Speakers
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Caroline FarajCNN, Vice-President; Editor-in-Chief, CNN Arabic
CNN VP, CNN Bureau Chief Dubai (UAE). Passionate storyteller/journalist for more than 30 years, launched CNN Arabic together with the first CNN bureau in the GCC in 2002. Holds an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from City University of London. Interested in new media, youth creativity and freedom of expression.
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KHALED KHALIFAUNHCR, UNHCR Representative to the GCC
Senior Advisor & Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A professional humanitarian worker with more than 25 years of experience in relief and development.
Khaled leads UNHCR’s Islamic philanthropy activities globally and successful the Refugee Zakat Fund in 26 countries since 2017. -
Nana FiremanGreenfaith, Senior ambassador
Nana previously directed WWF-Indonesia’s “Green Reconstruction” efforts during a post-tsunami period developing an urban climate change adaptation/mitigation initiative. She is a LEAD Fellow in Green Economy and is also a Climate Reality Leader. In the last 11 years, she encouraged the American Muslim community to practice eco-lifestyle which also prompted her to initiate Green Masjid Project for Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). She was later named the White House Champion of Change for Climate Faith Leaders by President Barrack Obama and received the Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award for Climate Leadership from former Vice President Al Gore.
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Omar ShaikhGlobal Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), Director and Co-founder
Omar is a chartered accountant with over 15 years as a leading advocate for ethical and responsible finance with extensive experience in advising multiple governments and regulators on financial inclusion policy. Omar worked with EY London as a former Head of Islamic finance and launched the award-winning Edinburgh Ethical Finance Round Table series which led to the inception of the Ethical Finance Hub and GEFI. Omar established the Ethical Finance Summit, the Finance for nature project with UNDP, the interfaith Edinburgh Finance Declaration and others. GEFI launched the Path to COP26 campaign, bringing together stakeholders to advance climate finance.
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PETER GOULDGOULD STUDIO, FOUNDER & CEO
Peter Gould leads a strategic design team based in Sydney, Dubai & Jakarta. Gould Studio advocates for ‘heart-centered design’ to create meaningful brands, cross-cultural understanding and spiritually-inspired positive change.
Over nearly 20 years, his clients have included United Nations, Greenpeace, Dubai Culture and a diverse portfolio from senior government projects to $100m startups. He is a recipient of the Stanford Certificate of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and has lectured Design Thinking at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Expanding the Reach of Islamic Finance for Addressing Climate Change – GreenPeace and UNHCR
This session will explore the critical role of Islamic Social Finance in addressing global humanitarian and climate challenges. The main focus will be on the role of Islamic Social Finance in responding to displacement crises, with pioneering practices of UNHCR Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf in funding sustainable solutions. Moreover, the collaborative efforts between GEFI and Greenpeace Ummah for Earth in the realm of Islamic Finance and climate action will be shared to advance global climate efforts