Datuk Noripah Kamso is the Chief Executive of CIMB-Principal Asset Management Berhad, a position she assumed in September 2004 after bringing more than 22 years experience in corporate credit and lending: 10 years via a Commercial Bank outfit, and 12 years via Investment Banking outfit. She has managed a Derivatives Broking Outfit via CIMB Futures Sdn Bhd for 9 years. Deemed a two-time winner of the “Marketing Personality of the Year” award (for 2006 & 2005) by Asia Asset Management for the Asia Pacific region, Datuk Noripah has successfully overseen CIMB-Principal’s further expansion into new markets and institutional mandates. She currently serves as Council Member of the Federation of Malaysian Unit Trust Managers (FMUTM) and as Deputy Chairman of FMUTM's Education Committee. Besides being a Past President of the Malaysian Futures Brokers Association (MFBA), Datuk Noripah also authored the book “Credit Decision Making: The Qualitative Credit Approach”, which was used by Institut Bank Bank Malaysia (IBBM) as a module for its Certified Credit Professional (CCP) exam. She graduated from Northern Illinois University, Delkalb, USA and obtained her MBA from Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA.

Mr. Danial Mah Abdullah is the Deputy Director-General of the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority or LOFSA. Mr. Danial Mah is a Chartered Accountant registered with the Malaysia Institute of Accountants and also an Associate Member of the Institute of Bankers Malaysia. Mr. Danial Mah holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Malaya and a Masters in Business Administration (with Distinction) from Manchester Business School, England.

He is the Shari'ah Controller & Research Analyst at SHAPE Financial Corp. He is supporting SHAPE Shari'ah fund and sukuk structuring and monitoring of projects in the GCC, US, and Southeast Asia, as well as assisting in the design of English and Arabic language materials meant to make non-specialist find Islamic finance more accessible. Muhamed is a graduate of the University of Madina in Fiqh and Usul al Fiqh and holds a master s degree in Fiqh Muamalat (the Islamic rules relating to commerce and finance) from the International Islamic University in Malaysia. His Master s thesis focused on Sukuk al Mudaraba and its implementation in Islamic Capital Markets. Muhamed s recent research relates to the practical applications of the concept of istijrar, tawarruq, sukuk forms, the Islamic rules of exchange applicable to sukuk, and Saudi Arabian capital markets rules. During the past year, Muhamed s client related work included developing musharaka and wakala structures to replace tawarruq as applied by an EU based multi-national in its GCC and Islamic market support for clients. He has assisted a Saudi Arabian client in the understanding of sukuk al istithmar applications for the restructuring of the client s balance sheet. And, he has worked on the Sharia a analysis and implementation of a royalty based sukuk concept for a Southeast Asian based client. Muhamed has been a frequent lecturer in the fields of fiqh and usul al fiqh over the past five years. He has performed training in Islamic finance for private clients and public courses in Malaysia, Egypt, Kuwait, Dubai, Russia, London and Saudi Arabia. He presents in Arabic, English and Bosnian.

Remy Briand is in charge of the continual expansion, refinement and improvement of MSCI indices. He oversees the research on methodological and index design matters related to new and existing indices. He manages a global team of researchers located in New York, London, Geneva, Hong Kong and Mumbai. Remy Briand is also leading MSCI Barra’s applied research effort. In close contact with MSCI Barra’s clients, the applied research group identifies early stage investment trends and helps clients understand how MSCI Barra’s research and products can improve their investment process. Mr. Briand joined MSCI in 2001 as Head of the Benchmark Research Group focusing on research on equity indices. Mr. Briand joined MSCI from Credit Lyonnais Asset Management in Paris where he held the position of Head of Research and managed a team of financial analysts covering Europe. In this capacity, he was also a member of the firm’s equity investment committee. Prior to this role, Mr. Briand has been managing several European small cap funds. Mr. Briand began his career as a private equity analyst at Credit Lyonnais. Mr. Briand holds a MSc. in Computer Sciences from INSA (Lyon) and an MBA from HEC (Paris).

Mr. Daouk joined SHUAA Asset Management in May 2006, and is now the fund manager to the MAHA High Income Fund and the Arab Income Fund. Prior to that, Mr. Daouk spent 6 years at Brockhouse and Cooper Inc. an international boutique investment broking and consulting firm in Montreal, Canada as a Senior Associate responsible for executing fixed income and foreign exchange mandates for several pension plans in North America. Mr. Daouk holds a BComm degree in Management and Finance from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He also holds the Canadian Securities Certification, Canadian Ethics Certification and NASD Series 38.

Suryono joined CIMB Islamic as one of its pioneer members in 2003, bringing with him more than fourteen years of experience in the financial sector. He is responsible for all Islamic asset management business in the CIMB Group. Suryono works directly with the Group’s various business entities - namely CIMB Private Equity, CIMB-Principal Asset Management, CIMB Wealth Advisors, CIMB-Mapletree (Real Estate), Commerce Ventures (Venture Capital), CIMB-Standard(Infrastructure), CIMB Investment Bank and CIMB Bank. Suryono’s primary responsibilities amongst others include product & business development, originating, structuring, executing and implementing various Islamic Capital markets products and advisory services. Previously, he was a Partner and spent three years in an equity hedge fund firm of Kenrich Partners (Singapore). Prior to that Suryono spent six years as Head in the Global Desk in Refco Capital Markets(Singapore) specialising in foreign exchange, global futures, options and derivatives. Suryono is responsible for the building CIMB Islamic banking and finance business in South East Asia and is also a member of the Investment Committee for CIMB Private Equity.

Hatim Tahir, FCIB, FSI, is Head of Training, DIFX Academy, Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX). He develops the Academy’s strategy for professional competency-based training and education in financial markets. He also assists the DIFX in business and product development, and research relating to conventional and Islamic capital markets to support the launch of various markets within the Exchange. Before joining the DIFX he was Head of Islamic Banking and Finance at the Emirates Institute for Banking (EIBFS) and prior to that chaired the Finance Department, Faculty of Business Administration, Ajman University (AUST). He also spent over ten years as a business consultant in the United Kingdom. Dr Tahir has many years experience in the operations and regulation of Islamic financial markets including securities regulation expertise in the GCC capital markets. He was instrumental in developing capital markets education in the GCC and Malaysia; an initiative led by the NASD (now INFRA International), University of Reading and INCEIF. Dr Tahir holds a PhD in Banking and Finance from University of London, and was a Research Associate at the London School of Economics from 1995-2001, now Fellow of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), University of Reading, UK.

Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, 34 was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive of CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad on 28 February 2006. He joined Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) in 2002 and was attached to the Corporate Finance Division, prior to his appointment as the Head of CIMB Islamic. He is responsible for all Islamic banking and finance business of the CIMB Group. He also sits on various group management committees of the CIMB Group. Under his leadership, CIMB Islamic has since its launch in June 2003 has received numerous accolades awarded by local and international financial fraternities. “The Best Islamic Bank in Asia 2006” awarded by Euromoney and the “Global Islamic investment Bank of The year 2006” from the Banker is the latest testimony to CIMB Islamic’s expertise and excellence in Islamic finance and underlines its dominance in this field. Prior to CIMB Group, he was attached with an offshore banking subsidiary of a premier Malaysia Islamic financial group in Structured Finance, Capital Market and Syndications. As a thoroughbred Islamic Banker, he has been involved in more than USD10 billion Islamic financial deals locally and globally. Amongst his notable accomplishments is the creation and introduction of the first sukuk al ijarah in the world, the first istisna’ sukuk in the world, and the first musyarakah ABS and RMBS in the world. In the Dec’04/Jan’05 edition of Euromoney, Badlisyah was named one of the “Global Top 20 Pioneer in Islamic Finance” for his prominent contribution to the development of the Islamic financial sector in Malaysia and globally. He sits on various industry committees. Amongst them are – • The Treasury & Debt Markets Committee, the Malaysian Investment Banking Association • The Consultative Committee on Islamic Securities, the Securities Commission (SC), Malaysia • The Listing Committee, Labuan International Financial Exchange • The Islamic Capital Market Consultative Panel, Bursa Malaysia • The Exchange committee, Labuan International Financial Exchange • Board of Directors, the International Islamic Financial Market, Bahrain • The Islamic Accounting Standard Committee, Malaysian Accounting Standard Committee, Malaysian Accounting Standards Board. He has a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. He is also a Director of CIMB-Kanoo Islamic Investment Company BSC ©, Bahrain.

Syed Tariq Husain is the first CEO of Emirates Global Islamic Bank. As such he was largely instrumental at each stage, from obtaining a license to commencement of banking operations in February 2007. As a sponsor shareholder, he also had been involved in the establishment of Takaful Pakistan which commenced operations in March 2007. Mr.Husain is a seasoned banker with 28 years of diversified local and international experience. He trained and worked initially with Chartered Accountancy firms Deloitte and Touché, Ernst & Young and PWC. His banking career started with ANZ Grindlays Bank in 1987 as Senior Auditor and later he rose to the position of Country Treasurer and Strategic Planning Manager. In 1997 Mr.Husain was appointed as Head of Global Islamic Finance and Director Global structured Finance by ANZ Investment Bank, London to develop Islamic Investment banking. Prior to joining Emirates Global Islamic Bank, Mr.Husain worked with Dubai Investment Group, Dubai with responsibility for developing Islamic finance, Private Equity and Real Estate. He was instrumental in launching a listed Takaful company and establishing an Islamic European Property fund. Mr.Husain is a qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in Pakistan, Canada, England & Wales and he also obtained an MBA from York University, Canada.

Datuk Mohamed Azahari, graduated from the Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam with a Diploma in Banking in 1980 and subsequently obtained his BBA (Finance) from the Western Michigan University in 1982. He obtained his MBA (Finance) from the Central Michigan University in US in 1984. He started his career with the Malaysian French Bank in 1984 as a Credit and Marketing Officer after which he joined Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad in 1985 as a Project Officer. In 1988, he joined MIDF Corporate Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd as a Manager, Public Issues and Marketing. From 1989 to 1992, he was attached to Bapema Corporation Sdn Bhd as a Senior Manager, Investment and Corporate Planning. From January 1993 to May 1993, he was the Assistant General Manager of Business Development for Island and Peninsular Berhad. From June 1993 to March 1994 he was attached to Kimara Equities Sdn Bhd as an Executive Director after which he joined PB Securities Sdn Bhd in April 1994 as a Corporate Institutional Dealer until October 1994. In November 1994, he established JMF Asset Management Sdn Bhd assuming the role of Managing Director. In September 2005, Amanah Raya Berhad acquired 70% in JMF-Asset Management and Datuk Azahari was appointed as Managing Director of the newly-formed entity AmanahRaya-JMF Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. He is a Director of Yayasan Pelajaran MARA (YPM), member of the YPM Investment Committee and Chairman of the YPM Audit Committee. He is also a Director of Sapura Technology Berhad and Board Member of Amanah Raya Berhad Group. Licensed Fund Manager’s Representative under the Securities Industry Act (1983) since 1995.

Dr Khorshid has been involved with financial institutions for over 3 decades with comprehensive skills and knowledge in Islamic finance; He is recognised expert on Shariah compliant finance, within the Islamic law, Islamic moamlat, and Islamic contracts. Dr Khorshid started his carrier with international marketing and trade; He served as a Shariah board member of bank Al-Baraka (The first Islamic bank in the UK) he dealt with the U.K treasury and Bank of England departments in relation to the regulatory of Islamic banking issues. Dr Khorshid has master’s degree in management, and a PhD on Islamic economics from the University of Leeds (UK), His Publications includes, Islamic Insurance “A modern Approach to Islamic Banking” 2004, Islamic Finance Managements with particular regards to capital market 2007, and Encyclopaedia of Islamic finance “expected publication 2008”, He also has many articles published on Islamic finance. Dr Khorshid gives consultancy services on Islamic finance on legal and financial issues and Shariah compliant products, with particular experience in harmonising the western conventional financial systems with the Islamic financial structure. He is a Consultant to central bank on establishing Islamic banking system through Central bank regulatory policies and corporate governance. Dr Khorshid also took part in structuring Islamic home purchase scheme and Islamic capital market products. He is a trustee member of Oxford Academy (UK), member of the institute of management consultancy (UK), and visiting lecturer in El-Azhar University ”Egypt” and ‘SOAS’ University of London on Islamic finance. Dr Khorshid was a director of several companies in the U.K where he gained practical experience in business management. He is a speaker at numerous conferences and seminars in Asia, Europe and in the Middle East. He Host and produce TV chat and debates on Islamic finance issues.

Mr. Kevin Jung Gang Lim is in charge of STIC’s Global operation. Prior to joining STIC Investments, Kevin worked for Samsung Electronics, where he was a Global Marketing Manager for five years and was involved in various overseas investment projects. He was directly involved in financing and marketing activities in the Regional Strategy Division. In addition, Kevin led many overseas marketing projects for high-tech products. Kevin started his professional career at LG Electronics, where he was a member of the Corporate Strategy Planning Division. Kevin participated in many corporate-level projects such as CI Project and internal consulting on overseas business operations. He also led the establishment project of S/W research center in Bangalore, India. Kevin received an MBA from the Wharton School, where his primary interest was Venture Capital and Private Equity. He earned his BA and MA in Indian Studies with Honors from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi India.

He is the founding President of Davos Management Institute, in Davos, Switzerland. www.davosmi.org. and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Najadi, is the first Arab Merchant Banker, linking the Middle East countries to the economies of Malaysia, and other ASEAN member countries. NAJADI is the Chairman & CEO of AIAK Group of Companies, Malaysia and Switzerland. www.aiakswiss.com, AIAK Group in 1975 founded the Arab Malaysian Banking Group (AMBG), now a US$ 16 Billion Banking Group in Asia. www.ambg.com.my. He founded (AIAK Group, early l973), which founded the Arab Malaysian Banking Group. in 1975 with an initial paid in capital of US$ 2 million only. AMBG soon became the largest Licensed Merchant Bank in Malaysia, now with total Group assets of US Dollars 16 billions. He made the bank public in 1981 and listed the same on Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Now it is a prime banking Group in Malaysia, under the name of AMBANK GROUP.

Christopher O’Brien is Vice President of Business Development for Standard & Poor's Index Services in Europe and Asia. Mr. O’Brien, who is based in Paris, is responsible for expanding S&P’s presence in these regions, including promotion of index-linked products and institutional benchmarking services for the full range of S&P and S&P/Citigroup global equity indices. Prior to joining Standard & Poor's, Mr. O’Brien was Vice President of International Sales at Crédit Lyonnais Asset Management. Before joining Crédit Lyonnais in 1998, Mr. O’Brien spent 11 years in international marketing and sales with Schlumberger Industries, LVMH, and as a management consultant with Solving International. Mr. O’Brien holds degrees in International Affairs with a specialization in Soviet foreign policy from Bucknell University, USA and Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, France.

Mr. Sandwick, a native of California, has been a private banker in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1993, and an investment and banking professional since 1989. He has built as cornerstones of his profession an expertise in Islamic asset management, family business and real estate. Mr. Sandwick did his undergraduate studies in International Finance & Commerce at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He received his Master’s degree with honors in Development Banking at The American University, also in Washington. From 1984 to 1989 Mr. Sandwick was a director at the Washington-based Middle East Policy Council, where he led numerous programs on U.S.-Arab economic, commercial and investment policy management issues. During 1989-93 he worked at REM Capital Corporation in Washington, followed by joining Deutsche Bank (Suisse) S.A. in 1993, and later Banque Leu S.A. (Switzerland’s oldest bank, and a division of Credit Suisse Private Banking), both in Geneva. Among Mr. Sandwick’s most recent achievements was the founding of Sanad Sukuk Fund, the world’s first diversified sharia-qualified sukuk mutual fund. Mr. Sandwick serves on the Board of Directors of the fund management company. As a private banker, Mr. Sandwick directs traditional and Islamic wealth management for several high-net-worth families, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and has responsibility to manage both financial and real estate assets. He founded Encore Management S.A. in 1998 to deliver highly personal wealth management services to a small number of customers. In 1987 Mr. Sandwick’s The Gulf Cooperation Council was published (Westwood Press), the first-ever English-language book on the economic integration of the Arabian Gulf states. The book was later used as a graduate textbook for emerging-market courses at several prominent U.S. universities. In addition, Mr. Sandwick has frequently been published in many Arab-world newspapers and magazines on investment and finance subjects—including in Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Iktissad Wal Aamal. For three years through 1997 he wrote the semi-annual reports on Saudi banking, finance & capital markets for The Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister publication to The Economist. Mr. Sandwick speaks frequently at conferences and seminars on family business, banking, investment, real estate and finance issues. He has spoken at dozens of conferences & seminars since 1995, including serving as chairman of numerous family business, risk management, Islamic wealth management and real estate investment conferences. Mr. Sandwick also appeared frequently as guest commentator for Arabic business television, and periodically as guest lecturer for private corporate groups. Mr. Sandwick was born in 1957, and lives with his wife and daughter in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Smyth has recently taken over as Managing Director of Failaka International after working with the firm, on a part-time basis, since the firm’s launch over 10 years ago. Failaka was the first firm to monitor the development of the world’s Islamic equity funds and continues to publish the “Failaka Islamic Funds Report” as well as host the annual “Failaka Islamic Funds Award”. Previously, Mark was a partner with the Kuwait-based investment house, TII, were he was involved in the firm’s acquisitions efforts. He began his career with the Bank of Montreal’s Harris Trust and Savings Bank in his native Chicago, and has also gained experience in the field of commodity trading. His articles on the currency markets have been widely syndicated in both print and on-line mediums. Mr. Smyth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and an MBA in International Finance from DePaul University in Chicago, as well as a NASD Series 3 license.

Dr. Angelo Venardos is the Founder and Executive Director of the Heritage Trust Group based in Singapore. Angelo Venardos is a banker by training with many years of experience in corporate and offshore banking. He holds degrees in Economics and Marketing, an MBA, a Master of Jurisprudence (Corporate & Common Law) and a Doctorate of Legal Science, on the subject of “The Global Regulation of Offshore Financial Centres with Reference to Singapore” The principal activities of Heritage are the provision of fiduciary and trust services, including assisting clients in the establishment of companies in various jurisdictions around the world, as well as Singapore. Through its affiliated offices in Geneva, Hong Kong, BVI and Brunei, the Heritage Trust Group is able to provide its high net worth and corporate clients in the Asia Pacific region with global structured solutions. Angelo is a member of the Singapore Institute of Company Directors (SID), Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Dr Venardos developed an interest in Islamic Banking & Finance after attending the first International Islamic Finance Forum (March 2002) in Dubai, and has since written a book on the topic “Islamic Banking & Finance in South East Asia-It’s development & Future” The Arabic translation rights to the second edition of his book have been sold to the King Saud University in the Middle East.

Etsuaki Yoshida is Deputy Director at Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Before moving to JBIC in April 2007, he was an economist for the Bank of Japan in charge of Japan and foreign exchange markets. He covered Southeast Asian economies and financial markets during 2003-2006 when based in Singapore, and became involved with Islamic Finance. His main works include “Islamic Finance in modern times and its implication to the Japanese financial industry” and “Policy measures on Islamic Finance in Singapore”, both in the journal, ‘International Finance’, in Japanese. He received a B.A. in Business Administration from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, after attending Harvard University.