Part 2/3 - Reporting on Islamic finance in North America

From UFANA Conference 2010, Toronto, Canada - March 30 & 31, 2010 Blake Goud Islamic Finance in North America report by Yasaar Media Writer, USA Blake Goud is the founder of SharingRisk.org, a think tank on Islamic finance based in Portland, Oregon. During 2009, he wrote the "Islamic Finance in North America" report for Yasaar Media. In April 2008, Blake co-authored a paper, "The Development of Shari'ah-based microfinance using the Grameen group financing methodology" which he presented at the pre-forum workshop on Islamic microfinance at the 8th Harvard University Forum on Islamic Finance. Blake has served as US Correspondent for Islamic Business & Finance magazine since 2007 and he is a frequent contributor to Business Islamica magazine and Islamic Finance News, and writes a blog at Sharing Risk dot Org and Zawya.com. He graduated from Reed College with a B.A. in Economics in 2003 and is also the Chief Compliance Officer for Marquam Capital, an Oregon-based registered investment advisor. Dr. Walid Hejazi Professor of International Competitiveness, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto Walid Hejazi is Professor of International Competitiveness at the, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He teaches in the MBA, executive MBA and custom executive programs; and is academic director of international programs. He has worked extensively with the Canadian and foreign governments on international trade, foreign direct investment and international competitiveness, and has published extensively in leading academic and business journals. Recent studies include "Assessing the Costs and Benefits of a Closer Canada-EU Economic Partnership" (tabled at the 2008 Canada-EU summit), "Foreign Direct Investment and the Canadian Economy" (Competition Policy Review Panel Secretariat, 2008). In January, 2010, he released an IRPP study entitled "Dispelling Canadian Myths about Foreign Direct Investment". He is currently developing courses in Islamic Finance for the Rotman School. Majid Dawood CEO, Yasaar Limited, Dubai Majid is an experienced financial services professional. He is the CEO and has been a key individual in the establishment of Yasaar Limited, the first Shariah compliance services company which assists financial institutions structure cost-effective Shariah compliant financing structures around the globe. Prior to setting up Yasaar, Majid held the position of country representative for Credit Lyonnais Securities (Asia) Ltd as well as capital markets consultant to Credit Lyonnais and Jardine Fleming. Majid is a well known speaker on Islamic finance and Shariah, having presented on these topics globally as well as having authored numerous articles for industry journals and chapters for books. In 2004, Majid was presented the Deloitte & Touche award for the most innovative Islamic finance product for the Caravan 1 Sukuk. Under his leadership and guidance in December 2007 Yasaar was voted "The Best Islamic Finance Advisory Firm" by the readers of Islamic Business and Finance magazine and in January 2009 won the same award for the second year running. Also in 2009 he set up the publication capability by establishing Yasaar Media. Yasaar Human Capital, the Islamic finance executive search and recruitment division was launched in Q3 in 2009. Majid holds a BA (Economics) from the University of Massachusetts.