Strategy Forum

Kuala Lumpur Event: Strategy Forum Initiated

DinarStandard is proud to introduce Kuala Lumpur's DinarStandard Strategy Forum Coordinator and Co-coordinators.  Mr. Abd Hamid Ahmad, Vice President, Technology, Global Globe (M) Sdn Bhd will be the desgnated Coordinator for Kuala Lumpur Strategy Forums.  He will be supported by a network of other volunteers including co-coordinators Mr. Nurisman Maarop and Mr. Ramzi Haffeel.

The coordinators are planning an event in late September, 2007 on the topic of "Towards high Performance Innovation in Muslim World"

More information will be posted soon.  In the meantime, the Coordinators can be contacted through the following email: info@dinarstandard.com

Toronto Event a Success: What's the Big Buzz with Islamic Finance?

CAMP Toronto (www.campnet.net) and DinarStandard (www.dinarstandard.com) lead another successful event in Toronto on May 24, 2007 at York University with over 200 guests who packed the hall.

The CAMP/DS Islamic Finance Strategy Forum was an event catered to benefit the greater community at large. Attendees who came from as far as Montreal , Ottawa and  California  learnt about the origins, basics, and fundamentals of Islamic Finance and Banking, as well as the options that exist in Canada today.

There were 6 panelists at this jam packed event, including Professor Mohammad Fadel, Rushdi Siddiqui, Sajjad Chowdry, Suhail Ahmad, Omar Kalair and Omar Hayat.  Professor Mohammad Fadel, Assistant Law Professor at U of T, spoke about details and the importance of legal contracts in Islamic Banking.

(Photo from Left: Ms. Farheen Khan, President CAMP - Toronto; Mr. Mohammad Fadel, Assistant Law Professor, University of Toronto; Mr. Sajjad Chowdhry, Associate Editor, DinarStandard.com;  Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Director, Islamic Indexes, Dow Jones; Ms. Urz Heer, Chairperson, CAMP International)

• Mr. Sajjad Chowdry, co-founder DinarStandards.com, commenced the program with an overview of the Islamic Finance industry on a global perspective as well as an idea on where the industry will go from here. (Download DS_Slides_for_Toronto_Final.ppt )
• Mr. Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Director, Islamic Indexes, Dow Jones, spoke about his experiences with the Islamic Finance industry and where it is headed, his presentation kept the audience enthralled for the entire presentation.
• Mr. Suhail Ahmad, Chief Investment Officer, Ittihad Securities, spoke about his entrepreneurial experience as well as the options that are offered by Ittihad Securities and Ittihad Capital Corporation.
• Mr. Omar Kalair, Chief Executive Officer, UM Financial, spoke about Islamic Mortgages and Personal Banking options.
• Mr. Omar Hayat, Portfolio Manager, representing the Investors Group spoke about getting involved in getting the Banking industry even if it’s in a conventional institution; we all have to start from somewhere, especially since there is a growing need for experienced bankers and professionals to join the Islamic finance industry.

(Photo from Left: Mr. Omar Hayat, Investment Consultant, Investor’s Group; Mr. Omar Kalair, Chief Executive Officer, UM Financial; Mr. Suhail Ahmad, Chief Investment Officer, Ittihad Securities Inc.)

There was an engaging and very informative question and answer session which followed.  The event gave many members of the community an opportunity to understand the Islamic Finance industry and the options that are available, as well as the career opportunities that exist in this fast growing industry.

Sponsors for this event included Ittihad Securities, Frontier Alt & UM Financial.

We thank all the participants, the speakers, and sponsors for their support.

CAMP & Dinarstandard have thus far, held  'Strategy Forums' in NYC,  Philly and Toronto . Stay tuned for another informative and engaging CAMP/DS Strategy Forum at a city near you!

--- Farheen Khan, Toronto Strategy Forum Coordinator, President CAMP Toronto

Toronto Event: What's the Big Buzz with Islamic Finance?

CAMP Toronto & DinarStandard present:

Islamic Finance Strategy Forum

CAMP Toronto in partnership with DinarStandard Strategy Forums present an Islamic Finance Strategy Forum, giving GTA Professionals and the Broader Community the opportunity to learn about Islamic Banking and Finance from exceptional speakers from around the globe.

Venue: The event will be held at York University on

When: Friday May 25, 2007 from 6:00pm–9:00pm. 

Cost:  The event is FREE to people who pre-register by May 20th or $5.00 at the door.

Program Details: 

The program will be comprised of two separate sessions. Please see details below.

Section 1:
- Introduction to Islamic Finance Concepts
- Application of Islamic Finance Institutional/ Corporate/ Consumer
- Overview of Islamic Finance Growth Globally

Section 2:
- Islamic Finance Options in Canada
- Overview of current offerings by key Canada based Islamic Financial institutions

Confirmed Speakers:

• Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Director, Islamic Indexes, Dow Jones
• Sajjad Chowdhry, Co-Founder, DinarStandard.com
• Mohammad Fadel, Assistant Law Professor, University of Toronto
• Suhail Ahmad, Chief Investment Officer, Ittihad Securities Inc.,
• Omar Kalair, Chief Executive Officer, UM Financial
• Omar Hayat, Investment Consultant, Investor’s Group

Sponsored by:

York University MSA, Ittihad Securities Inc., Cresent Entrepreneurial Assocation (CEAvision), Investor’s Group, UM Financial

RSVP: Email camp_toronto@hotmail.com before May 20, 2007 for free admission.

Seating is limited so reserve your seat early. For more information please contact:

Farheen Khan, President CAMP Toronto: 416 648 4850
Sajjad Chowdhry, Co-Founder DinarStandard: +1 516 633 9915

Philly Event: The 2005 ranking of the Top 100 Businesses of the Muslim World

Topic: A Discussion on the 2005 ranking of the Top 100 Businesses of the Muslim World

May 17, 2006 - CAMP- Philly (http://www.campnet.net/philadelphia) partnered to coordinate this Strategy Forum as a unique professional learning, sharing and networking forum addressing business challenges and opportunities in the Muslim World.

Moderator:Rafi-uddin Shikoh, Founder, DinarStandard

Panelists Included:

• Tayyeb Shabbir, Finance Professor, The Wharton School
• Steven Frumkin, Associate Professor, Philadelphia University
• Badi Mohammad, Consultant, Boston Consulting Group

When: Wednesday, May 17th, 2006, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: The Wharton School, Jon M. Huntsman Hall(Room G55) 3730 Walnut Street

New York Event: Where are the Global Brands from the Muslim World?

Our first ever Strategy Forum - NY event was hosted at the New York University on Febuary 7th, 7pm-9pm.  The topic of 'Where are the Global Brands from the Muslim World?' was a discussion around the 2005 DS100 ranking of Top 100 Companies in the Muslim world.  A big thanks to the distinguished panel and for all those who came and made the first event a success.  We will definitely be planing for a bigger space next time as the room was packed with 80 attendees with many who could not be accomodated. 

You can respond to this post with your comments about the event or the discussion. Meanwhile enjoy the pictures from the first event.

MODERATOR: Mr. Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Director, Dow Jones Islamic Indexes
PANELISTS: Mr. Barbaros Karaahmet, Lawyer, President, Turkish-American Business Forum
Mr. Johan Fernandez, US Correspondent, The Star (Malaysia)
Dr. Sam Samdani, Expert, McKinsey & Company
Mr. Nigel Page, Emirates Airlines
Mr. Kaan Nazli, Research Analyst, Eurasia Group

SPONSOR:
DowJones Indexes

SUPPORTED BY:
CAMP (Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals),  NYU Islamic Center (MIssion Masjid Campaign),   Muslim Finance Professionals Association,  Kabir Bakery,  Two Rams Entertainment

About - DS Strategy Forums

The DS - Strategy Forums are hosted events by DinarStandard readers and supporters in various cities with the aim of fostering professional business thinking and networking.  Each event is structured around a story and/or research covered by DinarStandard (DS) whose key outcomes are captured and posted on this Blog.

Email: StrategyForum@dinarstandard.com

Disclaimer:  Any comments expressed on this forum do not reflect the views of DinarStandard or any of its official agents.  Please read the DinarStandard Terms of Service. In addition, any comments made during Strategy Forum events or on this site by the panelists or the Forum Coordinators are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the positions of their associated organizations.  DinarStandard Strategy Forum's are run independently by Coordinators on a voluntary basis to foster community interaction and professional growth.