21 July 2016, Kuala Lumpur

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and INCEIF - The Global University of Islamic Finance are organising the ninth and tenth Executive Forums (EF) on Islamic Finance in October and November 2016. The IFSB-INCEIF Executive Forums aim to provide a platform for global leaders in Islamic finance to discuss selected emerging issues facing the global Islamic financial services industry, emphasising on issues related to supervision and prudential regulation, both at national and international levels, harnessing from the experiences of a distinguished pool of global experts, academics and practitioners.

The 9th edition of the Executive Forum themed, Promoting Sound and Effective Shariah Governance Practices will be held on 5 - 6 October 2016 in Sasana Kijang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This Executive Forum will discuss the strategic imperative of corporate and Shariah governance systems by bringing together experienced practitioners, banking supervisors, Shariah board members, and thought leaders of the Islamic financial services industry to participate in active knowledge-sharing sessions. Participants are expected to have in depth discussions on a wide array of issues related to Shariah governance, the growing demands of stakeholders for a robust governance framework and the roles that can be played by the board of directors, supervisors and others to strengthen this framework.

The two-day Executive Forum will be divided into six sessions, which are:

1. The Essence of Shariah Governance: Exceeding stakeholder's expectations

2. Strategic Focus: Building optimal Shariah governance structures

3. Aligning Objectives and Practices Towards Convergence: Corporate and Shariah governance

4. Managing Reputational Risk: Shariah governance and enhancing cross-border credibility

5. Towards Greater Market Discipline: Shariah governance in enhancing disclosure for IIFS

6. Panel Discussion: Current practices in Shariah Governance: Lessons and take-away for enhancements

The 10th edition of the Executive Forum themed, Financial Inclusion and Islamic Finance: Aligning Objectives and Methodologies will be held on 16-17 November 2016. The Executive Forum will bring together the advocates of financial inclusion from among experienced practitioners, supervisors and thought leaders as well as Islamic finance industry players. Participants will be exposed to discussions on new methodologies and techniques in the field of microfinance, infrastructure and capability building for financial inclusion as well as the role of the regulatory and supervisory authorities in ensuring market integrity, stability and consumer protection from the financial inclusion perspective. The Panel Session, a key feature of this Executive Forum, will discuss the key issues and challenges in penetrating the unbanked segments of population, and the availability of infrastructures pivotal in financial inclusion development, as well as policy recommendations from supervisors and market practitioners from the banking, Takaful, Islamic Microfinance and SME sectors.

The two-day Executive Forum will be divided into six sessions, which are:

1. Financial Inclusion: Aligning current models with differing realities

2. Islamic Microfinance: Beyond the financial inclusion agenda

3. Financial Inclusion and Islamic Finance: Approaches and current practices

4. Consumer Protection: Financial inclusion and Shariah arrangements in protecting consumers

5. Strategic Priorities for Enhancing Financial Inclusion: Regulation, supervision, eco-system and innovation

6. Panel Discussion on Facilitating the Growth of Islamic Microfinance, SMEs and Microtakaful

The Executive Forums are targeted for mid to senior-level management who seek to sharpen their skills and deepen their knowledge of the industry's driving factors, as well as broaden their cross-border perspective. They are ideal for regulators and supervisors of the Islamic financial institutions, key personnel in multilateral organisations and governmental agencies involved in policy planning and development as well as Chief Executive Officers, Board Members or senior management of the Islamic financial institutions, Shariah board members, auditors, lawyers, advisers, academics and researchers in Islamic finance.

For further information and registration, do visit www.ifsb.org, or contact Mrs. Ida Shafinaz at ida.shafinaz@ifsb.org / ifsb_sec@ifsb.org.

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About the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB)
The IFSB is an international standard-setting organisation that promotes and enhances the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial services industry by issuing global prudential standards and guiding principles for the industry, broadly defined to include banking, capital markets and insurance sectors. The IFSB also conducts research and coordinates initiatives on industry-related issues, as well as organises roundtables, seminars and conferences for regulators and industry stakeholders. Towards this end, the IFSB works closely with relevant international, regional and national organisations, research/educational institutions and market players.

The members of the IFSB comprise regulatory and supervisory authorities, international inter-governmental organisations and market players, professional firms and industry associations. For more information about the IFSB, please visit www.ifsb.org.

About INCEIF
INCEIF - The Global University of Islamic Finance, is set up by Bank Negara Malaysia to develop human capital for the global Islamic finance industry. Apart from its academic programmes, which are Master in Islamic Finance Practice, MSc in Islamic Finance and PhD in Islamic Finance, INCEIF also offers customised executive training programmes and industry-focused applied research in line with its vision to be the knowledge and thought leader in Islamic finance.

INCEIF syllabus is structured with inputs from industry players to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry experience. INCEIF faculty members, who are globally respected among the Islamic finance academia and industry, have a combined wealth of experience and diversity. The faculty, coupled with continuous support from the industry, provides INCEIF students with strong mentoring relationships and opportunities for professional development. For more information, please visit www.inceif.org.

© Press Release 2016