Azeem Ibrahim

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1455 633 289 Email: info@specialistspeakers.com

Financier

Entrepreneur

Philanthropist

Scholar

Community Activist

Thought Leader

Advisor to Governments

Soldier

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Azeem IbrahimAwards and Milestones

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UK

T!5!8(4&!Q#+44 (0)1455 633 289 DA'%5Q#info@specialistspeakers.com

Born and raised in Scotland, Azeem moved from teaching himself to spot good

investments in the newspapers he read in his father’s shop to a fast-paced business

career. Possessed with an unstoppable work ethic, he set up a series of innovative

finance companies in three continents, all before his 32nd birthday. By 2006 he was

the youngest person on both the Sunday Times Scots’ Rich List and Cater Anderson’s

UK Power 100 list, which called him “one of the most influential and highest achieving

people in Britain.”

His commitment to relentless goal setting and challenges led him to a seven-year

commitment as a reservist in the IV Battalion Parachute Regiment — the British

army’s elite airborne infantry. An equally intense passion for education earned him

three Master’s degrees and a PhD in Geopolitical Strategy from the University

of Cambridge.

The academic world has taken notice of his accomplishments. Glasgow Caledonian

University honored him with an honorary doctorate. He received appointments from

institutions as prestigious as Harvard University where he served as a research

scholar at the International Security Program at the Kennedy School of Government.

He was selected as a member of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public

Policy’s Dean’s International Council and as a member of the Board of Directors

at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Yale University chose him as an

‘Emerging World Leader’ as part of their World Fellows Program. The World Economic

Forum named him a ‘Young Global Leader’ and the LSDP European Social Think Tank

tapped him as a ‘Top 100 Global Thinker’. Azeem’s columns are regularly published

around the world, and can be read in Foreign Policy, The Scotsman and the Sunday

Herald, The Middle East Times, The Hufngton Post, Chicago Tribune and the LA Times.

Azeem devotes much of his time to his own charities. In addition to his community

grant-giving foundation, he has founded charities that tackle problems as diverse

as family and marriage breakdown in Scotland and providing clean drinking water in

disaster areas.

A gifted and respected counselor, he has offered strategic advice to a number of

world leaders, on topics ranging from anti-radicalization to improving social mobility

and national competitiveness. Most recently, he has been invited by Pakistan's

Imran Khan to advice on policy development.

f

Azeem Ibrahim“ Just reading a list of Azeem Ibrahim’s achievements

is exhausting,” declared Scotland’s Sunday Post

of this multitalented whiz kid who has already

packed a number of careers into one. Still only in

his mid-thirties, this globetrotting entrepreneur,

philanthropist and scholar is building a formidable

track record as a brilliant polymath and adviser

to world leaders.

Bringing focus and intensity to all endeavours,whether they be charitable work or banking

Glasgow–born Azeem Ibrahim,Chairman of the European Commerceand Mercantile Bank, celebrated hisbirthday by making his debut on theSunday Times Scots 100 Rich List atnumber 78. With an estimated wealthof £52 million, this con rms hisposition as one of the wealthiestyoung Muslims in the UK.

Ibrahim has an exceptional trackrecord in bringing strategic thinkingto his dealings in internationalcommerce and has a proven abilityin understanding the dynamics ofthe international nancial world.

His wealth began in 2004 when heestablished his own insurancecorporation after noticing he waspaying over the odds for maritimeinsurance.

Today, his company is a leading e-

commerce facility selling onlineshipping, maritime, transport andlogistical insurance to and fromanywhere in the world and has amarket valuation of over US $9m.

Ibrahim’s entrepreneurial gift alsocame to the fore when he set up theEuropean Commerce and MercantileBank (ECM Bank) with o ces inSweden and the Emirates Towers inDubai.

Of his appearance on the Scots 100Rich List, Ibrahim said, “Suchrecognition is a nice birthdaypresent, but I would stress that mycompanies would not have grown tothe extent they have without thededication of my hard-working staand con dence of my shareholders.”

However, these days much ofIbrahim’s time is now devoted to

www.islamictimes.co.uk

Issue No.9

June – July 2007 Jumaada al-Thaany – Rajab 1428 (AH

For too long many Muslims havelagged behind national norms inachievement, and faced criticism forappearing to lead separate lives. TheMCB’s new guidelines for schoolshelp pupils to feel fully valued.Page 10

An agenda for integrationFazlun Khalid, founder of the

Islamic Foundation for Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences writesabout our eagerness to “progress”and losing sight of the delicatenature of Earth and humanity’splace in it. Page 21

A delicate balanceTen inspirational adults,

nominated by children and youngpeople living in GreaterManchester were presented withawards in a ceremony at the TownHall, Manchester. Read the fullstory on Page 11

Inspiration for the youth

Strategicthinking The TUC and the Muslim Council

of Britain have held a joint seminarlooking at how trade unions can workmore closely with the Muslimcommunity to improve the jobprospects of Muslim workers andcombat the threat the far right posesto the UK’s many diversecommunities.

Last September at the TUCCongress in Brighton, the TUC andthe MCB signed an agreementcommitting the two organisations tojoint working to support workplacejustice and combat the threat ofIslamophobia. This event was aimedat giving practical e ect to thosecommitments.

The seminar included sessions on:the Muslim community and work; themedia and portrayals of the Muslimcommunity; and countering the threatof the far right.

There was keynote addresses fromMCB Secretary General, DrMuhammad Abdul Bari and TUCGeneral Secretary, Brendan Barber,who said:

‘We do not underestimate the scaleof the challenge facing us today.Islamophobia is a real and presentthreat, fuelled by prejudice andmisunderstandings, and the rise of thefar right and electoral success of theBNP are alarming features of recentyears. Local elections are approachingonce again, and by working togetherthe TUC and the MCB can expose thefar right for what they really are andwork towards a better deal foreveryone in the workplace.’

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said:‘We believe in social justice and

equal rights for all. The Muslimcommunity is facing real problems ofdiscrimination and poverty - a third ofMuslims are living in the 10% mostdeprived neighbourhoods of thecountry - but we have a tremendousamount to o er the UK workplace interms of skills, optimism and energy.’

TUC and MCBjoin to combatIslamophobia

IslamicTimes

Azeem Ibrahim in the spotlight

Ibrahim makes his debut on the Sunday Times Scots 100 Rich List

charity projects such as a uniquewater puri cation project for thesouth of Sudan.

He has shunned publicity untilnow, but realises he cannot stayhidden for long as he wants to raisehis pro le for the charity to whichhe now dedicates much of his time.‘The Benevolence Fund’ specialisesin sponsoring high-achievingBosnian students to undertakepostgraduate education in Europe inorder that they can take their newlyacquired skills and knowledge back

to help their communities. For this,Ibrahim has obtained corporatesponsorship that will build anendowment, thus making the projectself su cient.

“It is about creating the kind ofenvironment for that country’sfuture leaders in academia, politicsand business,” said Azeem

“That country has enjoyed anuneasy peace for the last few years,but it needs a new generation ofleaders to help ensure that it has along-term peaceful future.”

Education Environment Awards

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UK

Telephone:+44 (0)1455 633 289 Email: info@specialistspeakers.com

Azeem Ibrahim has been described as a whiz kid and polymath. He is much more than that. Lauded as a first-class critical thinker, he is also a world citizen with a unique perspective, and when he speaks, world leaders listen.

The shy, fourth child of an electrical engineer cum Scottish grocer, Azeem worked in his father’s shop in Glasgow from the age of 13. In-between customers, he read the newspaper and developed an interest in business. He parlayed his first company into multi-award winning businesses, including an online insurance company targeting the maritime industry, a private online bank for commodity traders, a global hedge fund and a Panamanian-registered financial clearing house licensed to trade in currencies, precious metals, and commodities.

The multi-award-winning entrepreneur is an active member of several leading think tank and advocacy groups and launched the first think tank in his native Scotland dedicated to providing education in authentic Islamic teachings. One of his newest ventures is Ibrahim Associates, a non-profit global strategic consultancy firm aimed at advising governments and world leaders on policy development and capitalising on strategic advantage.

World leaders are tappinginto his expertise on issues as far ranging as counter-terrorism and global commerce. He is currently advising Pakistan’s Minister of Planning on developing a new National Economic Strategy and recently advised the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Pentagon, the National Security Council, and the US State Department on national security issues. In the UK, he was a team leader on the Prime Minister’s Social Mobility Task Force and counseled the Scottish First Minister on improving Scotland’s competitiveness.

Azeem is a regular op-ed contributor to publications around the globe on subjects as diverse as budgetary policy, defense spending and policy, European integration, Israel-Palestinian peace talks, constitutional matters, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Islamic radicalization, Scottish energy policy, and sharia law in Britain.

A citizen of the UK, Azeem divides his time between Chicago, Dubai and the UK. An avowed fitness fanatic, marathoner and fell runner, the former British Army paratrooper speaks four languages.

Azeem Ibrahim MSc(Econ). MBA. MPhil. DLitt. PhD (Cambridge)Biography

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UKTelephone:+44 (0)1455 633 289 Email: info@specialistspeakers.com

Pr!"#$%!&!'t#($)*.$+,&.$-,r.,&$/r,0& – July 2009

“ The work that you have undertaken and published is serious and high

quality. The analysis and rigour you bought to this issue (social mobility)

will provide a firm platform for actions by the professions

and government over the years ahead.”

+,&.$%1.#2#!&#$324r!56*$7$89$9#:r#*1(;$,<$9*1t#$– October 2010

“ Your perspectives and insights were central to our discussion. Your

contributions undoubtedly made this one of our most substantives

dialogues to date” (Meeting of Foreign Ministers, Madrid).

+,&.$%!:61#2$=6#rt,<<$7$89$9#:r#*1(;$,<$9*1t#$<,($+,"#21&.$

9#:>r!*;$– July 2010

“ Azeem’s expertise and efforts in the field of counter-radicalisation

reflect an important element of modern security and

counter-terrorism strategy.”

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P,2!:#$?<<!:#('$=,,r.!&1t,($=,>&ter$Terr,r!'" – May 2011

“ As an acknowledged world renowned commentator on the threat from

Al Qaida influenced extremism. The strength and conviction of your

argument was very persuasive.”

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<,($B#",:r1:;$1&.$+>"1&$)!56*' – February 2009

“ I was struck by his great intelligence and wide ranging professional

expertise and interests. Rarely have I met someone so accomplished

at such an early age.”

Ev#&!&5$C!"#'$– January 2009

“ The Prime Minister has made a very wise choice by appointing Azeem Ibrahim to help disadvantaged people.”

“ He is an example to people everywhere and a sound choice to help others become high-flyers. And if Gordon Brown can see his

value, surely it’s about time Glasgow honoured this outstanding individual.”

B,0$J,&#'$W#12*6$/>22#*!&$– Sept 2008

“ Azeem Ibrahim has the perfect profile for a 21st century entrepreneur.”

=1rter$3&.#(',&$A$/1&@$,<$9:,*21&.’'$3'!1&$P,w#($10D$– December 2007

“One of the most influential and highest achieving people in Britain.”

3'!1&$E&terpr!'# – September 2008:

“A man of many dimensions.”

“Whether it is his academic life, business interests, political involvement or charity work, Ibrahim has excelled in every field to

become one of the most respected and wealthiest young people in the UK today.”

9>&.1;$C!"#' – November 2008

“Part of his attraction to decision makers if the unique perspective he brings to these issues. He is a youthful business success;

he has been lauded as a great example to British Asians and served as a reservist paratrooper for seven years.”

“Azeem’s manner is easy too. He does not come across as dogmatic or arrogant and it is clear a sharp intellect lies

behind his thoughts.”

Azeem IbrahimTestimonials

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UK

T#2#F6,&#G$+44 (0)1455 633 289 E"1!2G$info@specialistspeakers.com

Entrepreneur!"#$%xchange – March 2010

“Azeem is a stunning role model on what is possible. He may well be the last of true polymath’s.”

Evening$&!'()$– June 2007

“The globe trotting founder and chairman of ECM Bank is relaxed, friendly and not at all the robotic, money making machine

I had expected.”

&*($+(r"#,$– June 2007$

“Azeem Ibrahim is a one man power house whose difficult childhood spurred him to become one of the richest men

in the UK – aged only 32.”

“He has an address book to rival a Prime Ministers.”

Islamic$&!'()$– June 2007

“Azeem Ibrahim brings focus and intensity to all his endeavors whether they be charity work or banking.”

“Ibrahim has an exceptional track record in bringing strategic thinking to his dealings in international commerce

and has a proven ability in understanding the dynamics of the international financial world.”

-.//())$0"g"1!2($– August 2007

“Azeem Ibrahim has the focus and intensity one would expect of a successful businessman.”

“Ibrahim’s down to earth approach is clearly rooted in a Glasgow upbringing.”

Sunday$Times – May 2007

“Despite his reticence Ibrahim exudes confidence in everything he does without sounding too cocky…

at times his CV sounds too good to be true.”

&*($-.2 – June 2007

“As well as being filthy rich, he also has brains.”

Azeem IbrahimTestimonials

18 Waxwell Lane, Harrow, London, HA5 3EN, UK

T(#(3*42(5$+44 (0)1455 633 289 %'"!#5$info@specialistspeakers.com