Key skills and expertise

With 33 years of experience in the financial services industry, the expert is highly skilled in risk management, regulatory compliance, and Islamic finance. Holding a CFA Charter and CAMS certification, the expert has led international projects with entities like the World Bank and USAID. Notable achievements include designing Islamic financial services for SMEs in Afghanistan and contributing to regulatory frameworks in Bangladesh. The expert has held leadership roles, such as Principal Consultant at Formabb Ltd, and has successfully managed regulatory change projects across Europe and Asia.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving international donors such as the World Bank, USAID, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. The expert's involvement includes providing technical assistance, project implementation, and capacity building in areas like Islamic finance, gender equality, and poverty alleviation. These projects have been both sector-specific and regional, taking place in locations including Afghanistan, Turkey, Rwanda, Uganda, and Bangladesh.

Sectors and geographic focus

Previously held roles such as Principal Consultant and Senior Risk Management Consultant in the financial services and audit sectors. Responsibilities have included regulatory compliance, risk management, and Islamic finance product development. The expert's interdisciplinary knowledge spans regulatory frameworks and gender strategies, with a geographic scope covering Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Career highlights include significant projects conducted in Afghanistan, the UK, and Bangladesh, demonstrating expertise in both regional and country-specific contexts. The expert has extensive geographic experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with professional engagements in countries such as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Kenya, Kuwait, Netherlands, Pakistan, Qatar, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, UK, and USA. This diverse exposure has provided deep familiarity with regional development issues and cultural dynamics, particularly in Islamic finance and regulatory frameworks. Long-term assignments in Afghanistan and Bahrain highlight the expert's ability to navigate complex local governance and economic environments.

Languages and education

Bringing strong communication skills, the expert possesses native-level command of English and Dutch, essential for international projects and multilingual teams. English is used extensively in professional contexts, including teaching and regulatory compliance. The expert has professional working proficiency in German and working knowledge of French, which supports collaboration in diverse cultural settings. The expert holds a PhD in Financial Analysis from the University of Surrey, UK, and an LLM in Middle Eastern and Islamic Law from the University of East London, UK, both with distinction. Additionally, the expert obtained an MBA in Banking and Finance with distinction from the University of Hull, UK, and a BSc in Economics from the Utrecht Centre for Higher Economic and Administrative Education (HEAO), Netherlands.