About The Speaker
Safdar Alam
Safdar Alam is the CEO of WahedX, a global equity funding platform that connects a diverse investor network with vetted early stage and growth companies across international markets. Well known in the global industry, Safdar is an investment banker and has been specialising in Islamic Finance for over two decades. He has established and led the Islamic Banking teams/businesses at some of the largest banks in the world (UBS, Credit Agricole, JP Morgan). He played a key role in several landmark transactions and ground-breaking developments in the industry. His experience has been gained working in the City in London (over 15 years), and being based for 6 years in Bahrain. Safdar’s experience has been gained in front office roles - developing products, executing transactions and client coverage. He has deep relationships with Islamic banks from London to the Middle East and Asia. He has led and executed transactions in excess of $10bn, and has delivered in excess of $150mn profit. Safdar has consulted with and advised Governments/ Ministry of Finance/ Central Banks in the UK, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Nigeria. As well as international experience with the largest global banks, Safdar has extensive experience of supporting the growth and implementation of Islamic finance globally. Safdar has played a role in advising key government entities (e.g. Ministry of Finance) and banks in countries where Islamic banking has been introduced for the first time. Specifically, Safdar played a key advisory role in Kazakhstan, supporting the first two domestic banks to conduct large international financing transactions (Shariah compliant) and also in the onward domestic utilisation of funds by providing Shariah compliant financing to SME’s. At all stages, the parties involved required education on Islamic principles and rules, and advice on how to use specialised contracts for financing and remain aligned with global best practice, and also general education about Islamic finance.