Since 2021, LIBF has been running its podcast series, Beyond Finance, tailored specifically for listeners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and exploring a wide range of topics relevant to the finance industry. As sustainability and ESG trends increasingly shape the finance sector in the region, Beyond Finance regularly delves into these subjects, offering insights from industry experts and leaders.
Explore selected episodes on sustainability and ESG:
- Episode 21: Understanding Sustainable Finance
In this episode of the Finance 101 series, host Meera Almehrzi, Training Coordinator at LIBF, and Dr. Perihan Abdelghaly, ESG Expert and Faculty Member at LIBF, discuss all things sustainable finance. The pair explore fundamentals, impact, career, and upskilling opportunities in the field, as well as personal anecdotes.
- Episode 18: Sustainable Finance – Theoretical Foundation to Practical Reality
In this special episode of Beyond Finance, host Emmanuel Rondeau, Faculty Member at LIBF MENA, IS joined by Luma Saqqaf, Director, MEA and India, Principles for Responsible Investment, to break down the sustainable finance landscape in the MENA region.
- Episode 16: Banking on Sustainability – The Road to Net-Zero in MENA
Vera Koubek, Visiting Faculty at LIBF MENA, and Elena Primikiri, Associate Partner at Uniqus Consultech, delve into the importance of incorporating sustainability practices within banking organisations to achieve net-zero, regional happenings, including COP28, and how individuals can start a career in sustainable finance.
- Episode 15: Driving Organisational Change – Unveiling the Power of ESG
Emmanuel Rondeau, Visiting Faculty at LIBF MENA, and Gihan Hyde, CEO and Founder of CommUnique, discussed the significance of effecting change through ESG practices and the complex navigation of the process.
- Episode 14: Unlocking Sustainable Success: The Way Forward for MENA Banks Towards a Greener Future
In this episode, Dr. Martina Garcia, Director of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI), interviews sustainable finance experts, Perihan M. Abdelghaly and Vera Spender Koubek. Perihan is an expert in sustainable finance and ESG reporting and serves as a lecturer and programme leader at LIBF. Vera is a sustainable consultant and advisor with expertise in asset and wealth management, as well as commercial banking. During the interview, they discussed their recently authored whitepaper, 'How to Create a Sustainable Bank in the Middle East.' The trio explored the existing sustainability challenges in the MENA region and dove into the ESG compliance measures that banks and financial institutions must adopt to enhance their sustainability practices.
- Episode 11: Acceleration in the Demand for Sustainable Finance
Kareem Refaay, Managing Director of LIBF MENA, interviewed Shargiil Bashir, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), regarding the acceleration of ESG-related products and services. The duo dives deep into all facets of sustainability in the industry, breaking down and comparing experiences in the finance world.
You can find a full list of episodes of the Beyond Finance podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.
About LIBF
Since its foundation in 1879, LIBF has been at the forefront of providing world-class education and training. Today, our qualifications equip students round the world with the skills they need for successful careers. It is one of only a few professional bodies in the world to have Taught Degree Awarding Powers and is an innovator in distance learning and online degrees.
With a focus on vocational training, LIBF delivers a broad range of qualifications and programmes to support individuals at each stage of their careers – from entry-level to advanced professional qualifications. Since 2023, LIBF has been part of IU Group, Europe’s largest edtech company and proprietor of Germany’s largest university, IU International University of Applied Science, as well as the University of Fredericton in Canada. Further information at: www.libf.ac.uk
