User:Honed/The Royal Award For Islamic Finance

THE ROYAL AWARD FOR ISLAMIC FINANCE
The Royal Award for Islamic Finance is an international award that is held every 2 years to recognise one exceptional individual who has excelled in advancing Islamic finance globally through outstanding performance and contribution. The Royal Award provides further impetus to deepen the body of knowledge and cross-border application of Islamic finance.

Inspired by ethical principles that drive the industry, this recognition is unique and meant to highlight the individual’s outstanding contribution and its impact towards the advancement of Islamic finance globally, beyond commercial achievements.

Established in 2010 under the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) initiative and supported by Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia, the first winner for The Royal Award is expected to be announced at The Royal Award Gala Dinner and Award Presentation ceremony to be held in Kuala Lumpur on 25th October 2010.

The Royal Award for Islamic Finance is headed by a special taskforce which is led by the Securities Commission Malaysia Chairman, Zarinah Anwar. Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, also added that the award is timely to recognise individuals who have contributed towards shaping the global Islamic finance industry, which has become one of the fastest growing segments in international finance.

The Royal Award for Islamic Finance Logo
The following are features of the logo:
 * The diamond icon is a shape frequently used in Arabic calligraphy
 * The 5 diamonds symbolise the 5 pillars of Islam as well as the principles of Islamic finance - good governance, transparency, fairness, faith and risk-sharing
 * The diamonds are laid out to form a circle which brings forth the values of unity and symmetry of Islamic design, creating a balance between the modern financial world and its ties to Islamic heritage

frameless|left|912x240

Jury Members
The Royal Award winner is selected after a rigorous and robust evaluation and selection process conducted by an independent 7-member jury panel, comprising eminent individuals, Shariah scholars, academicians and Islamic finance practitioners from around the world.

Current Jury Members

Nomination
Every 2 years, a global call for nominations is opened via the award website (mifc.com/award). The nominated candidate must fit the following criteria;
 * Candidate is currently involved or has led, conducted and/or participated in pioneering work, which application has had a significant impact towards the advancement of Islamic finance in areas including human capital development and bridging the gap between Shariah transactional rules and mainstream legal structure.
 * Candidate is involved or has advocated and applied the principles of Shariah into the development of Islamic finance (e.g. widening Shariah application to practice);
 * Candidate is involved or has been active in advocating, advancing and promoting Islamic finance through non-profit organisations, industry associations, Shariah boards or academic institutions
 * Candidate can be of any nationality, gender or religion;
 * Candidate must be a living person;
 * Candidate can reside in any country;
 * The achievements of the candidate must be related to Islamic finance and may not solely be related to commercial projects (i.e. achievements should not solely be based on deals made)

Every nomination made must be attached with the following;
 * 1) Information on current achievements: qualification, memberships, publications, past recognition.
 * 2) A short write-up on the candidate’s contributions within any of the three arching categories:
 * Research & Development – Innovation and Pioneering work
 * Advocacy & Leadership – Establishment and/or development of IFIs, research organizations, standard-setting bodies; promotion/advocacy of industry.
 * Development of Human Capital & Capacity Building

Judging
Once the list of nominees is finalised, each nomination (nominated individual) is put through a rigorous evaluation by the jury panel.

The nomination period was from June 3rd 2010 to July 15th 2010.

Award Winner
The Royal Award winner will be announced at The Royal Award Gala Dinner and Award Presentation ceremony to be held in Kuala Lumpur on 25th October 2010.

His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia will grace the occasion to present the inaugural Royal Award to the winner.

About the MIFC Initiative
In August 2006, the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) initiative was launched to position Malaysia as a hub for international Islamic finance.

The MIFC initiative comprises a community network of the country’s financial and market regulators, including Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia), Securities Commission Malaysia, Labuan Financial Services Authority and Bursa Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange), Government ministries and agencies together with industry participation from the banking, takaful, capital market institutions, human capital development institutions and professional services companies which are participating and working collaboratively in Islamic finance.

The MIFC initiative is supported by global legal, regulatory and Shariah best practices that enable industry practitioners to conduct international business in Islamic finance in Malaysia in the areas of Sukuk Origination, Islamic Fund and Wealth Management, International Islamic Banking, International Takaful and Human Capital Development, while enjoying attractive incentives.

The MIFC Executive Committee (ExCo) is chaired by Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, and comprises a high-level group of officials from key Government ministries, and agencies; financial and market regulators and financial institutions. It aims to review/provide policy direction towards ensuring the efficient coordination and effective implementation of the MIFC initiative.

Log on to htp://www.mifc.com for more information.

About Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia)
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) (Central Bank of Malaysia), was established in 1959, under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958 (Revised in 2009). The central bank is principally entrusted to uphold monetary and financial stability and maintain oversight over the payments system in the country.

Over the years, BNM has significantly contributed to the development of a comprehensive, efficient and resilient financial sector that has been able to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of consumers and businesses. Malaysia’s financial sector now distinctively encompasses both the conventional and Islamic financial services.

Focusing in Islamic finance where Malaysia has a comparative advantage, BNM has taken the lead in promoting Malaysia as an International Islamic Financial Centre. Within this initiative, BNM approves licences for the establishment of International Islamic Banks and International Takaful Operators as well as focusing on institutional building, including the establishment of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) and International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) in promoting training, education and research to advance the talent development for the Islamic financial services industry. Meanwhile, the BNM Shariah Advisory Council ascertains applications of Shariah principles on Islamic financial services by providers under the purview of BNM and acts as an advisor to BNM on Shariah matters on such services.

Log on to http://www.bnm.gov.my for more information.

About Securities Commission Malaysia
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), established under the Securities Commission Act 1993, is a statutory body that reports to the Minister of Finance, Malaysia.

The SC has direct responsibility for supervising and monitoring the activities of market institutions including the exchanges and clearing houses, as well as all persons licensed under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 (CMSA). Underpinning these functions is the ultimate aim of protecting investors. SC is also responsible to promote and develop securities and futures markets in Malaysia.

The SC spearheads the development of the Malaysian Islamic capital market (ICM) by establishing a Shariah Advisory Council (SAC) to advise on matters relating to Islamic capital market activities and products. Over the years, the SC has built a comprehensive and facilitative framework for Islamic funds and wealth management. In addition, the SC has been driving product innovation in the Islamic equity and sukuk (Islamic bond) sectors; on top of promoting education, training, consultancy and research for the ICM.

Log on to http://www.sc.com.my for more information.