Islamic Impact Investing Conference
We are convening a diverse community of investors, nonprofits, academics, social entrepreneurs, and faith-based finance operators to explore how Islamic principles can guide impactful, values-based investing that fulfil both social justice imperatives and financial goals. The day will include keynotes, roundtable discussions, lunch and meaningful networking opportunities.
Why Attend?
Discover the growing demand and untapped potential for faith-aligned impact investing, including how Islamic finance principles resonate with values shared across many traditions.
Gain practical strategies to align your portfolio with just, ethical, and values-driven investments that serve as viable alternatives to conventional assets.
Access ecosystem mapping tools, curated educational resources, and directories to deepen your knowledge and strengthen your network.
Connect with impact investors, philanthropists, and community leaders to catalyse cross-sector partnerships and mobilise values-aligned capital for meaningful social and environmental impact
The Burning Platform
While over $150 trillion in assets is under management globally, only $2.3 trillion is currently invested for impact. Meanwhile, emerging economies face a $4.2 trillion SDG financing gap and the World Bank estimates a $5.9T funding gap for formal SMEs.
Islamic finance, a $3.9 trillion sector, is largely absent from this space. Despite growing interest in ethical investing, Islamic impact investing remains underdeveloped. Most Muslim-majority institutions continue to rely on traditional philanthropy and passive investment products, leaving a widening chasm between faith-driven capital and urgent community needs.
At the same time, global economies are being restructured by climate disruption, inequality, geopolitical instability, and the failures of extractive financial systems. In response, a group of actors, social enterprises, ethical investors, and mission-aligned institutions, are forging alternative paths. They are building the real economy, rooted in trade, production, and inclusive community enterprise.
This presents a clear opportunity: to reorient Islamic finance toward real-economy solutions aligned with Maqasid al-Shariah (higher objectives of Islamic law) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to provide the legal and financial infrastructure to enable this transformation.
What to Expect
Keynotes by Essma Bengabsia, Rizvan Khalid and Omar Shaikh on the urgency of reorienting Islamic finance with impact, purpose-driven vehicles and funding SMEs
Islamic Economics exhibition by Rational Religion
Practical roundtable discussions led by Omar Khaliel, Abdul Haseeb Basit, Kashif Shabir, Jeremy Nicholls, Yu-Shan Chiu and more on designing Islamic impact investing portfolios and policies (for institutions / family offices), unlocking capital, accounting for value and reimagining the ecosystem
Investment showcases
Networking & Lunch
Launch of educational resources
Who Is This Conference For?
Investors (institutional & private) interested in moving capital to impactful SMEs
Islamic finance professionals
Endowments, waqf & zakat administrators
Nonprofits & social enterprises
Faith-based finance operators
Academics & university students
Policymakers & Muslim community leaders
Large Muslim institutions
Key Themes
What is Islamic Impact Investing and why now?
Faith, finance & sustainable development goals
Investment strategies with measurable outcomes
Role of alternative finance, fintechs, SMEs, social enterprises and social funds in Islamic investing
Case studies: housing, healthcare, job creation, climate, education
Agenda
10am: Arrivals & Refreshments
10.30am: Open & Welcome
10.50am: Keynote speech (guest speaker)
11.10am: Keynote speech (Essma Bengabsia)
11.30am: Roundtable Discussions
1pm: Lunch & Networking
2pm: Keynote speech (Rizvan Khalid)
2.20pm: Showcase of Impactful Investment Vehicles
3.20pm: Keynote speech (Omar Shaikh)
3.40pm: From Intention to Action
3.50pm: Closing & Reflections
4pm: Networking & Refreshments
5pm: End
Organisers & Partners
Speakers
Essma Bengabsia
Essma Bengabsia is an impact investor and social justice advocate who leverages capital markets to advance equity and well-being for marginalised communities. She is Senior Impact Investing Advisor at Community Capital Advisors, guiding foundations, endowments, and family offices on maximising social and environmental impact. Previously, she managed The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s $150M impact portfolio and advised clients at Glenmede Trust on sustainable investments. She serves on the board and investment committee of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, co-founded the Investors in Solidarity with Palestine Working Group, and advises firms on integrating human rights into investments. A graduate of NYU Stern (BS) and Wagner (MPA), her work has been featured by the UN, ImpactAlpha, SOCAP, and Financial Times.
Omar Shaikh
Omar is the Managing Director of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and a Board Member of the UK Islamic Finance Council (UKIFC). A Chartered Accountant by profession, he specialises in ethical/responsible finance, Islamic finance, and private equity. He has advised multiple governments and regulators on ecosystem building and is a leading advocate for sustainable and Islamic finance. Formerly Head of Islamic Finance at EY London, where he qualified as a CA, he has established a number of initiatives including Path to COP, the SDG Financial Products Platform with UNDP, the Global Islamic Finance and UN SDGs Taskforce, and the award-winning interfaith Edinburgh Finance Declaration.
Rizvan Khalid
Rizvan is principal of Ihsan Family Office (IFO), a second generation family business spanning meat, property, investments and philanthropy. He is a Chartered Accountant with a Masters in Meat Science & Technology.
IFO was established to structure the family’s interests in legacy, investments and philanthropy. Rizvan oversees IFO’s riba-free investment portfolio diversified across property, private equity, venture capital, public equities, private credit and alternative investments.
Rizvan established several foundations including Euro Quality Foundation and Riba Free Foundation. EQF, the corporate foundation, supports 40 charities locally and internationally including in Pakistan their country of heritage. It takes an investment approach to strategically deploy philanthropy across sectors including education, livelihoods, healthcare and emergency. RFF is dedicated to helping society, charities and businesses become riba-free where financial transactions are aligned on growth sharing and risk mitigation.
Omar Khaliel
Omar has over 15 years of experience in commercial finance, working across FTSE 100, FTSE 5, and multinational blue-chip companies in the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Hong Kong, and China. He is Founder & CEO of the Riba Free Foundation, a nonprofit advancing financial literacy and advocating for ethical, Riba-free finance to tackle financial injustice. Omar is also a leadership development coach passionate about nurturing financially literate, ethical future leaders. As CEO of Digital Easily, an impact-led digital marketing agency, he drives value through socially conscious solutions. He also co-founded the Muslim CEO Collective, a private network of leaders committed to positive societal impact through business.
Kashif Shabir
Kashif is Founder of Ethical Consulting Group, advising charities, family offices, and philanthropic institutions on strategic giving, governance, and impact. With 20+ years in social impact, digital transformation, and charity leadership, he is a trusted advisor to leading family offices in the UK and internationally. As Strategic Advisor to UNHCR on Islamic Philanthropy, he shapes partnerships with global Muslim funders to address refugee needs. Formerly CEO of Muslim Aid UK and Interim CEO of Mercy Mission World, he led the growth of Europe’s largest Islamic Donor Advised Fund. His career spans tech in San Francisco to senior roles at Oxfam and the British Red Cross. A qualified executive coach, he champions inclusive leadership, innovation, and sector-wide collaboration.
Abdul Haseeb Basit
Abdul Haseeb is a digital finance specialist with over 25 years’ experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and strategy. He is Co-Founder and Principal of Elipses, incubating for-profit and non-profit businesses in the ethical finance sector. His roles include CFO of Global Digital Finance; Co-Founder/CFO of Avrio; Partner at Alphalytix; Co-Founder of Madinah Angels; and Co-Founder/Chair of the Muslim CEOs Collective. He was previously CFO of Innovate Finance, Chairman of Yielders, and has held senior roles in tier-1 banks in technology transformation and strategy. A qualified management accountant with an MBA (distinction) from Imperial College, he is an Islamic and ethical finance advocate, named among the UK’s top 100 BAME Tech Leaders in 2018.
Jeremy Nicholls
Jeremy Nicholls is an accountant and an advisor with Social Value International (SVI). His work and writing focuses on how mainstream financial accounting is contributing to climate change, nature loss and inequality and on how this can be reversed. He is an honorary research fellow in accounting at the University of Liverpool, a member of A4S’s expert panel, GRI’s due process oversight committee and ICAEW’s non-financial assurance committee. Until the end of 2024 he was working with the UNDP on the SDG Impact Standards and ISO53001 on SDG Management.
He originally qualified as a chartered accountant, became involved in social enterprise, sustainability and regeneration, and was one of the founders and then CEO of SVI.
Yu-Shan Chiu
Yu-Shan Chiu is the Director of Consulting at TSIC, supporting clients on impact management, impact investing and business and growth strategies. She has worked with many actors in the philanthropy and social/impact investment field, such as Pathway Fund, Impact Investing Institute, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Access - The Foundation for Social Investment. She has supported investors in identifying strategies and developing financing models with an equity lens, as well as evaluating the impact of their work. She is also involved in sector-wide movements, such as supporting Equality Impact Investing Project with the development of its digital resources to spread the knowledge of equality impact investing. Her work focuses on systemic equity, racial justice, and community development.
Tickets
All ticket sales go directly towards covering venue and catering costs. Any profits from the event will be donated to a collective funding entity — chosen together by participants during the conference itself.
Wellbeing & Accessibility
The venue space is on the ground floor and provides accessible pathways for wheelchair users. Attendees will also have access to a separate prayer room and a quiet space for wellbeing. If you do have any additional needs, please let us know via the form.
Partner With Us
We welcome sponsors, partners and collaborators who believe in unlocking Islamic finance for ethical, social, and environmental good. Join us in shaping a more just and impactful financial future.
To express interest or receive the full partner pack, contact:
Sheeza Shah | [email protected]
Dr. Tanvir Ahmed Uddin | [email protected]