Wong Shou Ning (Moderator)
Radio Presenter & Producer
Wong Shou Ning is a presenter and producer with The Morning Run on BFM89.9. Her past interviews have ranged from global CEOs to politicians and even up and coming Malaysian corporates. She delights in breaking the news and being the first to spot market trends that no news outlet has covered. With decades of fund management experience under her belt with roles at Prudential Unit Trust, UOB Asset Management and Hong Leong Assurance, Shou Ning brings life to what most would regard as just numbers and charts.
Shahariah Shaharudin
President, Saturna Sdn Bhd
Shahariah Binti Shaharudin is the President of Saturna Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation. She received her BA degree in Business Studies from Knox College, Illinois and Master of Arts in Economics from University of Illinois, Springfield.
Shahariah has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of fund management, stockbroking, and commercial banking. She started her career in a commercial bank with extensive experience in retail banking, trade finance and corporate banking and later joined a stockbroking company, overseeing both the stockbroking and futures broking business. She has extensive exposure in fund management starting in a local fund management house as Head of Strategic Business and Market Development where her core responsibility was sourcing business and servicing both retail and wholesale clients ranging from unit trusts, corporate and government agencies to insurance companies. She was the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of an Islamic fund management company until joining Saturna Sdn. Bhd. in October 2018.
Shahariah is passionate on Islamic Investment, and speaks at Islamic finance and ESG conferences. She participated in Brunei Roundtable, the Moody’s Islamic Banking Roundtable and in events in Oman and Bahrain, and presented at events in Shenzhen, China. She was nominated as the Top 10’s List for women in Malaysian Financial Institution by a local magazine. She is a member of the advisory board for IFN Investor Asia Forum.
Faridq Ridzuan
CFA, Vice President, CFA Society Malaysia
Rashid Ridzuan is currently a Global Fund Manager for one of Malaysia’s largest government- linked investment companies (GLIC). He has more than 10 years of investment-related work experience encompassing fund management, equity research, quantitative research and fintech.
Prior to his current role, he was with Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) from 2012 to 2022. He started off as an Investment Analyst before being the Lead Fund Manager for a RM1.1 billion mixed asset fund. His fund was rated 4 (out of 4 stars) by Novagni and ranked in the top quartile of its fund peer group. In 2020 to his departure, he held the dual role of Global Strategist and Fund Manager where he developed global portfolio trading strategies for tactical and strategic risk-taking and managed the Global Strategy Fund. In addition to this, he was the Advisor to Jewel Digital Ventures, an investment vehicle set up by PNB to spearhead its digital business strategy.
Rashid is also an experienced speaker and trainer and has been conducting programs since 2016. His area of expertise encompasses financial analysis, corporate finance, equity and fixed income, portfolio management as well as soft skills training such as public speaking and business presentations. He is also a lecturer for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program and teaches extensively across all three levels. Mr Rashid currently sits on the board of directors of CFA Society Malaysia as the Vice President. He has been a CFA charterholder since 2016.
Ahmed Firas
Country Head of Shariah, HSBC Amanah Malaysia
Ahmed Firas is currently the Country Head of Shariah at HSBC Amanah Malaysia, with 13 years’ experience in senior executive roles in the Islamic banking industry.
Prior to this, Ahmed Firas held roles such as the Interim Asia Pacific Head of Sukuk Financing and Interim Head of Islamic Structuring between November 2021 to May 2022. He was also the Interim CEO of HSBC Amanah between February to May 2021. In addition to his professional pursuits, Ahmed Firas is deeply passionate about FinTech and committed to sustainability leadership and corporate responsibility.
Ahmed Firas is also an occasional visiting lecturer on Islamic Banking and Finance at academic institutions including the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF). Additionally, he is a member of the Shariah Advisory Council of the Maldives Monetary Authority and FinTech working group under the AAOIFI Governance and Ethics Board.
Ahmed Firas is a Chartered Banker, and a Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance and holds an MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance and a Bachelor of Laws (including Shariah) from IIUM.
Dr. Shamsiah Mohamad
Shariah Supervisory Council Member, , Bank Islam Malaysia
Dr. Shamsiah binti Mohamad, a retired civil servant and is now a part-time Shariah Consultant, IBFIM. Previously, Dr. served as a Senior Researcher at the International Shari'ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) (May 2013-April 2019). Dr. also served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya (2003-2013). Dr. obtained a Bachelor of Shariah and a Master of Shariah from the University of Malaya and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Jordan.
Dr. Shamsiah is currently a member of the Shariah Committee of AIBIM since 2009, a member of the TH-JAKIM Haji Worship Advisory Committee (AJPIH) since 2014 and a member of the Shariah Advisory Committee of BIMB, SME Bank and MNRB Holdings Bhd since 2020 and the National Farmers' Organization since 2013.
Previously Dr. was a member of the Shariah Advisory Committee of Standard Chartered Bank (2000-11 October 2008), a member of the Shariah Committee of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad (2003-March 2005), a member of the Shariah Committee of Takaful Ikhlas Sdn Bhd (2009-2013), a member of the Shariah Committee Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad (2008-2013), Bursa Malaysia Shariah Committee Member (2012-2022), Bank Negara Malaysia Shariah Advisory Council Member (2013-2019) and JAKIM Shariah Expert Panel (2013-2018), Medic IG Holdings Shariah Committee Member (2014-2022), BIMB Investment Shariah Committee Member (2020-2023) and BIMB Securities Sdn Bhd Shariah Committee Member (2022-2023) and Malaysian Securities Commission Shariah Advisory Council Member (2008-2023). Dr. was also seconded as a Shariah Expert at the Islamic Capital Market Department, Securities Commission Malaysia from August 2005 until July 2008.
Munirah Khairuddin
Country Head and Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia / Head of Global Islamic Business / Managing Director, Strategic Distribution & Institutional Clients, Southeast Asia, Principal Asset Management Berhad
Munirah joined Principal in November 2006 and was appointed as CEO and Executive Director of Malaysia in May 2013. She has been instrumental in leading the company to grow its Assets Under Management (AUM), deepening its retail leadership with new focus in private retirement space and innovative digital solutions to benefit all Malaysians irrespective of their financial background, and maintaining consistent risk management and investment performance. Under her leadership, Principal Malaysia has embarked on a significant journey in fulfilling its commitment towards the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). In March 2023, Munirah was appointed as the Head of Global Islamic business for Principal.
In 2024, Munirah has taken an expanded role of Managing Director, Strategic Distribution and Institutional Clients—Southeast Asia, overseeing key strategic institutional clients and distribution relationships.
Munirah has been recognized as CEO of the Year Malaysia for Fund & Asset Management Awards, in Global Banking & Finance Awards’ 2024. Munirah was also recognized as CEO of the Year, Malaysia in Asia Asset Management’s 2015 and 2014 Best of the Best Awards. Munirah was also selected as one of the recipients for the "Top 25 Women of Asset Management" award by Asian Investor in 2014.
Prior to Principal, Munirah worked as a G7 Economist and strategist for a Fortune 500 multinational oil and gas company. Prior to that, she was a fixed income portfolio manager for emerging markets at Rothschild Asset Management in London.
Munirah is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder and holds the Capital Markets Services Representative’s License for fund management. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting & Financial Analysis, University of Newcastle, United Kingdom.
Umar Munshi
Co-Founder & Managing Director, Ethis Malaysia
Umar Munshi from Singapore co-founded Ethis (Ethis.co), innovating finance through Islamic economics' ethical principles. Ethis connects global investors with Shariah-compliant projects in MENASIA, emphasizing sustainable growth and the generation of healthy profits. Ethis Indonesia (Ethis.co.id) and Ethis Malaysia (Ethis.co/my) facilitate impactful investments, while GlobalSadaqah.com supports social finance. The upcoming Hasan VC-accelerator (Hasan.vc), alongside licensed expansion into Turkiye and Oman, showcases Ethis' dedication to ethical innovation. Leading the Islamic Fintech Alliance founders’ group, Umar advocates for the Islamic economy, contributing significantly to industry development through training, speaking engagements, and leadership roles.
Securities Commission Malaysia 
