Samina Akram

Samina Akram has a wealth of experience within the investment, private and commercial banking space. Previous organisations she has worked for include; Merrill Lynch International Bank (where she was heading up their Islamic finance wealth management business). Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank, Toronto-Dominion Bank and National Bank of Dubai (Emirates NBD).

Samina specialises in the field of Islamic and ethical finance, she has long-established working relations with governments, investment banks, corporate investors, trade organisations and senior industry executives.

Her exceptional contributions to the Islamic finance industry have won her immense respect, public recognition and multiple business awards. She is a recipient of the United Nation's Women's Federation for World Peace award. Samina won numerous internal Merrill Lynch leadership awards during her time with the bank. Other accolades being shortlisted in the European Muslim Women of Influence list. She has been recognised by Islamic finance review ISFIRE as being among the 20 most distinguished women in Islamic finance globally; with a number five ranking’. Samina has also been awarded the Freedom of the City of London. More recently she has been recognised in the 2023 WeAreTheCity Trailblazer 50 list, powered by HSBC.

Samina runs her own consultancy firm (Samak Ethical Finance) and is also founder of the Women in Islamic & Ethical finance forum (WIEFF) which has over +15,000 professional members from more than 35 counties.

Samina has read Philosophy and holds a Masters degree in Psychology of Religion from Heythrop College, University of London