Scotland’s leading Islamic finance expert to speak at the 2nd Global Ethical Finance Forum
Under the patronage of the Scottish Government and supported by the UK Government, the 2nd Global Ethical Finance Forum (GEFF) aims to serve as a platform for convergence and collaboration across the responsible finance sector, and to forge a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable financial system. The conference’s theme is ‘Ethical Finance: Merging Profit & Purpose.’
Graham Burnside, a consultant at leading UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, which has the largest banking team in Scotland, joins an impressive speaker line-up at the event in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Regarded as Scotland’s leading expert in Islamic finance, Graham has a formidable track record and is considered a pioneer in the field. Best known for having structured and documented the first and only Shariah-compliant mortgage products operating under Scots law, he has also advised on the first fully Shariah-compliant commercial real estate financing in Scotland.
In addition, he is a founding member of the Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC), a Scottish-based not-for-profit specialist advisory and development body established to promote and enhance the global Islamic and ethical finance industry. In 2015, the UKIFC was recognised by Ethical Finance Innovation Challenge Awards (EFICA), winning the $100,000 Islamic Finance Industry Development Award for its work in establishing the Ethical Finance Round Table series, based in Edinburgh.
Graham has been invited to take part in the opening GEFF panel looking at the interplay between ethics, faith and finance.
Of the event, Graham said: “This is a unique opportunity to connect with professionals in this increasingly important sector and to bring Scotland’s significant role in ethical finance to the forefront. I look forward to hearing from the numerous industry-leading speakers, building connections and opening up growth opportunities.”
Taking place on 13th and 14th of September, the GEFF is being held at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)’s Conference Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland and will include a closing reception at Edinburgh Castle hosted by Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown MSP.