• Technological Innovation, Theories, and Practices in Islamic Finance
• Islamic Accounting, Shariah Audit, and Governance
• Sukuk, Islamic Development Financing, and Social Entrepreneurship
• Financing Social Development, Rural Infrastructure, and Agriculture
• Halal Industry, Products, Services and Halal Management
• Gender Financial Empowerment, Halal Tourism, and Heritage Prevention
• Islamic Finance Education, Skills Development, and Capacity Building
• Green Economy, Global Islamic Finance, and Ethical Investment
• Islamic Social Finance, Zakat, Sadaqah, Waqf, and Philanthropy
• Islamic Insurance, Takaful, and Islamic Finance Risk Management
• The role of Islamic Finance in Inclusive Growth and Gender Equality

Co-Organizers:

Atty. Jehan Jehan A. Lepail graduated both in college and law at the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated with Honors with a bachelor’s degree in Legal Management. She took some masteral units with the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies. She began her law practice in 2008 at the Quasha, Ancheta and Peña Law Office in Makati City. She joined public service in 2009 as a Municipal Administrator in an LGU in Mindanao. She joined the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) in 2017 as the Legal Affairs Chief. She was eventually appointed in 2019 as the NCMF Deputy Executive Director.

Born in Sharif Aguak, Maguindanao, the distinguished Minister embarked on a journey that led him to remarkable achievements. He completed his elementary education at Al Isllaah School, while his formative years were spent at Mahad Kutawato Al Islamie. Continuing his academic pursuit, he graduated from the International Islamic University with a Bachelor of Science in Shariah Law before pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy at Cotabato  State University.

With a multilingual prowess, he is fluent in English, Maguindanao, Turkish, and Arabic, enabling him to communicate effectively across various platforms. Family-oriented, the Minister is a father to twelve children, embodying his commitment to both his public service and personal life.

Currently holding the esteemed position of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, as well as serving as a Member of Parliament, he plays a vital role in shaping policies and regulations in these sectors. Among his notable contributions is the establishment of the Bangsamoro Agriculture and Fisheries Training Institute, an initiative awaiting deliberation for official approval.

Romzie Rosman, PhD, is a Professor at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, International Islamic University Malaysia. He is currently the deputy dean (Responsible Research & Innovation) of the Institute. Apart from supervising PhD candidates in the Islamic banking and finance programme, he teaches Islamic banking and finance subjects at the postgraduate level, particularly Islamic financial systems, accounting for Islamic financial institutions, and Islamic wealth management. His research interests are Islamic banking and finance, Islamic financial transactions, accounting for Islamic finance, Shariah non-compliance risk management, governance, and Islamic social finance. His intellectual contributions include publishing research papers in Malaysia and at the international level and publishing book chapters and articles in magazines and bulletins. He is an active associate member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance, and a member of International Council of Islamic Finance Educators.

Atty. Arifa A. Ala, a CPA-lawyer, is a career central banker who has an extensive experience and wide technical expertise in banking supervision and regulation. She was assigned in different departments in the Financial Supervision Sector and tasked to supervise different types of financial institutions, banks and non-banks alike.

Atty. Ala has made significant contributions in the development and enhancement of various policies that made significant impact in the conduct of BSP’s supervisory function and processes. She also played a vital role in the development of programs aimed at strengthening rural and cooperative banks, such as the Strengthening Program for Cooperative Banks, Strengthening Program for Rural Banks and Consolidation Program for Rural Banks.

As the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) point person for Islamic banking and finance, Atty. Ala chairs the Islamic Finance Coordination Forum which aims for the establishment of an Islamic banking system in the Philippines which can viably operate alongside the conventional banking system.

Mr. Farrell Hazsan E. Usman is currently serving the Bangsamoro people in his capacity as the Chief Financial Management Specialist of the Fiscal Policy Development Division of the Bangsamoro Finance Office under the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (or MFBM) since 2021.

Prior to his engagement with the MFBM, Mr. Farrell worked in audit and assurance services, banking, and oil and gas sectors having worked with SGV & Co., Deutsche Bank, Emirates Islamic Bank, and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Incorporated.

He completed his accountancy degree from Mindanao State University and passed the CPA Board Exams in 2009. In 2015, he earned his master’s degree in Islamic finance and banking from Universiti Utara Malaysia.

At present, he sits as one of the members of MFBM’s Special Bids and Awards Committee, Human Resources Merit Promotion and Selection Committee, MFBM Employees Association, Secretariat of the Technical Working Group for Islamic Finance for BARMM, and Technical Working Group on the Formulation of the Bangsamoro Halal Industry Development Plan.

Dr. Rizal Mohd Nor is an Assistant Professors at the Department of Computer Science, KICT, IIUM. He holds a Computer Science Ph.D and MSc. degree (Kent State University), an MBA (IIUM), and a double degree in BSc. Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering (Johns Hopkins University). His research is in Fintech and Blockchain in areas such as self-stabilising algorithms in blockchain consensus, blockchain applications in IoT, blockchain applications in Islamic finance, blockchain Applications in Edutech, Internet of Thing (IoT), cryptocurrencies and Machine Learning for Financial robo-advisors. He has published several journals in Blockchain, IoT and Fintech which have received International awards and research grants both local and international. Currently serving as an EXCO member for the International Council of Islamic Finance Educators (ICIFE) and professionally a consultant for several fintech and blockchain companies in Malaysia in their fintech, blockchain, IoT and AI initiatives. He currently owns a patent filed in 2018 relating to Blockchain Technology. He is a frequent speaker in local and international Conferences and a trainer for several agencies.

Paul Infante Moñozca chairs the Moñozca Family Office and the board of trustees of the award winning Moñozca Foundation. He was responsible from developing the F.O. and foundation with its roots in the central Philippines to a leading global philanthropic organization since 2003 to the present, now based in Monaco, France. He has been credited as the architect of the world’s first cross border fund transfer & payment system using Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) in the 1990’s with various multinational banks and postal companies, after which he founded one of the world’s leading philanthropic funds based in Europe which has evolved into the leading private-sector led Universal Basic Income (UBI) platform participated in by a consortium of family offices with the advocacy to cushion the advent of “Technological Singularity” to protect Humanity.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) (Management)
Work-Family Conflict and Social Support: A Study of Women Academics in Java Indonesia
2010 – 2016
Management, Curtin Business School
Curtin University, Australia
Area of research: Human Resource Management, Business and Strategy, Knowledge Management,
Organizational Behaviour

MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Si)
2002 – 2004
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Majoring: Human Resources Management

SARJANA EKONOMI MANAJEMEN (S.E)
1992-1997
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
Majoring: Finance Management

Prof. Dr. Minombao Ramos-Mayo, is a full professor six (6) in the College of Public Affairs, Mindanao State University. She is a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, Juris Doctor and a Master of Public Administration degree holder. She is the former dean of MSU-Graduate School (2015-2021). She had held several positions in the past such as: Special Assistant to the Office of the President for 2 years, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for 14 years, Chairperson of the Graduate Studies Department of College of Public affairs for three years, As SASE board for four years, a library board for four years and served as Principal in MSU-Balindong for nine (9) years. She has always been a member of permanent and hoc committees for Integrated System rankings (ISRP) for 10 years, member of the System and campus curriculum committee for 17 years, Member of Evaluating committee for CSI’s and MSU-Buug for four years, Member of committee to evaluate extension programs of MSU to campuses and curriculum team member to evaluate program for adoptions, member of the restructuring committee of MSU, member of several formulation policies like SASE, extension etc.

Dr. Akhmad Affandi Mahfudz, CPIF now is Associate Professor at Postgraduate Studies, University of Darussalam Gontor Indonesia  and Visiting Professor of Islamic Finance at Al Farabi Kazakh National University Kazakhstan. He also serves as Brand Ambassador for Mabrook Finance based in Canada and appointed as Chairman of Shariah Advisory Board of PT Urun Bangun Negeri. He was appointed as Consultant for IFAAS (Islamic Finance Advisory and Assurance) based in UK and Shariah Business Advisory Lead for Deloitte Indonesia. Prior to these attachments, he was researcher at International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) Malaysia and Visiting Scholar at Islamic Business School, Universiti Utara Malaysia. He was also appointed as Deputy Rector of Tazkia University College of Islamic Economics Indonesia. Apart from academic attachment, he was appointed as Assistant Vice President of Namirah Ventures Pte Ltd Singapore.

• She is a Certified Public Accountant.

• Graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Accountancy from University of the Philippines – Diliman.

• Obtained her Masters in Investment Banking and Islamic Finance (with Distinction) from the Henley Business School, University of Reading in United Kingdom.

• Obtained her Certificate in Islamic Commercial Law, and Certificate in Islamic Banking and Takaful from the UK-based professional body, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), being the first Filipino to obtain such from CIMA.

• Obtained her Professional Certificate in Islamic Capital Market from the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), in Malaysia.

• Was a former Senior Associate from the SGV and Co (EY Philippines), handled assurance services for multinational contact centers, manufacturing corporations, and global services sectors.

• Was the Head of Accounting and Finance Department for Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines during the bank’s rehabilitation in 2009 until 2014.

Dr. Amni is the Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance ( FIEF), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali Brunei Darussalam.

She holds a number of important professional positions both locally and internationally namely as the Syariah Advisory Board member of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) & Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Securities (BIBDS), Syarikat Takaful Brunei Berhad, Associate at Association of Syariah Advisors in Islamic Finance ( ASAS) and member of Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals. She has lectured both in local and international universities on various areas of Islamic Finance and has published articles related to the field.

Dr. Acram A. Latiph is the Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao and an Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Mindanao State University – Marawi Campus. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Economics from San Beda College, MS Finance from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Advance Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Executive Master Public Policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship, Syracuse University, New York, and his PhD in Development Economics from the Australian National University. His PhD Dissertation “What’s Wrong with Mindanao? The Unequal Development in the Philippines” is nominated to ANU Award for Academic Excellence of the Australian National University. He is a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship, the Australian Leadership Award Scholarship and the NISGP Scholarship.

Education
2009 – 2013 PhD in Chemistry, University of Muenster Germany, Supervisor: Prof. Luisa De Cola

2007– 2009 Erasmus Mundus Master of Molecular Nano and Biophotonic, ENS Cachan France and Complutense Madrid Spain. Thesis supervisor: Prof. Luisa De Cola. University of Muenster, Germany

2000– 2005 Bachelor Degree on chemistry with Honours from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia Professional

2022- Now Halal Asessor of BPJPH Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency Halal trainer at HSC IPB

2018 – now Executive Secretary Halal Science Center IPB University Indonesia

2015 – now Assistant Professor in chemistry at Department of Chemistry Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Indonesia

2013 -2014 Postdoctoral, University of Strasbourg, France in the group of Prof. Luisa De Cola

• Assistant Profesor, Faculty of Economy and Islamic Finance, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Brunei Darussalam.
• Previously Lecturer, Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia
• Developing modules and teaching Islamic Banking, Islamic Finance, Usul Fiqh for Finance and Fiqh Muamalat.
• Members of Syariah Advisory Board for Al-Furqan Consultant, Brunei Darussalam, Previous member of Syariah Board, Koperasi Muslimin Malaysia
• Member of ASAS (Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance) Malaysia

Education
• BA Hons (Shariah) (Al-Azhar University, Cairo –1992), Master in Islamic Finance (National University of  Malaysia) and PhD in Islamic Economics (National University of Malaysia)
• EXPERTISE: Islamic Muamalat and Takaful, Islamic Banking System, Usul Fiqh & Maqasid Shariah for  Finance