Ethical Finance GCC 2025: Capital, Climate and Community

Chief Operating Officer, DIFC Authority

Alya Al Zarouni

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the DIFC Authority (DIFCA), Alya is responsible for setting the strategic direction of DIFCA’s operations and client experience. She brings more than 20 years of experience in developing and delivering technology-driven business services and solutions, providing outstanding client service, and driving internal efficiency through policy, process and digital transformation. Prior to her appointment as the COO, Alya assumed multiple roles across different functions in DIFCA and has led the transformation of DIFC services since 2010.

Alya was appointed as Board Member of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) in 2023, an association registered in Belgium representing 19 leading international financial centres across four continents.

She has also been serving as a board member of Hawkamah: The Institute for Corporate Governance for over three years and led the DIFC Academy since its inception until 2022.
In terms of her education, Alya was at the top of her class and earned both her BSc in Computer Science and MBA from the American University of Sharjah. She has an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Paris II Pantheon Assas (Magna Cum Laude). She is a graduate of the prestigious Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, completing both the Young Leaders Programme and the Dubai Leaders Programme.

Chief Executive Officer, Fajr Capital

Iqbal Khan

Iqbal Ahmad Khan is the Chief Executive Officer of Fajr Capital. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cravia Group, Jadwa Investment and MENA Infrastructure. Prior to Fajr Capital, he was the founding CEO of HSBC Amanah, where he built the business and team over eight years into one of the fastest growing and most successful emerging businesses in the HSBC Group.

He is a long-time advocate of the Islamic financial services industry, serving as an advisor to government initiatives in Brunei, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics and Chemistry, both from Aligarh Muslim University.

He is the recipient of several industry and global accolades, including the Royal Award for Islamic Finance, a biannual prize presented by HM the King of Malaysia, and a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE.

Secretary General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet

Satya Tripathi

Satya S. Tripathi is Secretary-General of the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet. A development economist, lawyer and changemaker with over 40 years of varied experience, Mr. Tripathi is the Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences – the world’s largest academic institution dedicated exclusively to indigenous people and cultures. He is also a Senior Distinguished Fellow on Innovative Finance at the World Agroforestry Centre. He has served with the UN for more than two decades in key positions across the planet and was most recently the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Head of New York Office at UN Environment and Secretary of the UN Environment Management Group. His other strategic engagements with the UN include: Head of Human Rights Investigations for the UN in post-war Bosnia (UNMIBH); Chair of the Committees on Laws, Treaties and Administrative matters for the UN-mediated Cyprus unification talks in 2004; UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias where he facilitated international cooperation and funding of over US$ 7 billion for post-tsunami recovery efforts in support of the government and affected populations; and Executive Head of UNORCID, a UN System Office established by the UN Secretary General in 2011 to facilitate the implementation of a US$ 1 Billion REDD+ partnership between Indonesia, Norway and other stakeholders. Mr. Tripathi was instrumental in establishing the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) in Indonesia in 2016 and the Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF) in 2017 to leverage ‘private finance for public good’ at mega-scale to achieve transformative social and environmental impact for millions of people in developing countries. He previously served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Forests.

Executive Director, Greenpeace MENA

Ghiwa Nakat

Ghiwa Nakat has spearheaded Greenpeace’s growth and expansion in the Middle East and North Africa to make it a vital part of a vibrant environmental movement that prioritizes the climate emergency and a just energy transition. She is determined to bring about real change and has built a passionate and diverse team that represents the breadth and diversity of this region.

After studying agricultural engineering at the American University in Beirut, Ghiwa obtained an MBA at the Université Paris Dauphine. Serving on the advisory board of WAAUB, she is dedicated to empowering MENA communities with sustainable solutions and support.

As a business leader, she spent two decades providing inspiration, motivation and encouragement to help organizations develop their ambitious visions and make them a reality. In the agricultural business sector, she worked across the MENA region to apply her expertise in holistically tackling the key agricultural and environmental issues faced by farmers. As the first woman agronomist in her company, she took a fresh approach to building close relationships with growers, helping them to build their ambition and innovation.

Her experience as a long-time environmentalist has taken her to the frontline of climate change, seeing the most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of the climate crisis and pollution. She is committed to helping provide these communities with the support and solutions they need to adapt.

Nobel Peace Prize (IAEA) 2005, CEO at Honest Management Consultancy, ex UN Diplomat and founder of 100 ideas café

 Muhammed Lameen Abdul-Malik 

 Muhammed Lameen Abdul-Malik is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, with over 25 years of expertise in international development, sustainability, and strategy. An accomplished leader, he has demonstrated a commitment to solving global challenges through innovative solutions and brings strategic oversight, governance expertise, and a results-driven approach to his roles, underpinned by a track record of impactful leadership in healthcare, food security, green energy, and international diplomacy. 

His extensive experience cuts across the UK Government, the United Nations in nuclear science and technology (IAEA), the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, an International Saudi Think Tank and an entrepreneur, where his proven expertise shows a deep understanding of emerging markets, particularly in Africa and the GCC, with a network spanning governments, NGOs, and private enterprises. 

He has delivered over €100 million in projects advancing global health, agriculture, and sustainability.

He also launched the first ever global infectious disease index and directed the creation of Zambia’s first cancer treatment hospital, setting a benchmark for oncology care in Africa.

Lameen, who loves and writes about coffee, has set himself a goal to impact one billion people’s lives positively over the next 10 years and is subsequently spearheading efforts to support that ethos and is often invited to speak at international conferences on Africa development, AI and Education and leadership.

Net Zero Transition and Partnerships, HSBC

Naveen Raza

Naveen is a banking professional with over 18 years of experience.  Her early career started in Islamic Finance with HSBC Amanah, since then she has worked in various roles at HSBC in the UK and UAE including Private Banking & Wealth Management, Strategy & Planning, Streamlining & Process Excellence.  She also has extensive experience in Project Managementand ESG.  Recently Naveen was the Head of Sustainability & Financial Inclusion for Wealth & Personal Banking HSBC EMEA.

She is now looking after Net Zero Transition & Partnerships in the HSBC MENAT Sustainability Centre of Excellence which includes working on customer’s transitions plans as well as developing HSBC’s external sustainability and philanthropic partnerships.

CEO, Standard Chartered Saadiq

Khurram Hilal

Khurram Hilal is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Saadiq, the bank’s global Islamic banking arm, where he leads the development of Shariah-compliant financial products and solutions across various regions. With extensive experience in retail, private banking, and financial markets, Khurram brings a wealth of expertise to his role. He holds a master’s degree, is a CFA charterholder, and is pursuing studies in Islamic jurisprudence, demonstrating a commitment to aligning finance with Shariah principles

Atif Iqbal, Head of Strategy at Emirates Islamic

Atif Iqbal

Atif Iqbal, Head of Strategy at Emirates Islamic, is a seasoned leader with 20+ years in Islamic and consumer banking. He has driven digital and cultural transformation, launched the digital bank E20, and excelled in SME digitization. Atif’s expertise spans P&L management, analytics, and value proposition development, resulting in strong customer retention and business growth. He is recognized for integrating ESG principles into strategy, leveraging technology and insights to shape the future of banking.

Managing Director, Global Head of Islamic Finance MEA, S&P Global Ratings

Dr Mohamed Damak

Dr. Mohamed Damak is the Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance at S&P Global Ratings, guiding the firm’s approach to Islamic finance in the Middle East and Africa. With over 20 years in the financial sector, he provides insights into Islamic banking, sukuk markets, and Shariah-compliant instruments. Before re-joining S&P Global Ratings, Mohamed worked as a Principal Credit Risk Officer for the African Development Bank in Tunis.

He holds a PhD in Finance and Master in “Money, Banking and Finance” from the University of Paris 2, Pantheon Assas and a Master degree in Financial Institutions Management from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Tunis.

Dr. Damak has authored numerous reports on the sector’s growth and challenges and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and contributes regularly to discussions on the integration of Islamic finance into the global financial system.

Head – Policy, Climate & Conservation, Emirates Nature WWF

Dr. Deepti Mahajan Mittal

Dr Deepti Mahajan Mittal is currently Head – Policy, Climate & Conservation at Emirates Nature-WWF, UAE. She leads the organization’s engagements on climate action, and nature policy and finance. Earlier, she led EN-WWF’s climate and energy programme, spearheading the programme’s strategy and managing projects on renewable energy, sustainable transport and climate business engagement. In a career spanning 20 years, Dr Mittal has undertaken extensive research and stakeholder engagement to support the development of science-based climate and nature policies, as well as to build multi-sectoral platforms for action.

In the past, Dr Mittal has been associated with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment as Senior Policy Specialist, where she played a key role in the development of the UAE’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement. Before moving to the UAE in 2013, Dr Mittal led the Centre for Research on Energy Security at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India.

Dr Mittal has published widely. Her speaking engagements have ranged from regional expert group meetings and conference keynotes to trainings for youth COP delegates and university lectures. While focused on impactful climate action across sectors and communities, she also takes keen interest in multilateral processes and the functioning of inter-governmental institutions. 

Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital

Christian Gueckel

Christian Gueckel is the Chief Risk Officer at SEDCO Capital and heads risk management and responsible investments. Christian is a member of SEDCO Capital’s Investment Committee, Management Committee, Risk and Compliance Committee and Cyclical Asset Allocation Committee. He joined SEDCO Capital as Head of Research in 2014. Prior to joining SEDCO Capital, Christian was head of the asset class hedge funds and portfolio manager for a single-family office in Zurich, Switzerland.

Christian has almost 20 years of professional experience in portfolio management, capital markets and risk management roles (Swiss family office, Man Group, HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (now Commerzbank), Sparkasse). Christian holds a master degree from Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, an MBA from Colorado State University and completed the CFA, FRM, CAIA, FDP and ERP degrees.

Sharia Board Member

Dr. Moosa Tariq Khoory

Dr. Moosa Tariq Khoory is a member of various Sharia Boards and Committees in the UAE in the sectors of Islamic banking, Islamic insurance (Takaful) and Islamic Financial Market. He is the ex-Group Head of Internal Sharia Audit at Dubai Islamic Bank, and is also the Founder Chairman of the “Sharia Professionals Association”. He has also been a member of AAOIFI’s Governance and Ethics Board, and AAOIFI’s Education Board.

He is a member of the Consultancy Board at University of Sharjah’s College of Sharia and Islamic Studies and Al-Qassimia University’s College of Sharia and Islamic Studies.  Dr.Moosa holds PhD in Islamic Finance from Durham University, a dual Master’s Degree in Islamic Law & Legal Theory from the University of Sharjah, and Master’s in International Business Law from Paris 2 University.

Head of Sustainability & Information Governance, Zurich Insurance

Nadia Boumeziout

Nadia is a multilingual sustainability leader with extensive experience in sustainability strategies, ESG reporting, corporate governance, marketing, and strategic communications.
She is a key member of the DIFC’s Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group (DSFWG), and leads the Diversity & Inclusion working group, which promotes inclusive workplace practices. Nadia is also an esteemed mentor at WiSER by Masdar where she guides and nurtures future leaders, showing her commitment to fostering a culture of responsible leadership and governance.

Head of Sustainability for the Middle East at ING

Jonathan Keyes

Jonathan Keyes is a seasoned expert in the fields of sustainability and sustainable finance, bringing over 15 years of international experience across leading financial institutions and environmental consultancies. His career spans prominent roles at HSBC, JP Morgan, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), and Arrow Energy, where he has led and contributed to impactful sustainability initiatives across Southeast Asia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

As Head of Sustainability for the Middle East at ING, Jonathan spearheads the bank’s regional strategy on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration. He plays a pivotal role in embedding ESG principles into client engagements, advancing innovative sustainable finance solutions, and supporting corporate clients in the development and execution of credible, science-based transition plans. His work is instrumental in aligning ING’s regional operations with global sustainability goals and fostering long-term value creation for clients navigating the evolving ESG landscape.

Chief Customer Officer

Andy Homer

Andy Homer joined Gatehouse Bank in June 2018 as Director of Communications and was appointed Chief Customer Officer in August 2021. Prior to this, Andy led the external communications team at Aldermore Bank, where he was responsible for establishing and managing the Bank’s corporate communications programme including its successful IPO and subsequent acquisition by FirstRand, South Africa’s largest bank. Andy has over 25 years’ experience in financial services and has held senior communications roles at a number of household names including NatWest, Alliance & Leicester, Santander and HSBC.

Head of Islamic Products, Mashreq

Salman Ahmed

He has more than 17 years of Retail Banking experience with top tier global & regional financial institutions in core product development, strategic roadmap development & execution, P&L management, segment level budgeting, management accounting & analysis, & process reengineering and ownership of E2E customer journeys while driving the stakeholders.  Salman Achieved these while managing the Governance Frameworks, Operational Risks, Compliance, Internal Audit in a strong regulatory risk management culture, by constantly engaging & managing expectations of Mgmt.

EMEA Sustainable Debt Team Leader. Bloomberg

Lina Abou Diab

Lina Abou Diab is the EMEA Sustainable Debt Team Leader at Bloomberg LP, where she plays a key role in advancing sustainable finance initiatives and market transparency across the region. With over a decade of experience at Bloomberg, including previous roles in company fundamentals and ESG analysis, she brings deep expertise in financial data, capital markets, and sustainability trends across emerging economies.

Lina holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University of Beirut and is recognised for her thought leadership on the evolving landscape of sustainable finance in the Gulf and broader EMEA markets.

Senior Director and Head of Education & Training at the International Capital Market Association

Marc Granville

Marc Granville is Senior Director and Head of Education & Training at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), where he leads a global training portfolio aligned with ICMA’s work in the primary and secondary fixed income markets, repo & collateral markets, sustainable finance and fintech & digitalisation spanning 71 jurisdictions.

Prior to his role at ICMA Marc has held senior roles in business schools, vocational training, and executive education in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Oman and New Zealand where he built and scaled programmes that combined academic rigour with commercial growth.

Marc has a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Auckland and has served on boards in schools and cricket clubs in London.

Senior Lawyer, ESG Advisor and ACC MENA Board Director

Layla El-Wafi

Layla El-Wafi is an executive lawyer qualified in English law with 20 years of experience in law, banking and finance, and human rights work across regions and sectors (US/UK/GCC and North Africa with NGOs/ MNCs/ law firms).  Layla most recently worked as senior legal counsel with an international bank based in the DIFC for 10.5 years  where she advised on new market entries to KSA, Egypt and ADGM, new products including sustainable finance and digital assets, and  advised on  commercial contracts, risk management, and regulatory compliance—including data privacy, sanctions, outsourcing, ESG and responsible AI.

Layla is a member of the DIFC Reg 10 Data Privacy and AI Ethics working group as and serves on other legal and cultural initiatives. Layla is bi-lingual (AR/EN), culturally fluent and committed to protecting cultural identity and building bridges between regions, sectors and people to promote respect, justice and peace. Her voice is both professional and creative – equally at home in a corporate boardroom or on stage performing spoken word poetry.

Head of Research, Islamic Finance, LSEG Data and Analytics

Tayyab Ahmed

Tayyab is Head of Research, Islamic Finance at LSEG Data & Analytics, leading the Islamic finance research team and overseeing the production of thought leadership reports on Islamic finance and MENA related topics.

Previously, Tayyab was a Senior Research Analyst at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), where he helped produce various thought leadership and foresight reports as part of the Islamic finance research team, such as the annual OIC Megatrends, IFDI & Sukuk Reports.

Earlier in his career, he was an Associate Director of Strategy in Malaysia for Ernst & Young (EY) where he focused on government strategy, team and stakeholder management, and mentoring associates.

Tayyab received his MPhil from Cambridge, LLM from London School of Economics, and Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.

, Islamic Finance Campaigner & Advisor to the Ummah for Earth Alliance with Greenpeace MENA

Tariq Al-Olaimy

Tariq Al-Olaimy is an Islamic finance campaigner and advisor to the Ummah for Earth Alliance with Greenpeace MENA. He holds advisory and board roles with entities such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UNEP & FAO), the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions’ Race to Resilience Campaign, the Global Shapers Community, 1t.org, and the EAT Forum—the leading science-based global platform for transforming food systems. Often working at the intersection of faith, finance, and sustainability, Tariq has co-founded several social enterprises, serves on faith based boards, and is an advisory board member of the World Economic Forum’s Faith in Action Report.

Managing Director, GEFI

Omar Shaikh

Omar is the Managing Director of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and Board Member of the UK Islamic Finance Council (UKIFC)

A Chartered Accountant by profession, he specialises in ethical/responsible finance, Islamic finance, and private equity. He has extensive experience in financial services and has advised multiple governments and regulators on ecosystem building as a leading advocate for sustainable and Islamic finance. His background includes working with EY London, where he qualified as a CA and was the former Head of Islamic finance.

Through his GEFI work, Omar has established a number of initiatives, including the Path to COP, the SDG Financial Products platform with UNDP, which promotes innovative financing structures for the SDGs, the Global Islamic Finance and UN SDGs Taskforce launched with the UK Government and IsDB, and the award-winning interfaith Edinburgh Finance Declaration—the world’s first shared values approach to finance between Islamic finance and the Church. He also served on the Board of the University of Oxford Faith-Aligned Impact Finance Project

Omar received a BAcc and a PhD from the University of Glasgow along with an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University conferred for his work in developing ethical finance. Beyond finance, he is actively involved with Colourful Heritage which works with Glasgow Museums to preserve and celebrate South Asian heritage in Scotland, The King’s Trust Scotland and Olivewood Primary School.