The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum 2022

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi is a seasoned leader with a proven track record in delivering results. He has long standing experience in the finance and investments sector, wherein he has managed and executed multi-billion dollar investment transactions and has led numerous restructurings and turnarounds across a multitude of sectors.

H.E. Ahmed started his career in the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and then moved to a senior management role in a leading privately owned real estate company. Post this, he joined the Government of Abu Dhabi in an

executive leadership role to manage an office that oversaw a multi-billion dollar portfolio of commercial state owned enterprises, wherein he led transformation and restructuring of a number of entities as the shareholder’s representative. Subsequent to this, he was appointed in an executive leadership position to manage the central treasury of the Government of Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Ahmed currently holds the executive position of the Group Chief Financial Officer of ADNOC, wherein he leads the group wide financial controls, investments and treasury functions. Additionally, he serves as Member of the Board on numerous ADNOC entities and the Khalifa Fund at present. In the past, he has also served as a Board member on numerous banks and financial institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Exchange (ADX), Union National Bank (UNB) and the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions & Benefits Fund (ADRPBF).

H.E. Ahmed holds a Masters degree in Economics from the United Kingdom.

On February 20, 2018, Mr. Ban Ki-moon was unanimously elected as the President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council by the two respective governance organs of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). His leadership has been instrumental for the Institute to help its Members adopt the green growth—environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive—model of development.

In addition to leading GGGI, Mr. Ban serves as the Chair of the Boao Forum for Asia since April 2018. Along with the former President of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer, he serves as CoChair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna, Austria since January 2018. Mr. Ban is the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Ethics Commission since September 2017, and he is the Distinguished Chair Professor and Honorary Chairman at the Institute of Global Engagement and Empowerment at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Ban also serves as Deputy Chair of The Elders since 2017, an independent group of global leaders established by President Nelson Mandela.

Prior to the current appointments above, Mr. Ban served two consecutive terms as the Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) from 2007 to 2016, during which time he worked to build bridges, to give voice to the world’s most vulnerable and marginalizedpeople, and to bring transparency and effectiveness to the UN. He successfully initiated global action to combat climate change that culminated in the adoption and rapid entry into force the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement in 2016. He worked closely with member states to shape the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to establish UN Women, the latter of which advances global gender equality and women’s empowerment. He also led major efforts to strengthen UN peace operations, protect human rights, improve humanitarian assistance, prevent violent extremism and revitalize disarmament activities.

Prior to leading the UN, Mr. Ban was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. His 37-year career as a diplomat included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C., and Vienna, as well as key responsibilities for a variety of portfolios, including as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, the Chief National Security Advisor to the President, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Deputy Minister for Policy Planning, and the Director-General for American Affairs. Mr. Ban contributed significantly to issues relating to inter-Korea relations and WMD proliferation by serving as Vice Chair of the South—North Joint Nuclear Control Commission and Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization.

Mr. Ban holds a BA in International Relations from Seoul National University and MA in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi is a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). His wealth of management experience in the private sector combined with his distinguished and dynamic leadership style have placed him in a unique position to actively contribute to the Emirate’s economic success.

His Excellency is one of the outstanding national figures recognized for his outstanding success, professional intelligence and dedication to the homeland.This is reflected in his high educational background and keenness to join establishments that reflect his interests. He holds an MBA from the London Business School and certificates from prestigious international institutions, including MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Citibank Global Asset Management, Harvard Business School in addition to the senior executive leadership program of the University of Harvard.

H.E. Al Shorafa is currently the head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) - an ADDED affiliate, Chairman of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), Chairman of Hub71 – a key initiative of the Abu Dhabi Government’s development accelerators program, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA), Chairman of Free Zones Council - Abu Dhabi, Chairman of the Etihad Aviation Group, and Vice-Chair of the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

H.E. Al Shorafa was the CEO and managing director of UEMedical, a board member in the Strategic Partnership Council of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and a board member and chairman of the Healthcare Working Group of the UAE-UK Business Council. In addition to that, he was also the vicechairman of United Eastern Group (UEG) and Gulf Contractors Company (GCC). Al Shorafa spent nine years at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) before taking on his next challenge by launching UEMedical.

The organizations, where HE is involved, are contributing to the economic growth of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In view of his many significant accomplishments, H.E. Al Shorafa was named by Arabian Business, in partnership with Bombardier, as one of the world’s most powerful Arabs in the years 2019 and 2021.

H.E. Younis Haji Al Khoori, the Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Finance, is responsible for the General Budget Department, Revenue and Financial Operations of the Federal Government, as well as its development and diversification of financial resources. H.E. oversees financial policies and procedures, and the management of the country's financial relations with regional and international institutionsH.E. manages the ministry's planning for the annual budget,and the core strategy around IT, human recourses, communication, and excellence programs. H.E. represents UAE in Regional and International Financial Institutions.

H.E. supervises the economic and financial relations between the UAE and the GCC states, the OECD around taxes and budget, the nation’s commitment to Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements,and the OECD’s exchange of information for tax purposes. Healso supervises negotiations to protect and encourage Emirati investments.

H.E. has worked in Abu Dhabi Department of Finance, ADNOC, and is currently on several boards of directors, including UAE Central Bank, the Federal Tax Authority, the Government Financial Policy Coordination Council, the UAE Gender Balance Council, the General Pension and Social Security Authority.

H.E. holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Boston University, Master of Science in Engineering Management from Northwestern University and a degree in Executive Management from Harvard Business School.

In Feb 2021, Ryadh M. Alkhareif became the Deputy Minister for International Affairs. Prior to that, he was the Alternate Executive Director for Saudi Arabia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr. Alkhareif was a member of the Executive Board, which is the policy and decision-making body of the IMF.

Prior to joining the Fund, Mr. Alkhareif was the Head of the Studies Division at the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). He was responsible for running SAMA’s main macroeconomic models. Mr. Alkhareif was also in charge of coordinating the publication process for SAMA’s Working Papers, its primary research publications.

Mr. Alkhareif received a double Master's degree in Economics from both the University of Oregon and the University of Kansas, and a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Kansas. He received extensive training at the State Street Global Advisors. Mr. Alkhareif participated in the High Potentials Leadership Program and Leadership in Financial Organization Program at Harvard Business School, as well as other executive programs at MIT.

Mr. Alkhareif has more than 15 years of experience in the economic field through his work at the IMF and SAMA. Mr. Alkhareif has published a number of papers in peer reviewed journals, and has co-authored the book “Advances in Monetary Policy Design” with William Barnett, a pioneer of the Divisia monetary indexes. The Center for Financial Stability (CFS) in New York provides direct links to some of Mr. Alkhareif’s scientific publications.

Mr. Alkhareif represented Saudi Arabia at the G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) during 2016-2019. He also contributed to the formulation of the FWG Priorities under the Saudi G20 Presidency. Mr. Alkhareif is a member of the Society for Economic Measurement in the USA, and the Saudi Economic Association. In August 2014, Mr. Alkhareif received the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Economic Sciences Young Researcher Award.

Since 2008, Mohamed Al Hammadi has led the EmiratesNuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) in successfully delivering the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, focusing on the implementation of the highest national regulations and international standards of safety, security, quality, transparency and non-proliferation.

Al Hammadi's management responsibilities include leading the organization in powering the future growth of the UAE through the safe and efficient deployment of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the UAE and Arab World’s first nuclear energy plant. The first unit of the Barakah plant has been commercially operational since April 2021, making it the first in the Arab World, and the UAE the 31st nation to use nuclear energy for electricity generation globally. With the start-up and grid connection of Unit 2 in September 2021, the Barakah Plant became the first multi-unit operational nuclear plant in the region. As the single largest electricity generator in the UAE and the Arab World, the Barakah plant is leading the largest decarbonization effort in the region, creating a stable foundation for the expansion of renewable energy sources.

Al Hammadi is directing the implementation of ENEC’s nuclear energy research and development program, exploring opportunities for the future of nuclear science and technology in the UAE such as for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the production of green hydrogen, as well as the continued knowledge transfer for the establishment of a local nuclear supply chain in the UAE. ENEC also manages all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle to ensure a secure and reliable supply of nuclear fuel assemblies for the Barakah Plant, in alignment with UAE law and international standards and agreements.

Al Hammadi sits on the ENEC Board of Directors as part of its best practise governance framework. He leads ENEC and oversees its Joint Venture subsidiaries: Nawah Energy Company, which is responsible for operating and maintaining the Barakah plant, and Barakah One Company, which manages the financial and commercial interests of the project. Over 3,000 people work across the organizations, spanning over 50 nationalities, making it one of the most multicultural and multinational energy projects globally.

Al Hammadi has a strong background in power and utility projects, including management, construction, finance and administration. Prior to joining ENEC, Al Hammadi was General Manager of the UAE Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) where he led a transformational management process focused on the implementation of best practices and international standards to the authority.

Al Hammadi is a member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators' (WANO) Governing Board of its Atlanta Centre. Mohamed is a member of the American Nuclear Society, and the Project Management Institute (USA). He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA), the International Council on Large Electric Systems, and the Engineers Association of the UAE.

In 2019, Ajou University in South Korea recognized Al Hammadi’s vision of the future of the electricity with an Honorary Doctorate, becoming one of eight leaders to receive such as prestigious accolade in the history of the university.

Al Hammadi gained his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and his Master of Science degree in Engineering Management, both from the Florida Institute of Technology, USA.

Mary L. Schapiro is the Vice Chair for Global Public Policy of Bloomberg, the global financial technology company that was founded in 1981. She has been at Bloomberg since October 2018, and also serves as a Special Advisor to the Founder and Chairman.

Ms. Schapiro, who has had a distinguished career as a financial services regulator under four U.S. presidents from both political parties, oversees Bloomberg’s public policy and regulatory priorities globally. Her service as the 29th SEC Chair culminated decades of regulatory leadership. She is the first woman to serve as SEC Chair, and the only person to have served as chair of the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). During her four years as SEC Chair, Ms. Schapiro presided over one of the busiest rulemaking agendas in the SEC’s history, during which the agency also executed a comprehensive restructuring program to improve protections for investors and pursued aggressive enforcement of the federal securities laws.

Ms. Schapiro also serves as an advisor to Bloomberg in multiple capacities, including as the leader of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD. The TCFD has developed and garnered widespread support for a framework for corporate disclosure of climate-related risk information to help investors, lenders, and underwriters make informed financial decisions. She is also the vice chair of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) created at the request of the UN Secretary General to work on scaling climate finance. Ms. Schapiro is also the Vice Chair for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, a practitioner-led coalition working to increase the financial sector's ambition on climate change and accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. She serves as vice chair of the Working Group on U.S. RMB Trading and Clearing, which works to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of U.S. businesses by lowering trading costs and improving access to China’s markets.

Before becoming SEC Chair and working for Bloomberg, Ms. Schapiro served as chief executive officer of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the largest nongovernmental regulator of securities firms. Earlier, she was Chair of the CFTC from 1994 to 1996, and a commissioner of the SEC from 1988 to 1994. She serves on the boards of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), and CVS Health (NYSE: CVS). She is also a member of the governing board of the Center for Audit Quality and serves on advisory boards at the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Trustees of Franklin and Marshall College and the Humane Rescue Alliance.

Jean Lemierre has served as Chairman of BNP Paribas since 2014. He is also Chairman of the main French institute for research into international economics (CEPII), a member of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) and in May 2016, he was elected Member of the Board of Directors of TOTAL Energies.

Jean Lemierre has a long and recognised career in international finance. In the 1980s he held various posts within the French Tax Administration, including Head of Tax Legislation and Director General of Taxes. In May 1995, he was appointed Chief of Cabinet of the French Ministry of Economy and Finances and become Head of Treasury later that year. Before being appointed at the helm of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2000, he was a member of the European Monetary Committee (1995-1998), President of the European Economic and Financial Committee (1999-2000) and Chairman of the Paris Club (1999-2000). He served as President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development until 2008.

In 2009, Jean Lemierre became a member of the International Advisory Council of the China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the International Advisory Council of the China Development Bank (CDB). He is member of the International Advisory Panel (IAP) for the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). He was Senior Advisor to the Chairman of BNP Paribas between 1 September 2008 and 30 November 2014.

Jean Lemierre graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris) and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration. He also holds a degree in Law.

Maria Ferraro was appointed Member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer of Siemens Energy AG and Member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer of Siemens Energy Management GmbH effective May 1, 2020. Prior to her appointment, she held several senior management positions in Corporate Finance within Siemens in the United Kingdom, as well as in Canada, Germany and the United States.

Before being appointed Chief Financial Officer of Siemens Energy, Maria Ferraro held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the Operating Company Digital Industries as well as Chief Diversity Officer at Siemens AG.

Maria Ferraro was born and educated in Canada. She is a designated Chartered Accountant and spent her early career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Nortel Networks, holding a variety of roles in Canada and on a global level whilst gaining in-depth experience in European and Asian markets.

Head of Sustainable Finance at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Ms. Vela Monserrate oversees ADGM’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and procedures, contributing to the long-term development of sustainable finance across Abu Dhabi and the UAE. She works closely with stakeholders to facilitate improved understanding and integration of material ESG factors, covering both risks and opportunities.

Prior to joining ADGM, Mercedes held senior positions across both the public and private sectors in Brussels and London. Her professional history includes positions at Morgan Stanley, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the European Parliament. Mercedes holds a BSc and a Minor in European Studies and Globalisation and Diversity from Maastricht University and is part of various industry working groups on sustainable finance, including the Unites Nations’ Financial Centres for Sustainability Network Steering Committee.

Ivan Faiella is Senior Economist at the Bank of Italy. He is coordinator of the Bank of Italy Task Force for the G20 Sustainable Finance, member of the Italian Observatory on Energy Poverty, of the G20 Energy Sustainability Working Group, of the Network for Greening the Financial System, of the Italian Committee for the Estimation of Natural Capital and of the Scientific Committee of “Energia”, a scientific journal on energy issues. His publications are available at www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan_Faiella.

Prior to his appointment, Chris worked from 2017-2021 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the Senior Advisor for Supervisory & Regulatory Policy in Financial Services for the Poor. He led the Foundation’s global initiatives to promote regulations and technology that expand the use of digital financial services among underserved women and the unbanked.

Chris’s career in supervision began as a bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 1993. Over the next 24 years, he held a number of supervisory and policy roles, including serving as the senior supervisor for one of the largest U.S. banks and later as the Senior Vice President of Regional, Community, Foreign Institution, and Consumer Compliance Supervision, overseeing 200 U.S. and foreign firms.

Externally, Chris co-led the International Monetary Fund’s 2016 evaluation of the U.K.’s post-crisis approach to banking supervision on secondment. He was also seconded to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in Switzerland from 2003-2005 to support revisions to the global capital framework.

Chris is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy (M.A.L.D.), and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A.). More recently he earned certificates in Digital Money and Blockchain. He speaks fluent German, some Japanese and French, and is looking forward to learning Arabic.

Regarded as one of the few multi-faceted professionals of repute from the region, with experience of over 20 years across a broad spectrum of specialized disciplines ranging from AML/CFT compliance, corporate governance, securities regulation including oversight of cash and derivatives markets, listing, trading and operations, insurance markets regulation, credit bureau oversight and Islamic and conventional jurisprudence.

1. Academic Qualifications:
• Doctorate in Law from the University of Leeds (U.K),
• Masters Degree in Commercial Law from the University of Wales (U.K),
• License (Sharia and Law) “Honors” from the UAE University, and
• The International Diploma in Anti Money Laundering from the International Compliance Association, the United Kingdom.
2. Brief on Positions Held at the SCA:
• April 2021-October 2021: as SCA Acting CEO till 4th October 2021, when HE was appointed as the CEO of SCA.
• 2017-2021: Deputy CEO for Financial Markets Operations, which included SCA's two broad-based functions, namely the Legal Affairs, Issuance and Research Sector, and the Licensing, Supervision and Enforcement Sector.
• 2009-2017: Deputy CEO for Legal Affairs, Issuance and Research Sector, one of the two specialized sectors in the SCA, with the rank of Assistant Undersecretary for two years, after which HE held the position of Deputy CEO of the Licensing, Supervision and Enforcement Sector.
• 2006-2009: Director of Issuance and Disclosure Department.
• 2002-2006: Director of Legal Affairs and the Legal Advisor to the SCA.

Previously worked at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Education.

3. Professional Memberships:
• International AML assessor and expert accredited by Financial Action Task Force “FATF” based in Paris.
• Registered Lawyer (Non-Practicing List) at the UAE Ministry of Justice.
• Graduate of the UAE Government Leaders Program/Executive Leaders organized by the Prime Minister’s Office in cooperation with the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (2010-2011).
• Member at the International Compliance Association in the United Kingdom.
4. Other Professional Positions:
• Board Member at Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance since 2012 and then selected to be the Vice Chairman.
• Board member at Abu Dhabi Corporate Governance (since 2013).
• Trustee on the Board of UAE Corporate Social Responsibility Fund chaired by HE the Minister of Economy.
• Board member at Al Etihad Credit Bureau Chaired by HE the Minister of State for Financial Affairs.
• Ex-Board Member of the Insurance Authority (2016-2020).
• Appointed by HE the Minister of State for Financial Affairs, to be the Head of the UAE’s FATF Mutual Evaluation Project Management Office (PMO) responsible for preparing the UAE for the Mutual Evaluation and was Leader of the UAE delegation to the FATF Plenary Meeting in February 2020.
• Member of the National Committee for Anti Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Financing (since 2003).
• Chaired the Sub-Committee of the National Risk Assessment on AML/CFT in the UAE and supervised the NRA process.
• Member of the Financial Restructuring Committee (FRC) formed by HE the Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and the Head of the Technical Committee.
• Lecturer at the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies (2003)
5. International Acknowledgments:
• First Emirati Woman accredited by FATF as international assessor and expert in the field of AML/CFT.
• Listed in Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen for the years 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2020.
• Among Forbes Top 10 Women Heading Government Departments in 2018.
6. Participation in Events inside and outside the Country:

Featured as a keynote speaker, panelist, and a moderator on wide ranging subjects such as Women Empowerment, Gender Balance, Corporate Governance, AML/CFT and Financial Markets. Some of such events are:

• The Aurora 50 Board Summit 2021;
• Lawyers obligations to face ML/TF under Federal Decree No. 20 of 2018;
• Legal Arrangements (Waqf) Obligations in the Field of AML/CFT;
• Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime – Cambridge University, 2016, 2017 & 2018;
• The Arab Women in Leadership and Business Summit (2ND Edition), Dubai, 2015;
• Second Conference of the Futures Industry Association (FIA),2015;
• Arabian Business Women Forum 2013;
• The Emirates Government Excellence Conference, 2013;
• The 1st UAE Government Summit, organized by the Prime Minister Office, Dubai, 2013; and the 3rd Arab Women Leadership Forum, Dubai, 2012.
7. Committees and Teams:
• Dr. Al Suwaidi has held several leadership positions over the last 20 years. She has been the Leader of the SCA International Competiveness Team achieving top ranks at both the Board of Director's effectiveness indicator at the World Competitiveness Yearbook of the International Institute for Management Development, and the Investor Protection Indicator in the World Bank Ease of Business Report for MENA Region, which resulted in raising the ranking of the UAE from 128 to be among the top 10 internationally; Team Leader of the UAE Oversight and Supervision on Financial Markets Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Emmanuel Givanakis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), where he oversees the regulatory framework that governs ADGM and its registered entities.

Emmanuel joined ADGM in October 2014 as the Head of Policy & Legal, overseeing the establishment of ADGM’s legislative framework, which was a pivotal step in the creation of ADGM as an international financial center. In addition to his remit, Emmanuel manages the enforcement function of the FSRA.

Under his direction, the Policy & Legal team has won several awards at the prestigious annual In-House Community Counsels of the Year Awards in 2019 and 2020 consecutively. These awards include the In House Community Legal Team of the Year 2020 on Financial Services”, Middle East In-House Legal Team of the year 2019”, “In House Community Legal Team of the Year 2019 on Banking”, and “In House Community Legal Team of the Year 2019 and 2020 on Innovation”.

His financial services regulatory expertise and management experience span over 20 years. Prior to joining ADGM, Emmanuel held a number of senior legal roles and leadership and management positions in both Australia and the UAE, including senior positions at the Dubai Financial Services Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

His extensive knowledge and skills include legal, policy, regulatory risk and compliance (prudential and conduct of business) as well as corporate governance, which place him in a strong position to ensure the timely identification of risks and their mitigation. Emmanuel’s interest and expertise in financial services, in particular asset management covers licencing, supervisory and enforcement of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Private Equity Funds, Venture Capital and Hedge Funds.

Emmanuel holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology, as well as holding qualifications in Islamic Finance and a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice (Governance Institute of Australia). He has been practicing law for over 26 years after being admitted to the Bar in Australia in 1994 (Queensland New South Wales and the High Court of Australia).

In 2003, in recognition of his work at the Australian Investments Commission he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal (National Australia Day Council Achievement Award).

Fahima Abdul Razzaq Al-Bastaki is Chief Business & Market Development Officer at Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) where she leads the exchange’s products and services strategy. She is a seasoned capital markets leader with over 23 years’ experience across investor relations, issuer affairs (listing & IPOs), public relations and corporate communications. She joined ADX from Dubai Financial Market (DFM) where she rose to the position of Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development Division, managing four departments. She joined FRM in 2004 after six years at HSBC Bank Middle East. Mrs. Al-Bastaki has been recognized for her work by numerous regional and international institutions and is a regular speaker on capital market development. In 2018, the Minister of Economy selected her to join the UAE’s IPO & Listing development committee. She holds a Micro MBA from Brunel University, a Claritas Investment Certificate and is a Certified Investor Relations Officer.

Sonja leads the IIF’s work on sustainable finance and sovereign debt policy, focusing on research and advocacy for the Institute’s global membership across the financial services industry. Her research interests include the economic impact and financial market pricing of climate and ESG risks, debt sustainability and market development in emerging markets. She oversees the IIF Weekly Insight, which offers a concise perspective on global financial markets with an ESG lens, and the IIF Global Debt Monitor, which looks across mature and emerging economies for debt-related vulnerabilities such as the rapid buildup in EM corporate debt levels. Her policy work on behalf of the IIF includes outreach and liaison efforts vis-à-vis the G20, the multilaterals, global regulators and standard setters, and the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS). She also serves on the Board of the Regional Center for Sustainable Finance (RCSF).

Sonja has spent over 20 years in banking and financial markets, most recently with Nomura International in London, where she was Chief Equity Strategist. Earlier positions include stints as a U.S. economist and bank credit analyst in New York and Los Angeles. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) has an MBA and BA from the University of California, Berkeley. Sonja’s work is widely cited in the financial press; she is a regular speaker on sustainable finance and global debt issues at industry conferences and in the media. She also hosts the popular series of IIF Climate Finance Workshops and ESG Webinars.

Dr. Daniel Klier joined Arabesque as President of the Arabesque Holding and CEO of Arabesque S-Ray on the 1st of June 2021. Arabesque is a leading ESG data and technology company with offices in Boston, London, Frankfurt, Delhi, Singapore and Tokyo.

Prior to this, Daniel was Global Head of Sustainable Finance for HSBC, where he developed the global climate strategy for the bank and led the development of the sustainable finance business across the corporate bank, retail bank and asset management business.

Daniel chaired the Bank of England Climate Risk Working Group and the Sustainable Finance Working Group at the Institute of International Finance. He is a member of the Board of Sustainable Energy for All.

Daniel joined HSBC in 2013 as Group Head of Strategy in London, following nine years at McKinsey & Company where he was a Partner. In 2016, Daniel was selected as Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum.

Since he understood that the 600 pages of the EU Taxonomy were impossible to digest for companies as for financial institutions, Alexander Stevens, a graduate from Brussels, Oxford and Harvard, with previous experience at the New York bar and the European Commission, has only one desire: digitize “green compliance” to make it mainstream and accelerate the climate transition, with his start-up, Greenomy.

Currently the founder & CEO of Clarity AI and the former Founder & CEO of Blink Booking (acquired by Groupon), Rebeca is an entrepreneur. She has also worked in tech and digital at large corporations (Santander Bank as Global Head of Digital Transformation, Groupon as Sr Director of Product & Ops), in private equity (Bain Capital), management consulting (Boston Consulting Group), and in engineering, as an engineer, at German Aerospace Agency, Siemens and IBM. She is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a European Young Leader, and an advisor at several startups. Additionally, she and her ventures have been featured in top publications, including, but not limited to, Forbes, The Economist, and FT. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and MSc in Telecommunication Engineering from Universidad Politécnica in Madrid, both with Distinction.

Robert is heading the Sustainable Finance business for ING in the EMEA region. The Sustainable Finance team is covering sustainable lending, Sustainable Structured Finance, supports Debt Capital Markets on the Green/ Social & Sustainable Bonds structuring and supports the Sustainable Investments team.

Robert started his career in carbon trading and energy derivatives. Thereafter he moved into renewable energy financing, where together with a local team he set up the business in India and thereafter in the wider Asia- Pacific region. Robert joined ING in 2016 in the Energy Sector team and stepped into his current role in 2019.

Robert holds a MSc in Business Administration (Major: Finance & Investments) from the Rotterdam School of Management/ Erasmus University and a BSc in Process Engineering from the Utrecht School of Technology.

Based in the UK, Cathrine is Global Head of ESG for Invesco with responsibility for enabling and leading best practices in ESG capabilities across Invesco including ESG integration, research, voting and engagement, supporting the distribution team with client engagement, and advising the product teams on ESG innovation. Cathrine leads a team of ESG professionals located across EMEA, US and Asia.

Cathrine took on global responsibility for Invesco’s ESG practice in September 2019. Prior to this role, Cathrine spent two years as Head of ESG for Invesco’s Henley Investment Centre. Cathrine started her career at Columbia Threadneedle Investments in 2008 as a responsible investment analyst and has experience across the responsible investment spectrum of ESG integration to specific fund strategies. Cathrine is a non-executive board member of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance

Association (UKSIF) and a member of the UK Investment Association Stewardship Committee. Cathrine holds an MBA from London Business School, a MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management from Oxford University and a BSc in Environmental Science from Nottingham University. Cathrine also holds the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK.

Mehdi El Amine Fichtali is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of FinaMaze, the region’s AI-powered robo asset manager operating out of Abu Dhabi Global Market.

With an impressive career of almost 20 years in the financial sector, Mehdi’s expertise roots back in the trading floors of London, Paris and Dubai, working with global powerhouses such as Morgan Stanley, Barclays Capital, and Credit Agricole Calyon (today’s CACIB).

Combining practical executive experience with strong academic credentials, Mehdi has a Grande Ecole Master’s degree in Finance from HEC Paris and in International Relations from Sciences Po IEP Paris, solidified with an Executive Leadership Program at California’s Berkeley University. Mehdi was also a Visiting Scholar at Washington D.C.'s Georgetown University where he taught about ‘The Private Sector in the Arab World’.

Just prior to founding FinaMaze, Mehdi spent scholarly time in the academic circles in California and DC and worked in different key positions such as Risk Management and Private Placement Director within the Dubai-based boutique investment bank deNovo, along with Morgan Stanley-alumni directors and CEO.

Mehdi’s expertise is backed by combining the applied financial experience with academic research that led to founding FinaMaze in 2018 during his participation in Dubai’s 1776 incubator program. Joined by a stellar team of over ten Data Scientists, Quantitative Finance, Software and Design Engineers, Mehdi created a powerful AI servicing FinaMaze’s investors.

Experienced moderator and speaker, leading several conferences in Boston (Harvard Arab Alumni Association), Tunis, New York, Paris, Casablanca and Dubai, Mehdi also spent 10 years as President of HEC Paris Alumni, GCC Chapter.

Dr. Thomas Hohne-Sparborth is the Head of Sustainability Research at Lombard Odier and heads up a team of analysts focused on research around the transition to a Circular, Lean, Inclusive and Clean (CLIC™) economy.

He now leads a research team that comprises geospatial analysts, economists and data scientists. Sustainability research at Lombard Odier comprises both quantitative and thematic research into sustainability challenges, ranging from climate change, to nature-related risks, the circular economy and social inequality.

Dr. Hohne-Sparborth has led the development of Lombard Odier’s proprietary Temperature Alignment methodology, recognized as one of the leading metrics used to assess alignment of investments to the Paris Agreement. He is leading the further elaboration of such forward-looking metrics, with a particular focus on financial implications. Through a concept known as Climate Value Impact, the research led by Dr. Hohne-Sparborth seeks to assess exposure to transitional risks and opportunities, as well as physical and liability risks.

He joined Lombard Odier from Roskill Consulting Group, a minerals and metals consultancy firm, with the last years in the position of Director of Economics & Analytics. He holds a Master of Arts degree from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., and in 2018 completed his doctoral degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Oliver Phillips is part of Standard Chartered’s dedicated Sustainable Finance team. He is based in Dubai and covers Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan. He has been with the team since it was created, previously working out of London.

In this role, he works with clients to structure sustainable finance solutions that deliver on their key financing requirements while allowing them to achieve their sustainability objectives. He also advises clients on key sustainability trends, as well as how to put in place the internal strategy and governance needed to ensure that international best practices are met. In particular, he helps clients to identify the elements of their sustainability agenda that they can either raise financing for or link into the terms of their funding.

He has been involved in a number of innovative and “world first” transactions and product launches, most recently as sole sustainability structuring advisor for Ecobank Transnational Incorporated’s debut USD350 million Tier 2 sustainability bond, joint sustainability structuring advisor on Etihad Airway’s inaugural USD600 million transition sukuk and sole sustainability coordinator on Majid Al Futtaim’s first USD1.5 billion sustainability linked revolving credit facility.

Advising HNW clients, family offices and Law firms on Impact, ESG and Sustainable investments, as well as Tax planning and insurance structuring.

A qualified financial advisor, Impact Investor, crypto currency enthusiast, former bomb disposal operative and marathon runner. Now that got your attention, didn't it? 12 years of EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) service and plenty of marathons under my belt, Including 15 completed London marathons (all in fancy dress of course!) raising money for various charities such as Macmillan, GOSH, MIND, BLESMA, Cancer research, Hospice in the weald.

I am a co-founder of Libra Project. Libra Project is a renewable energy Impact company that is developing an eco system to tokenise renewable energy projects. Libra Project is the first company to be deemed digital securities at ADGM and listed on the public register as such. Libra Project sources renewable energy projects and looks to maximise social and environmental impact with each project.

Our platform is designed to become the "People's platform" that gives the public a voice and allows them to vote which project is developed next.

Libra Project is signatory of the UNGC and designs a "perpetual impact" design for each of it projects.

Ismail Radwan is the World Bank Group lead economist for the GCC. Based in Kuwait between 2018-2020, Ismail now based in Riyadh. Ismail has 30 years of experience in private sector development and public sector reform issues in Europe, MENA, Africa and Asia.

Ismail’s work includes economic development, trade and growth strategies, private sector development, innovation and technology, special economic zones as well as governance. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Ismail was a principal economist with PwC London where he worked around the world for a variety of blue-chip clients.

Ismail studied economics at Oxford University receiving a BA and MA with honors before obtaining his masters’ degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He has lived and worked in more than fifty countries. Ismail is originally from Cairo Egypt and speaks English, Arabic and French.

Margaret Franklin, CFA, leads CFA Institute and its more than 170,000 members worldwide in promoting the highest standards of education, ethics, and professional excellence in the investment profession. She assumed her role in September 2019 and has more than 25 years of investment and wealth management experience.

Before joining CFA Institute, Margaret led International Wealth Management for North America and was president of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Advisory Services in Canada. She also served as a board member of BNY Mellon Trust Company (Cayman). Margaret joined BNY Mellon in 2016.

She previously served as chair of CFA Institute Board of Governors and is a former president of the CFA Society Toronto Board. She is a founding member of the CFA Institute Women in Investment Initiative, a past recipient of the Alfred C. Morley Distinguished Service Award in 2014, and a member of its Future of Finance Content Council.

Margaret earned a Bachelor of Administration in Economics from McMaster University in Ontario. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Toronto.

Adam was appointed Chief Financial Officer at Etihad Aviation Group in May 2020, after deputising in the role from June 2019.

Previously, Adam held the position of Senior Vice President Treasury, Tax & Finance at Etihad Aviation Group, and served as Interim Chief Financial Officer during the first half of 2019.

Adam’s remit includes Group Finance, Group Treasury, Investor Relations, Fleet Planning, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Corporate Strategy including Risk and Performance Reporting, Analytics, and the Group Business Support Services division.

Adam is an experienced senior finance executive with a strong background in international finance gained in the banking, retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FCMG) sectors in the UAE and UK. Before joining Etihad in 2013, Adam was Senior Vice President at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. His previous experience also includes senior roles at Tesco PLC, Kimberly Clark, Marex Spectrum and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Adam is a qualified Treasurer and Management Accountant, and holds an Executive MBA from the University of Hertfordshire

Laetitia Hamon has been Head of Sustainable Finance at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) since July 2020. She is responsible for the exchange’s sustainable finance strategy and related projects and leads the expert team at LuxSE’s UN-awarded platform for sustainable finance, the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX).

As a pioneer in sustainable finance, Laetitia started her career as an ESG analyst for an extra-financial rating agency in 2008. Passionate about the topic, Laetitia decided to dedicate her career to sustainable finance and has built in-depth expertise on the matter for the past 13 years. After gaining experience from the investment fund industry through different positions at Thomson Reuters and ALFI – the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, she spent 8 years managing and then leading the Sustainable Finance audit and advisory practice at KPMG in Luxembourg. 

Laetitia has a Master’s degree in International Management from the Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion (ISEG) and a Master’s degree in Corporate Social Responsibility from Ecole Supérieure des Affaires, Paris XII.

Stephen Moss is Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

Mr. Moss was appointed to the role of Regional Chief Executive Officer in April 2021 and has been a Group Managing Director since December 2018.

Mr. Moss started his career with HSBC in 1992 and has held a series of roles in Hong Kong and the UK. Most recently, Mr. Moss was the Regional Chief Executive with responsibility for overseeing the bank's businesses in Europe (ex-HBUK), the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey; Latin America; and Canada, a role he held from March 2020. Prior to this, Mr. Moss held the role of Chief of Staff to the Group Chief Executive leading Group Strategy and Planning, Group Mergers and Acquisitions, Global

Communications, Global Events, Group Public Affairs and Group Corporate Sustainability.

Prior to joining HSBC, Mr. Moss worked for Price Waterhouse.

Mr. Moss currently sits on the boards of HSBC Middle East Holdings B.V., HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, HSBC Saudi Arabia, HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E, and the Saudi British Bank. Mr. Moss serves as a Board Member of the Dubai International Chamber and as an Advisory Board Member of the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Mr. Moss is a qualified Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is married with two children.

As Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, Ibrahim oversees the group-wide Sustainability strategy of the company and is in charge of raising Majid Al Futtaim’s Sustainability Profile in the Middle East and globally. One of Ibrahim’s top priorities is to develop and drive ‘Net positive’ sustainability strategy across the company’s different business units.

Selected as one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Europe and the Middle East by Center for Sustainability and Excellence in the US, he has taken sustainability to another level in the Middle East and internationally through awareness campaigns for environmental issues, climate change and education programmes, as well as private sector engagement.

Author of How to ‘Net’ Positive, Ibrahim outlines how Majid Al Futtaim embarked on its Net Positive journey and also provides a conceptual and practical blueprint to help companies start their Net Positive journey. Ibrahim is the West Asia Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) UNESCO Youth Xchange Project.

Responsibilities: Ibrahim brings expertise to several government and international bodies, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the UAE government. He is the Vice Chair of the UN Global Compact UAE network and the UAE Council of Climate Change and Environment launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He is a member of World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Council on Net-Zero Transition and WEF’s Circular Economy Council. He is a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is the chairperson of the Global Council for SDG 13. In addition, he is a Senior Associate at University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and a Fellow at the UKbased Posterity Institute. He also served as the Senior Advisor –Sustainability for the Dubai Land Department, Government of Dubai.

Board Positions: Ibrahim is currently the Chairman of the Corporate Advisory Board of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), a Board member of the Emirates Green Building Council, and UAE private sector representative in the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction – a COP21 initiative.

Stephen Nolan is the Managing Director of the UNDP hosted Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) global network. ConsisBng of 39 members covering Europe, the Gulf, Africa, Asia and the Americas, the networks objecBve is to exchange experience and take common acIon on shared prioriIes to accelerate the rapid global growth of green and sustainable finance across the world’s financial centres, supported by strengthened internaIonal connecIvity, and a framework for common approaches. FC4S also hosts the APEC Sustainable Finance Development Network (SFDN), which aims to advance the sustainable finance agenda across the 21 APEC economies. Stephen is also the Head of Secretariat for the UNDP hosted Sustainable Insurance Forum (SIF). ConsisBng of 32 insurance Supervisors, the Forum members work together to advance the climate acBon agenda. Stephen is a former Irish Government ICT Special Advisor and Advisor to UN Secretary General Annan’s Task Force on ICT.

Thomas McMahon has over 35 years of experience in International Exchange based Commodity and Derivative product creation, clearing, trading, and regulatory licensing. Over the past decade, Thom has worked broadly across Asia to bring to market major International Exchange formation and licensing projects in Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Dubai, India, and recently concluded the licensing and launch of the Singapore Mercantile Exchange (ICE Sg) in August, 2010, where he served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director from April 2009 until June 2011.

Thomas founded P.A.C.E in 2012 as an advisory and incubator for Exchange market architecture and this led to the transition from traditional markets to incorporation of a digital hybrid exchange model.

2016 was a strategic turning point and a Asset backed solutions for Carbon. In 2018 AirCarbon Pte Ltd was formed and today is a operatingTrading platform based in Singapore, ACX brings the best practices for a blockchain based hybrid Exchange to serve as a central market place for Carbon Credit and Carbon project transparent pricing and verifiable ownership and transfer of underlying assets onchain. A single price point for the voluntary credits market. Along with Carbon market development Thomas has been working on a market based solution for LNG on exchange price cleared transactions. This is in conjunction with the Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Technologies. Initially as a co founder /advisor and now as a director 2020 is the come to market year for both.

Prior to his role at the Singapore Exchange, Thomas was the Director of NYMEX Asia/Tokyo and Singapore from 2003 up through the 2006 IPO and later 2007 CME acquisition. During this time Thom was a key advisor for the establishment of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange 2004/05.

Thom has been involved with commodities since 1977, first as a member of The New York Cotton Exchange and then as a member of The New York Coffee, Sugar, and Cocoa Exchange. He has served in various leadership positions at The New York Mercantile Exchange/COMEX from 1983 through 2003.Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Natural Gas Advisory Committee which lead to the formation and launch of the Henry Hub Gas contract. Thom is a graduate of New York Military Academy and holds a BA in History and Political Science from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Ana is a senior executive with 30 years’ experience in financial services and a detailed understanding of the alternative investment space across real assets and hedge funds, honed over 15 years of leadership at Dexion Capital, a leading boutique investment bank. She is the CEO of Respira International, the carbon finance solutions business founded in 2019.

Ana has an undergraduate degree from the University of St. Andrews, Master’s Degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and an MBA with the Open University.

Albert Yip is the Chairman of Syndicate Capital and the Founder of Asia Investors Roundtable. With his strong focus in fintech and ESG investing and initiatives, he has been appointed as the Chairman of Carbon Credit Xchange (CCX) in 2021. Mr. Yip has over 30 years of banking and financial services experience leading corporate finance, internal audit, operations, risks management, compliance and regulatory functions in multi-national corporations.

During the past three decades, Mr. Yip was appointed as CEO, CFO, CAE and other C-Suite positions across Asia Pacific and the United States by Fortune 500 leaders in the banking and financial sectors. Mr. Yip was the Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Regional Head of Corporate Audit at State Street Corporation (the world’s largest custodian bank responsible for USD 33.3 trillion of global assets). Mr. Yip was also the Asia Head of Audit Services at Manulife Financial (ranked #1 in best corporate governance financial institution in Canada). He also served other senior management roles in State Street Global Advisor (SSGA), Bank of Asia, Online Credit and Westpac Bank.

Mr. Yip holds the MSc (Information System), and earned FCPA (Aust.), CRMA, FCMA and Forensic CPA designations. Among his public duties in professional bodies, he currently serves as the Chairman of WealthTech Committee and Convenor of Investment Committee at IFTA, promoting the development and investment in fintech. Mr. Yip is also appointed to the Task Forces on Sustainable and Inclusive Finance of United Nations ESCAP. Previously, Mr. Yip was the Governor and Chairman of Professional Development Committee of the Institute of Internal Auditors Hong Kong (2016-2019) and the Chairman of the Financial Services Committee of CPA Australia (2015-2018). For community services, Mr. Yip is the first honoree in Asia to receive the WACE Award for his achievement and contribution to university students’ career developments on a global basis. In 2019, he was awarded with the Medal of Honour (MH) by the authority of Peru Government for his important contribution to the trade and cultural exchange.

CEO and Founder of INNOVO – profitable Net Zero. INNOVO facilitates business among organizations that are actively reducing their Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions.

David McNeil heads the Climate Risk team within Sustainable Finance, which is focused on physical and transitional climate risk research and product development.

David is an environmental economist by background with experience supporting corporate, investor and public sector clients in ESG research.

Prior to joining Fitch David had roles at S&P Trucost, contributing to ESG product and low-carbon index development, and ICF International, supporting the EC, EIB and UK government on macroeconomic analysis of environmental policy.

Margaret L. Kuhlow leads WWF’s Finance Practice, providing strategic direction and thought and content leadership to WWF’s global engagement with the finance sector. Before joining WWF, Ms. Kuhlow was Vice President of Investment Policy at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, where she also led the agency’s approach to the Sustainable Development Goals. She has worked in development assistance as a member of the team that established and implemented the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation, leading the new agency’s approach to environmental and social assessment of major investment projects. She worked on issues of global macroeconomics and development at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and in her 25-year career has lived and worked extensively in developing and emerging markets and has broad sectoral experience in sustainable investment, project finance, and grant making. She holds a Master in Public Policy degree with concentration in International Trade and Finance and Political and Economic Development from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Dr. Nasser H. Saidi is the Founder and President of Nasser Saidi & Associates and is Chairman of the regional Clean Energy Business Council. In 2012, he was named among the 50 most influential Arabs in the World by The Middle East magazine, for the fourth consecutive year.

Dr. Saidi holds a number of directorship and board roles including Deputy Chairman of Eureeca Capital, a member of the IMF’s Regional Advisory Group for MENA, Co-Chair of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) MENA Corporate Governance Working Group, and member of the Advisory Board of the OMFIF.

Dr. Saidi is the former Chief Economist of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and is also the Founder and former Executive Director of the Hawkamah-Institute for Corporate Governance and The Mudara Institute of Directors.

Previous roles include the Minister of Economy and Trade and Minister of Industry of Lebanon between 1998 and 2000. Dr. Saidi was the First Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon for two successive mandates, and was a Member of the UN Committee for Development Policy (UNCDP) for two mandates over the period 2000-2006.

Prior to his public career, Dr. Saidi served as a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics in the University of Chicago, the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales (Geneva, CH), and the Université de Genève.

Dr. Saidi holds a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester in the USA, a M.Sc. from University College, London University and a B.A. from the American University of Beirut.

Michael Grifferty founded and leads The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association (GBSA) the industry association representing the Arabian Gulf fixed income market. The GBSA is composed of the region’s leading banks, law firms, issuers, ratings agencies and service providers and plays a leading role on all major matters concerning development of bond markets in the region.

Previously, Michael served as advisor for the US Treasury on sovereign debt and bond markets, advising over forty countries and regional organizations. He has also consulted extensively for the International Monetary Fund and Arab Monetary Fund.

Prior to his international career, Mr. Grifferty was a senior vice president at Government Finance Associates, providing problem-solving financial advisory services to US state and local governments. He has degrees from New York University and Georgetown University in Public Finance and International Relations, respectively. A native English speaker, Michael speaks French and Russian.

José Ángel Tejero was appointed Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer in June 2018. He holds a law degree from the University of Malaga and an MBA from Queens University (Charlotte, NC).

Mr. Tejero has built a sound career of nearly 30 years of experience in the fields of Corporate Banking, Finance and Risk, having recently complemented it with C-Suite responsibilities in the fields of ESG and sustainability.

Prior to his 20-year specialization in the Energy and Infrastructure sectors, Mr. Tejero held various positions in the Corporate Banking sector, where he worked for firms such as Banco Santander, Sumitomo Bank or Southern National Bank (now BB&T).

Mike Davis is the Global Head Of Wholesale Banking at ADIB. He is responsible for the Wholesale and Investment Bank, as well as the Transaction Banking Business.

Before joining ADIB Mike worked for HSBC in the UAE, North America. Asia and Europe. Prior to that he worked for a Canadian Bank in Latin America and Canada.

Mohieddine Kronfol is the chief investment officer for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr. Kronfol is responsible for managingthe investment process, research, and performance of the Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income teams, and leads portfolio management for FTSF Global Sukuk Fund and FTIF GCC Bond Fund.

Dino is a pioneer in Arab capital markets where he has committed the past 20 years to the development of MENA debt markets and Sharia compliant finance across the globe. He has one of the longest track records managing global Sukuk assets, since 2008, and under his leadership, Franklin Templeton has established itself as a prominent player in Global Sukuk investing. Dino frequently shares his views as a commentator on regional and international media and is a regular speaker at industry events.

Preceding his tenure at FT, Dino was part of a small team that, in 2000, helped build from scratch and run what became SHUAA Capital's financial services business. He was initially head of Capital Markets and later became head of Debt Asset Management and, in 2002, fund manager of the first fund to focus exclusively on MENA debt. Prior to that, he was an early employee at one of the first pan-Arab investment banks, Middle East Capital Group (MECG).

Mr. Kronfol holds a bachelor of arts in business administration and an MBA from the American University of Beirut. He won the first Failaka Islamic Award for "The Best Sukuk Fund" in 2010, the first Employee Provident Fund of Malaysia (EPF) Award for "Best Global Sukuk Portfolio Manager" in 2014 and 2019, and the MENA Fund Manager Award for "Outstanding Achievement by an Individual" in 2016. Franklin GCC Bond fund won the Mountain View Fund Award 2019 in the Bond Funds Global category and in 2021 his team was awarded the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards for MENA Fixed Income Strategy, 3 Years and Global Sukuk Strategy, 1 Year.