Agenda
Day 0 – 18th May 2025 (Sunday)
04:00 pm onwards :
Registration & Welcoming the Guests
06:00 pm – 06:30 pm
Welcome Note & Introduction to the Training by Syed Mohsin Ahmed, Honorary CEO – GAFI
06:30 pm – 07:00 pm
Motivational Session on ‘Global Perspectives, Unified Goals: A Story of BRAC & BRAC International’ by Mr. Malik Asif Russd , Head
of Operations, New Markets, Microfinance – BRAC International Holdings B.V.
07:00 pm – 08:00 pm
Panel Discussion: United for Growth: The Role of Cross-Border Alliances in Advancing Microfinance Goals
Moderator: IFC representative*
Panelists:
• Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO – National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
• Mr Imran Ahmed, Deputy Executive Director – Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women
• Md. Abdul Awal , Executive Director – Credit & Development Forum (CDF)
• Mr. Venkatesh N , Founder and Managing Director – IIFL Samasta Finance Limited
08:00 pm onwards:
Welcome/Inaugural Dinner
Day 1 – 19th May 2025 (Monday)
09:00 am – 09:15 am:
An overview of Azerbaijan Microfinance Industry by Ms. Jhale Hajiyeva, Executive Director at Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association
09:15 am – 10:15 am:
Power Talk 1 – Building a Holistic Digital Finance Ecosystem: Unlocking Opportunities for MFIs
Speaker: Mr. Rishi Raithata , Digital Finance and Inclusive Insurance Expert and Co-Chair at Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF-UK)
10:15 am – 10:30 am:
Coffee Break
10:30 am – 03:30 pm (incl.lunch break)
Track 1 – Senior Management
Workshop Session I – “Data-Driven Innovations for Financial Inclusion”
Trainer: Mr. Blaine Stephens, Independent Advisor Inclusive Finance & Fintech
Track 2 – Mid-level Management
Workshop Session I – Sustainable Finance: Making Financial Institutions ESG & USSEMP Compliant
Trainer: Ms. Rula Mheissen, Client Protection Specialist and Head of Outreach to the
Middle East and North Africa at SPTF
03:30 pm – 03:45 pm:
Coffee Break
03:45 pm – 04:45 pm:
Panel Discussion: Risk Management 2.0: Innovations for a More Resilient Microfinance Sector
Moderator: Mr. Daniel Rozas , European Microfinance Platform
Panelists:
• Mr. Timothy Tarrant, CEO – FINCA Azerbaijan
• Mr Iqbal Ahammed , Executive Director- Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES) & Vice-Chairman of BoD- Credit and Development Forum (CDF)
• Mr. Haaris M. Chaudhary , CEO & President – Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd.
• Mr. Firoz Anam , Chief Risk Officer – CreditAccess Grameen Ltd.
Day 2 – 20th May 2025 (Tuesday)
09:00 am – 10:00 am:
Power Talk 2 – Climate Change and Microfinance: Building Resilience in Vulnerable Communities
Speaker: Mr. Michael J. McCord, Managing Director – MicroInsurance Centre at MILLIMAN
10:00 am – 10:30 am:
Coffee Break
Uncertain Environment
Microfinance Expert – e-MFP
Ms. Donna Nails – Development Finance &
Risk Management Specialist
Design through Human-Centered
Approaches
Trainer: MicroSave Consulting
representative
Special Session I: Time with a Leader
live chat and discussion on his
company’s growth, challenges and
personal perspective
Day 3 – 21st May 2025 (Wednesday)
09:00 am – 09:30 am:
Keynote Address: Mr. Fazlul Kader, Managing Director – PKSF
09:30 am – 10:30 am:
Power Talk 3 – The Evolving Landscape of Financial Inclusion: Unlocking Synergies in Microfinance to Achieve Triple Bottom Line Goals
Speaker: Mr. Yasir Ashfaq, CEO – Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC)
10:30 am – 11:00 am:
Coffee Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm:
Fireside Chat: Global Landscape for Equity & Debt Investment in Microfinance
Moderator: Mr. Ramil Maharramov , MIT Sloan Fellow, World Bank Finance and Private Sector Development Consultant
Speaker: Ms. Deborah Drake , Council Director – Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC)
12:00 pm – 01:00 pm:
Lunch Break
01:00 pm onwards:
Departure for Field Visit to Rural MFI in Azerbaijan*
Day 4 – 22nd May 2025 (Thursday)
09:00 am – 10:00 am:
Panel Discussion – Global Regulatory Landscape: Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities
Moderator: Dr. Alok Misra , Chairperson – Global Alliance for Financial Inclusion (GAFI)
Panelists:
• Mr. J P Sharma, CGM, Department of Regulation – Reserve Bank of India
• Mr. M A Baqui Khalily , Professor – Department of Business Administration, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Mr. Aamir Khan , President – HBL Microfinance Bank & Chair – Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN)
• Mr. Abdul Karim, former Principal Secretary to the Bangladesh Prime Minister
10:00 am – 10:15 am:
Coffee Break
10:15 am – 02:15 pm (incl.lunch break)
Track 1 – Senior Management
Workshop Session III – Leadership
Development in Financial Inclusion
Trainers: Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, Managing
Director – Kashf Foundation
Ms. Saira Soofi, Chief Legal Officer and
Company Secretary – Kashf Foundation
Track 2 – Mid-level Management
Workshop Session III – Risk Mitigation by Microinsurance
Trainer: Mr. Michael J. McCord, Managing Director – MicroInsurance Centre at
MILLIMAN
02:15 pm – 03:15 pm:
PowerTalk 4: Running Strong Microfinance Entities in an Uncertain Environment
Speaker: Ms. Momina Aijazuddin, IFC’s Regional Head of Industry for Financial Institutions
03:15 pm – 03:30 pm
Vote of Thanks: Dr. Alok Misra, Chairperson – Global Alliance for Financial Inclusion (GAFI)
Certificate Distribution
*To be confirmed