Meet the Speakers

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Dr. Syed Nazim Ali is the Director of the Research Division and the Center for Islamic Economics and Finance at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. With 30+ years of pioneering research in Islamic finance, he founded the Harvard University Islamic Finance Conference (HUFIC) and has collaborated with institutions like the U.S. Treasury and central banks worldwide. At HBKU, he continues to advance Islamic finance, launching the International Conference on Islamic Finance (ICIF) and publishing extensively on Shari‘ah governance, fintech, and circular economy. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from the University of Strathclyde.

Taha bin Hasan Abdul-Basser is an expert in Islamic ethics and law who has served as a Sharī`a advisor to financial service providers for more than 20 years. He is Managing Partner at Straightway Ethical Advisory. Previously, he was a Staff Consultant on Islamic Financial Ethics and Law at the Harvard Islamic Finance Information Program (HIFIP), Harvard Law School; independent study course instructor (Principles of Islamic Finance) at the Harvard Business School; Senior Tutorial Advisor in the Department of Near Eastern Language and Civilizations, Harvard University and Harvard Islamic Society Chaplain (emeritus) at Harvard College.

Dominique Russo brings over two decades of investment management, board advisory, corporate structuring, and nation-level advisory experience, having commenced her investment management career at Merrill Lynch and later moving to the GCC with the strategy firm Booz Allen Hamilton/Booz & Company before launching various advisory firms. Ms. Russo has advised numerous governments and semi-governmental entities on economic development strategy, investment affairs, and nation-level policy development for areas ranging from bilateral relations to AI, dESG-related, policy future-oriented education and innovation ecosystems, food security, and emerging technology. In addition, she has significant start-up experience and has advised and led multinational family conglomerates in the wider MENAP region as an advisor, CEO, and Board Director. More recently, she has been helping a national AI authority with strategy and partnerships to accelerate AI adoption across sectors. Ms. Russo holds degrees from Columbia University, MIT, and Harvard, including a Bachelor’s in Economics, an MBA, and a Master in Public Admin.

Mig Gebril is a software engineer and trader at Tanius Technology, LCC. He is a graduate of NYU’s Courant Institute with a degree in Computer Science. He is the Co-Founder of Event Horizon, a public-access, public-good decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). With extensive experience in high-frequency trading, Mig Gebril served as the lead developer for a prominent trading platform, later expanding his expertise as both tech lead and crypto futures trader at a proprietary market-making firm with a monthly crypto volume of $22 billion in spot markets. His work sits at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and finance.

Imran Sayeed is a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he teaches Disruptive Technologies, New Business Models, Corporate Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Scale. He is the Founder of Teach the World Foundation, a non-profit promoting children’s literacy using low-cost tablets and educational games. Mr. Sayeed is on the Advisory Board of Disrupt.com and Sheraa, a major entrepreneurship center in the UAE. He has also served on the board of Engro, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate in Pakistan, and on the Industry Advisory Board of HERE Technologies, Europe’s largest mapping company. Previously, he was the CTO and head of the Digital practice at NTT Data, and before that, led a global technology organization at Keane. An entrepreneur for 13 years, Mr. Sayeed founded two successful software companies, taking one public, and was the founding global President of OPEN, an entrepreneurship organization with over 5000 members in 14 cities.

Dr. Ahmet F. Aysan is a professor at the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) and the Program Coordinator of the PhD and MS programs in Islamic Finance and Economy. He has been the Board Member and Monetary Policy Committee member of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and served as a consultant at various institutions such as the World Bank, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and Oxford Analytica. Specializing in Islamic finance, Fintech, macroeconomics, political economy, and banking, Dr. Aysan serves on the editorial and advisory boards of several international journals and has received grants from organizations such as the ERF and TUBITAK. He was also an advisory board member for Contemporary Turkish Studies at LSE. In 2020, the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal recognized him as a top influencer in Islamic banking and finance.

Rafi-uddin Shikoh is dedicated to empowering organizations to become global brands with socially responsible impact, while addressing the innovation gap in Islamic economies. Since 2008, he has led DinarStandard, a research and analytics advisory serving global corporations, governments, and investors in 12+ countries. He has spoken at over 70 international conferences, including at Oxford and Harvard, and has been featured in major media outlets like The Economist and CNN. Rafi-uddin’s projects include innovation workshops for the Dubai Ministry and authoring the Government in 2071 Guidebook. With 15 years of prior experience in marketing strategy and technology management, he previously served as Vice President at Marsh Inc. He holds an MBA from UNC-Charlotte and a BS in Marketing from Southwest State, Minnesota.

Moid Mohammed is a partner in McKinsey’s Chicago office and a leader in the McKinsey Digital practice in North America. He helps top companies meet the challenge of digital innovation by incorporating transformational technology and digital capabilities into overall strategy. He has worked extensively with organizations across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to drive technology-led performance acceleration and growth. Before McKinsey, Moid was a corporate strategist in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. He is passionate about creating equitable access to healthcare and education for disadvantaged communities, volunteering with several global non-profits in advisory roles, including the Executives’ Club of Chicago.

Dr. Waleed El-Ansary is the Helal, Hisham, and Laila Edris El-Swedey University Chair in Islamic Studies at Xavier University, where he teaches courses on comparative religion, Islamic studies, and religion and science. Dr. Ansary holds a Ph.D. in Islamic and Religious Studies from George Washington University and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland. His research focuses on the intersection of religion, science, and economics, with publications such as Islamic Environmental Economics and Knowing the Religion of the Other, co-authored with religious leaders and published in multiple languages.

Dr. Murniati Mukhlisin is a distinguished academic in Islamic accounting and finance, currently serving as a Professor at Institut Agama Islam Tazkia in Bogor, Indonesia. She holds two PhDs: one in Al-Qur’an Tafsir Study from PTIQ University and another in Islamic Accounting from the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on the Islamic political economy and halal industry. Dr. Mukhlisin is a prominent member of various organizations, including the Islamic Financial Literacy Working Group with the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia and the Chairperson of the Islamic Financial Planners Association. She has been recognized as one of the Most Influential Figures in Islamic Financial Literacy by the Financial Services Authority in 2023 and was honored as a Women Academia and Influencer in Islamic Finance by Cambridge IFA in 2022 and 2023. With extensive experience in academia and the financial sector, Dr. Mukhlisin has held several leadership positions, including Rector of Tazkia Islamic University and Director of Sakinah Finance Research Institute. Her contributions to Islamic finance also extend to editorial roles in leading journals and consulting work in Islamic accounting.

Yousef Wahb is an Islamic Law Instructor at the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law, a Family Law & Islamic Finance Author for LexisNexis Canada, and a Research Director at Yaqeen Institute. He holds an LL.M from Windsor Law, an MA from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a Bachelor’s in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Yousef is also a co-founding board member of Green Ummah, a founding board member of the University of Windsor Muslim Chaplaincy, and an Islamic Compliance Advisor at Beneficent. Currently, Yousef is pursuing his PhD in Islamic Law at the University of Chicago Division of Humanities.

Yasir Qadhi is an American Muslim scholar and theologian. He is dean of The Islamic Seminary of America and resident scholar of the East Plano Islamic Center in Plano, Texas. He was formerly the dean of Al Maghrib Institute and taught in the religious studies department at Rhodes College.

Dr. Ovamir Anjum is the Founder & Chief Research Officer of Ummatics. He is also the author of the article “Who Wants the Caliphate?” published in 2019 at Yaqeen Institute which serves as the provocation for this project. He is professor and endowed chair of Islamic studies in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo, co-editor of the American Journal of Islam and Society (previously known as the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences), and recently appointed editor-in-chief for the review board at the Yaqeen Institute. His areas of research include Islamic history, theology, political thought, and history broadly.

Omar Bassal is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Shukr Investments. Prior to Shukr, served as head of asset management for a multi-billion dollar family office in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest investment banks in the Middle East. Previous to his experience in the Middle East, Mr. Bassal was a portfolio manager at an SEC-registered investment adviser in the United States. Current Investment Committee Member of Wahed Invest and Fund Board Director at Albilad Capital and Saudi Blominvest Holds an MBA with honors in finance, management, and statistics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Khaled (Kal) Elsayed is the President and CEO of Guidance Residential, responsible for the company’s overall management and performance. He is a leading U.S. home finance industry executive with broad national experience in all aspects of the business, including sales and operations. He is an accomplished leader in start-up and high-growth business environments and has extensive experience in building motivated teams to achieve and exceed target objectives. Kaled was previously president and CEO of Home View Lending, where he helped start the company and build its sales and operating structure. Prior to Home View, he held various executive positions with New Century Mortgage Corp, such as President of the Wholesale Division, where he assumed full P&L responsibility and grew annual production from US $4 billion to US $46 billion in three years.

Irshad Rasheed is the President, Islamic Banking Division Stearns Bank, N.A. Stearns Bank, N.A is a well-capitalized, $2.4 billion national bank with operations across all 50 states, with physical locations in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. Its headquarters is located in St. Cloud, MN. Irshad is a seasoned executive with a track record of developing new markets, solutions, and products across multiple industries. He has built companies by creating innovations in business processes, building effective management teams, and instilling a sense of urgency and purpose in the mission of the company. He has successfully led and exited companies while creating intrinsic value and compelling products. His current focus is on Islamic Finance. For Stearns Bank Islamic Division, he provides overall direction and oversees its execution including its financial performance, strategic growth, regulatory compliance, and risk management.

Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf is the Co-Founder & CEO of Manzil, Canada’s only Islamic FinTech offering Halal mortgages and investment funds. He holds a Doctorate in Islamic Finance, with research focused on the adoption of Islamic banking among Canadian Muslims. He also earned an MBA in Finance (Rotman, Canada) and an MSc in Corporate Governance (Henley, UK). A recognized expert in Islamic Finance in Canada, Dr. Sawwaf consults for the UAE government and teaches corporate and Islamic finance at local business schools. He also serves as Chairman of the Canada Arab Business Council, advising on policies to enhance trade and investment between Canada and Arab countries.

Saad Malik is the Co-Founder and CEO of Zoya, a fintech platform dedicated to providing Shariah-compliant investment tools for Muslims. With a background in finance and technology, Malik founded Zoya to make halal investing more accessible, allowing users to screen stocks for compliance with Islamic principles. Zoya’s platform has become a trusted resource for over 100,000 investors worldwide. The company focuses on helping Muslims take control of their financial future by offering tools for stock screening, Zakat calculation, and more, aligning with both ethical and faith-based values.

Erinn Corbett-Wright is the Senior Manager of Philanthropy at Salesforce, overseeing a grantmaking portfolio that supports underrepresented youth in accessing digital skills and career opportunities in tech. With over a decade of experience in social impact, she specializes in nonprofit management, corporate social responsibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Erinn also founded Ethos Advisory Services, consulting on social good strategies, and teaches nonprofit fundraising at Temple University. A recognized leader, she serves on various boards and has been honored by multiple organizations. Erinn is passionate about creating a high-functioning nonprofit sector and finding solutions to alleviate intergenerational poverty in her region.

Kalia Abiade is the Vice President of Programs at Pillars Fund, responsible for refining the organization’s strategy and executing its mission. She draws on nearly two decades of experience advocating for equity and racial justice in media, policy, and philanthropy. Before joining Pillars, Kalia served as an organizer and policy advocate, advancing media accountability, immigrant and refugee rights, religious freedom, voter access, and civic participation. Her analysis has been cited in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, National Public Radio and the Associated Press, among other outlets. She currently serves as the co-chair of the board of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, on the board of Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN), and on the policy committee of Independent Sector. Kalia was raised in California, is a graduate of the University of Florida, and lives with her family in Chicago.

Zeshan Gondal is Senior Vice President of the Islamic Banking Division at Stearns Bank National Association, a $3.1 billion independently-owned financial institution operating across the United States. Zeshan was previously a Partner and Head of Investments at Zayn Venture Capital, an early-stage Venture Capital firm. He has also worked as a David Swensen Fellow at Yale University, where he advised senior University leadership on strategy related to the University’s $5B annual budget and $41B endowment. Zeshan’s background is primarily in finance, investments, and strategy. Zeshan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he served as Co-President of the Harvard Business School Islamic Society.

Dr. Aamir A. Rehman is Chair of Innate Capital, which has invested in 10 fintech companies that help people better align their finances with their values. Innate is also an investor in 7 funds committed to positive social impact. Dr. Rehman is additionally a faculty member at Columbia Business School. He has taught private equity to over 400 MBA students since 2021. Dr. Rehman serves on the boards of Stearns Salaam Banking, Fajr Capital Advisors, INCEIF University, Shukr Investments, and Salaam Finance (Australia). He chairs the LPAC of Mindshift Capital and is a trustee of Mercer County Community College and Rutgers Preparatory School. Dr. Rehman holds AB, AM, and MBA degrees from Harvard and a doctoral degree from Columbia.

Dr. Tanvir Uddin is the Founder & CEO of Wholesum Responsible Fund, Australia’s first global halal short-term investment fund, which has invested in over 100 businesses. Previously, he co-founded and served as CFO of Vyro, a sustainable mobility platform for electric vehicles, and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey and as Commercial Manager at green fintech Brighte. Tanvir holds a PhD from the University of Sydney in Islamic law and sustainable development, as well as First-Class Honors degrees from the University of New South Wales, where he was a Scientia Scholar. He also completed a Master’s in Islamic Finance from IE Business School.

Bilal Kaleem is the Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Hoopoe Advisors. His background is in finance, technology, and non-profit management. He completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from MIT in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a Master’s degree from Harvard focusing on finance and international trade. He is credentialed with Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations. Prior to Hoopoe, Bilal was at J.P. Morgan in multiple roles, including the Chief Investment Office/Treasury, and Asset Management. Prior to that he led a non-profit focused on immigrant civic engagement where he completed the planning and financing of a $16 million cultural center. His experience in technology includes a communications startup, and designing business analysis software at Oracle Corporation.

Raheel Irfan is the CEO of National Zakat Foundation Canada (NZF Canada), a pioneering initiative dedicated to utilizing Zakat funds to support deserving recipients across the country. Since its inception in 2013, NZF Canada has become a ground-breaking organization, distributing over $5 million in Zakat and Sadaqah to help vulnerable Muslims, including new converts, widows, orphans, refugees, the elderly, and the homeless.

Muhi Khwaja is the Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer at the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF), where he connects donors with impactful nonprofits. With over a decade of experience, Muhi has worked with several organizations, including the University of Michigan, Islamic Relief USA, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the American Red Cross, which led to his founding of the American Muslim Fund. In 2016, he earned the Certified Fundraising Executive designation from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and in 2017, a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy, where he is also Adjunct Faculty. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Natalie, and their pets, Ninja and Atlas.

Hussam Qutub is the Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager for Guidance Residential. Hussam joined Guidance in March 2003 and has served in a variety of Senior and Executive Management roles. He specializes in leadership and team building, business development, communications management, branding and positioning, public relations, digital marketing, and lead generation.

Samim Abedi is the Global Head of Portfolio Management at Wahed, with nearly a decade of experience in institutional and retail asset management. Previously, he managed Google’s internal investments portfolio and spent six years at J.P. Morgan in New York, focusing on investment strategy, research, and portfolio management for non-profits. He has expertise in equities, credit, alternative investments, and portfolio construction for both institutional clients and individuals. Samim earned his B.A. with honors in Economics and Anthropology from Williams College.

Dr. Aamir A. Rehman is Chair of Innate Capital, which has invested in 10 fintech companies that help people better align their finances with their values. Innate is also an investor in 7 funds committed to positive social impact. Dr. Rehman is additionally a faculty member at Columbia Business School. He has taught private equity to over 400 MBA students since 2021. Dr. Rehman serves on the boards of Stearns Salaam Banking, Fajr Capital Advisors, INCEIF University, Shukr Investments, and Salaam Finance (Australia). He chairs the LPAC of Mindshift Capital and is a trustee of Mercer County Community College and Rutgers Preparatory School. Dr. Rehman holds AB, AM, and MBA degrees from Harvard and a doctoral degree from Columbia.

Mujtaba Wani is a Principal at GSV Ventures. He is involved with the firm’s investments in Abwaab, Classplus, PhysicsWallah, and Quizizz, among others. Previously, Mujtaba worked in the private equity group at BlackRock, where he helped invest in companies including Asurion, Cotiviti, and Rivian. Mujtaba holds a B.A. from Yale University.

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