SCIEF and Islamic Development Bank hold Islamic Finance Changemakers Challenge Awards Ceremony

Inaugurated in 2009 as part of the IE Foundation and the Institute of Islamic Economics at King Abdulaziz University, SCIEF is the leading European center for research, teaching and promotion of Islamic economics and finance. The Islamic Finance Changemakers Challenge, organized jointly with the Islamic Development Bank, was set up to encourage entrepreneurship and promote innovative projects with a tangible impact on society.

The award ceremony was attended by Gonzalo Garland, Vice President of the IE Foundation, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Director of SCIEF, Yahya Rehman, Global Lead Islamic Finance Advisory of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and Celia de Anca, Managing Director of SCIEF and the Diversity Center at IE University.

This edition of the Islamic Finance Changemakers Challenge attracted 90 projects from 25 countries from which three finalists were selected: Haziratul Hamdan Marfiah, CEO of HALNEX (Malaysia), Nuraizah Shamsul Baharin, CEO of MADCAT World (Malaysia) and Amer Siddiki, CEO of THEMAR (Saudi Arabia).

The three finalists made presentations to a panel of experts including Mohammed Nasseef, Dean of the Institute of Islamic Economics at King Abdulaziz University, Dr. Salman Syed Ali, Economist at the Islamic Development Bank, and Nyra Mahmoon, Managing Director of SimplySharia Human Capital, among others.