence in international markets and help the firm achieve its vision of becoming a leading provider of Shariah Compliant and regional investment management solutions and funds, regional securities trading and access to Saudi Investment Banking opportunities globally. Rehan joined NCB Capital in September 2008 after 6 years with Deutsche Bank, first in Bahrain and then in Dubai.


Mr. Siraj Ahmed - Agha & Co

Siraj Ahmed is a Senior Legal Consultant at Agha & Co, practicing in both the corporate/commercial transactions and dispute resolution practices at the firm. Prior to joining Agha & Co, Mr. Ahmed launched his career at Chicago’s Jenner & Block, an Am Law 100 firm where he earned three

performance-based bonuses as part of a trial team that successfully litigated a highly technical, multimillion-dollar technology dispute. Mr. Ahmed’s Jenner experience includes high technology litigation, commercial and corporate transactions, and intellectual property, and he was also awarded the American Bar Association and Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in Intellectual Property Law. Subsequently, Mr. Ahmed founded his own practice in the Boston area, serving as external transactions counsel for various U.S. and multinational corporations in connection with Islamic finance transactions, commercial relationships, joint ventures, corporate control, shareholder rights, venture capital financing, and corporate mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. William Portelli - Malta Union of Bank Employees

In addition to the role of President of the Malta Union of Bank Employees – MUBE, Mr. Portelli presently occupies the role of President of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions – CMTU and is an active member of the Employment Relations Board and the Malta Council of Economic and

Social Development and currently sitting on the Governing Boards of the Dublin Foundation and Cedefop. For nearly two years he occupied the post of Chairperson of the NECC Consumers sub-committee. Has an active role behind developments in the areas of the European Social Dialogue, Banking and Financial services, Innovative Training methods and the processes of managing change. Over thirty years experience as a banker out of which 11 years as President of the Malta Union of Bank Employees MUBE and specializes in Industrial Relations relating to Banking, Finance and Insurance. One of the founder members of the ‘task force’ behind the Islamic Finance initiative in Malta.

Mr. Aziz Hashmi - ABC Islamic Bank

Mr. Aziz Hashmi had started his career with Citibank and had 12 years experience with Citibank in Pakistan, Athens and Bahrain. Mr. Hashmi also spent 11 years with Arab Banking Corporation’s – International Division from 1983 to 1993. Since 1194 to date he has been working with ABC

Islamic Bank. Mr. Hashmi has a vast experience in international banking. During his career he has managed major corporate and banks relationships covering North Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Middle East and also manages the very important relationship of the Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah. Mr. Hashmi holds his Business Administration degree from the University of Karachi, Pakistan.



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Documents

Malta Islamic Finance Conference: A New Beginning 2010 · Mr. Rehan Pathan (Head of International Sales, NCBC), Mr. Aziz Hashmi (ABC Islamic Bank), Dr. Saqib Awan (General Counsel,