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Talking Islamic Asset Management

What is the real proposition for the Islamic asset management industry? Is it a thematic investment strategy or a viable, self-supporting industry? How big is the market and how large can it potentially become? Through an experienced panel, we discuss Shariah compliant asset management in the UK, Western Europe and the GCC. What’s next for real estate investment funds, REITs and private equity? Do Waqf-like structures provide an opportunity for the UK asset management industry? What role do products such as ETFs and Sukuk funds play in a diversified portfolio? Moderator: Tariq Alrifai – CEO, Quorum Centre for Strategic Studies Panelists: Alain Verbeken – Director-Financial Services,  Mazars Luxembourg Ali Khokha – Senior Manager, PwC Martina Macpherson – President, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets Michael Rainey – Partner, King &…

Stewardship and Responsible Investing: Opportunities for Ethical and Islamic Finance and Investment

We examine responsible, ethical investment and green finance in the UK and Europe, and identify the prospects for Islamic finance and investment to thrive in this active sector. Do green bonds and Sukuk offer viable long-term investments and how can the industry address the relative scarcity of credible climate-related and low-carbon investment opportunities? Moderator: Stuart Hutton – Chief Investment Officer, Simply Ethical Panelists: Catherine Howarth – CEO, ShareAction Kristina Alnes – Senior Advisor, Centre for International Climate Research Martin Scheck – CEO, International Capital Market Association Sean Kidney – CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative Wan Kamaruzaman Wan Ahmad – CEO, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan

Keynote Address

Abdulla Al Awar – CEO, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre  

Fintech and Islamic Finance

We assess the latest developments in fintech and analyze likely industry shifts, regulation and developments in product, distribution and delivery channels. We also discuss the role of fintech and tokenization in today's banking and capital-raising environments. What are the latest approaches to incorporating coin offerings and cryptocurrencies into developed regulatory frameworks? Moderator: Tom Sleigh – UK Country Manager, Deposit Solutions Panelists: Herve Larren – Co-Founder, Global Crypto Ventures Khalid Howladar – Managing Director and Founder, Acreditus Nasir Zubairi – CEO, LHoFT Zeeshan Uppal – Co-Founder, Yielders

Gold – All that Glitters

Gold has come to prominence of late, either as an underlying asset or an asset class in itself. We take a closer look at recent financial products structured on or around gold and ask if the upward trend is set to continue. Moderator: Natalie Dempster – Managing Director, World Gold Council Panelists: John Durham – Manager – Depository, Gold Corporation, The Perth Mint Philip Judge – CEO, Physical Gold Fund Robin Lee – CEO, HelloGold

Hard Issues: The Islamic Asset Management Industry

Hard Issues: The Islamic Asset Management Industry Through a short, concise interview, we step outside the comfort zone and ask the tough questions the industry wants to hear. Interviewee: John Sandwick – General Manager, Safa Investment Interviewer: Tariq Alrifai – CEO, The Quorum Centre

Presentation: What is Value-Based Intermediation (VBI) and how does it fit with Islamic Banking and Finance?

Presentation: What is Value-Based Intermediation (VBI) and how does it fit with Islamic Banking and Finance? David Korslund – Senior Economist, Global Alliance for Banking on Values

Liquidity Issues and Supervision of Islamic Financial Institutions in Western Europe

We identify operational issues and challenges faced by Islamic financial institutions in the UK and Western Europe, where limited access to domestic, high-quality Shariah compliant assets make adherence to Basel III liquidity rules a challenge. What other supervisory and regulatory issues do Islamic financial institutions face and what are the solutions? What role does the Bank of England Shariah compliant liquidity facility play and what of structures such as commodity Murabahah? Moderator: Lawrence Oliver – Director and Deputy CEO, DDCAP Panelists: Amir Firdaus – Treasurer, Al Rayan Bank Arshadur Rahman – Manager, Shariah Compliant Project, Bank of England Mohamed Damak – Senior Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings Mohammad Faiz Azmi – Executive Chairman, PwC, Malaysia

Growth and Development of Islamic Capital Markets: Highlights and Opportunities

We discuss significant developments in domestic and overseas capital markets, including home purchase plan-backed securitization programs in the UK and the Saudi Arabian syndicated loan program. We also discuss the opportunities for listings and important issues such as the Shariah compliance of tradable debt instruments, ratings and the development and deepening of domestic Islamic secondary markets. Moderator: Khalid Howladar – Managing Director and Founder, Acreditus Panelists: Ahmed Choudhry – Senior Associate, Clifford Chance  Muhammad Gunawan Yasni – Member of National Shariah Board – Indonesian Council of Ulemas Najib Al Aswad – Director, IFAAS Nitish Bhojnagarwala – Vice-President - Senior Credit Officer, Financial Institutions Group, Moody’s Investors Service Sultan Choudhury – CEO, AL Rayan Bank

Keynote Address

John Glen – Economic Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury  

Real Estate Finance and Investment in the UK

We discuss the current environment in the UK and Western Europe for real estate investment and explore the continuing role played by Islamic finance. What are the latest trends, structures, themes and opportunities? We also assess the role technology plays and predict where disruption will be seen. Does tokenization in property and real estate finance offer an opportunity? Moderator: Abradat Kamalpour  – Partner, Ashurst Panelists: Adam Cavanagh – Chief Investment Officer, Rosette Merchant Bank Mark Hucker – Managing Director, VG Nicholas Judd – Founder and Head of Investment, 90 North Real Estate Partners Pankaj Gupta – Co-Founder and CEO for the UAE, Gulf Islamic Investments Sarah Gooden – Partner, Trowers & Hamlins

Mega Trends: Global and Regional Influencers for Islamic Finance and Investment

We examine and discuss key issues and themes influencing global Islamic finance and investment including political risk, the performance of the UK and European Islamic banking sector in the coming year, regulatory and supervisory frameworks, green finance and the ascendancy of fintech – what will offer opportunity and what will disrupt? What is the latest assessment of Brexit and what does the panel expect to be the implications and opportunities for Islamic finance and investment? Moderator: Stella Cox CBE – Managing Director, DDCAP Group and Chair of TheCityUK Islamic Finance Markets Advisory Group Panelists: Bruno Martorano – CEO of ADIB UK Charles Haresnape – CEO, Gatehouse Bank Lord Mayor Charles Bowman Duncan Steele-Bodger – CEO, QIB UK Marco Lichtfous – Partner, Strategy and Operations, Deloitte Tax & Consulting…