Associate Professor Dr Aishath Muneeza has been recognised as the 14th most influential woman in global Islamic Finance Industry in 2018.
The award was given during Womeni Awards Ceremony held at Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur by Deputy Minister I of Ministry of Finance Malaysia Dato Wira Othman Abdul Aziz.
Her contribution to Islamic finance industry is not only limited to Maldives, but internationally also she has created impact in the industry. She is a role model in Islamic finance industry who had received numerous other recognitions for her service in Islamic finance industry.
DISTINGUISHED PROFILE
No. 14– DR. AISHATH MUNEEZA, Associate Professor at INCEIF, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
WOMANi Score: 59.33/100
Dr.AishathMuneezacan easily be considered as founder of the Islamic finance industry in the Maldives, as she was a driving force behind setting up of a number of institutions offering Islamic finance. As a policy maker, attorney and also an academician who has tirelessly fought for the sustainable development of Islamic finance in her country, she is a role model and a mentor for numerous women who aspire to develop a career in Islamic finance.Even before turning 30, she had achieved name, fame, position and prestige, which many will dream at her age and may even struggle to achieve before retiring. Her passion and dedication to Islamic finance has made her a celebrity in this area.
Dr.Muneeza obtained LL.B, LL.M (Banking Law), and PhD from International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), where she was first acquainted with Islamic finance during her LL.M. A skeptic to start with, she decided to do research in Islamic finance, which led her to not only better understand Islamic finance but also resulted in numerous research papers and her first book on Islamic banking. Since then, she has authored numerous award-winning research papers, including the first comprehensive handbook published in Dhivehi language on the fundamentals of Islamic finance and sukuk.
Dr.Muneeza is at present serving as an Associate Professor at INCEIF, The Global University of Islamic Finance, becoming the first female from the Maldives to attain the position of Associate Professor.This is not the only first she has, as she is the first and only female to become chairperson of an apex Shari’a Committee at a regulatory authority dealing with capital market. For more than five years until now she is the chairperson of the Shari’a Advisory Council of the Capital Market Development Authority of Maldives. She is the only registered Shari’a advisor in the Maldives to structure Islamic capital market instruments. She is also a registered Shari’a advisor at the Securities Commission of Malaysia. She sits on more than six Shari’a Advisory Committees of different financial institutions and is the chairperson of five of these. She was also a member of the National Fatawa Council (Islamic Fiqh Academy) of Maldives. She is the Shari’a advisor to the Government of Maldives for the first sovereign sukuk and the treasury bill issuances. She is the Shari’a adviser for the first and second corporate sukuk issued in the Maldives. She is among the few female scholars who are actively involved in Shari’a advisory services in the South Asian region.
Dr. Muneeza was the first female Deputy Minister appointed to Ministry of Islamic Affairs ever in the history of Maldives. She played an instrumental role in setting up the Hajj Pilgrimage Fund of Maldives and was appointed its first chairperson. During the tenure as the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Islamic Affairs she played a vital role in synchronizing Islamic finance mechanisms to waqf& zakat management in the country. She is currently the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Finance & Treasury and plays a vital role in strategizing Maldives as the hub for Islamic finance in South Asia.Additionally, she also serves as the chairperson of Maldives Centre for Islamic Finance, a wholly-owned government company set up by the President.
Apart from the political positions held, Dr. Muneeza was the Head of Islamic Finance of Capital Market Development Authority. As an attorney, she was has frequently been consulted for product structuring and drafting of the documentations of Islamic finance. She was also the consultant for the Central Bank of Maldives to structure Islamic treasury instruments and for Ministry of Economic Development to structure products for Islamic microfinance. She is Vice President of the Women on Board, an NGO in the Maldives to advocate for active participation of women on boards of the companies and leadership positions.
Dr.Muneeza received number of awards in recognition of her services to the industry nationally and internationally, including, but not limited to, Upcoming Personality in Islamic Finance by Fleming Gulf (2017), and Rehendhi Award by Government of the Maldives (2016).
The contributions made by Dr. Muneeza in the field of Islamic finance continue to inspire
Her role in shariah advisory committees, product structuring, research & publication makes her a competent Islamic finance professional in the global Islamic Finance industry.
Dr. Aishath Muneeza Awarded 14th most influential woman in global Islamic Finance Industry -2018.
