CEO and Board Member, Grameen HealthTech Limited and Acting CEO,Shamadhan Services Ltd,

Dr. Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui is the CEO and Board member of Grameen HealthTech Limited and the Acting CEO of Shamadhan Services Ltd. With over 22 years of experience, he also serves on the boards of Grameen HealthTech Ltd, Shamadhan Pay, Grameen Health Care Services Limited, and Shamajik Health Science Institute and Research Centre Limited. Previously, he served as EVP of Digital VAS and New Business at Robi Axiata and held leadership roles at Citycell, Grameenphone, and edotco Bangladesh Ltd.—later overseeing operations in six countries as Head of Product Development at edotco Group, Malaysia. His landmark contributions include launching Bangladesh’s first mobile internet service (Zoom), mobile financial service (Rocket, bKash, Nagad), mHealth (Milvik), and pioneering blockchain and OTT platforms. An award-winning innovator, he holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, along with executive credentials from Harvard, INSEAD, and IMD. He also runs the youth-led foundation MFJF and teaches at North South University.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Interim Government,

Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman is serving as Special Assistant (State Minister status) at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Interim Government of Bangladesh. A distinguished leader in medical education and health governance, he is the former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), where he also served as Chairman of Pharmacology, Registrar, and Founding Director of ICT. A pioneer in digital transformation in medical education, he played a crucial role in establishing Bangladesh's first Biobank. 

Since 1982, he has contributed to national drug policy, pharmacovigilance, and health governance, including drafting the National Health Policy 2010 and essential medicines lists and he led Bangladesh’s first National Pharmacovigilance Guideline. Professor Rahman has been actively involved in numerous WHO-supported initiatives and national health committees, reflecting his deep commitment to strengthening health systems and regulatory frameworks.

An accomplished academic and researcher, he has supervised over 40 postgraduate theses and authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance, pharmacoeconomics, and clinical trials. He is a Founding Member of the Bangladesh AMR Response Alliance and served as Vice-Chair of GARP Bangladesh. In recognition of his national impact, Professor Rahman was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (FCPS) by the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2023.

CEO of A Healthier Future GmbH,

Tobias Silberzahn is a trained biochemist and immunologist and has worked in the life sciences and healthcare space for more than 15 years at a global management consultancy. The focus areas of his work have been healthcare innovation and the digital transformation of healthcare.

Currently, Tobias works as an independent advisor on healthcare innovation topics. In addition, Tobias is a Senior Fellow for BSt Gesundheit, which is part of the Bertelsmann Foundation - his work there focuses on trusted health information on the internet and social media. Furthermore, he is a Patient Ambassador for FH Europe Foundation and a member of the International Lipoprotein(a) Task Force, focusing on improving health and well-being for people affected by inherited lipid disorders. Tobias holds a PhD in immunology from King's College London and a diploma in biochemistry from Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (Germany).

Chairman, Grameen Group,Managing Director and CEO, Grameen Telecom Trust,

Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan has been an integral part of the Grameen Group for over 40 years and currently serves as its Chairman. He holds leadership roles as Managing Director of multiple Grameen organizations, consistently advancing the group's mission of driving transformative social and economic change across Bangladesh and beyond.

Beginning his journey with Grameen Bank in 1984, Mr. Hassan has held a variety of senior positions—apparently reached the peak as Chief of Engineering Section—playing a vital role in shaping the bank’s infrastructural foundation. Over the years, his leadership has spanned across pivotal sectors such as telecommunications, renewable energy, education, people Development with employment, technology, food and nutrition, construction, financial inclusion and complete healthcare that includes but not limited to Primary Care, Secondary Care and Digital Health; establishing him as a driving force and implementor in Grameen’s multi-sectoral impact and aspirations.

In rural development, Mr. Hassan has been instrumental in expanding telecommunication access in underserved areas. His broad expertise encompasses energy-efficient and resource-conscious production industrial management, supply chain logistics, local and export market strategies, as well as the empowerment of rural artisans and craftspeople, reinforcing inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

As a group chairman, Mr. Hassan serves on the boards of numerous social business enterprises under the Grameen umbrella home and abroad, spearheading initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, job creation, and the development of resilient community ecosystems. His leadership continues to inspire a new generation with innovative business and strategic initiatives with Healthtech, Fintech, Edutech, model mega hospital projects and so on that comes as inspiration to social business leaders, committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world.

Former Chief of Party, USAID-DFID NHSDP And Senior Country Representative, Pathfinder International

Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter is a trailblazing reproductive health epidemiologist whose work has transformed women's health in Bangladesh and beyond. With over 40 years of experience, she has dedicated her life to empowering women through science and advocacy. After earning advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins University and completing prestigious training at the CDC in Atlanta, USA, Dr. Halida led major health institutions, including BIRPERHT and FPAB, championing reproductive rights and maternal care.

A fearless freedom fighter, she provided critical medical aid to Birangana women during the 1971 Liberation War. She later founded a grassroots initiative in Rangpur, training women in safe motherhood and health leadership. Her groundbreaking research has shaped national policy on contraception, maternal mortality, and women’s health services.

For her lifelong dedication, she  the United Nations Population Award (2006), the Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship (2023), and the Begum Rokeya Padak (2023). Dr. Halida remains a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.

Chairman - Internet Governance Forum’s DC - Digital Health & Chairman- Commonwealth AI Consortium for Capacity Building,

Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta is a globally recognized expert in Digital Health and public policy. He has worked with major multilateral organizations—including the UN, WHO, World Bank, and WEF—and invited by governments worldwide, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, and India. A former advisor to India’s Union Health Minister, he played a pivotal role in drafting landmark policies such as the National Health Policy, Education Policy, and Viksit Bharat Abhiyan.

His bestselling book Digital Health – Truly Transformational is used globally as a reference and course book. He leads three dynamic coalitions at the UN Internet Governance Forum and serves on the Board of the International Society for Telemedicine and e-Health. He also chairs the Commonwealth AI Consortium for capacity building.

Dr. Gupta was invited by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office to help draft its AI policy. A World Economic Forum nominee and HIMSS Global Impact Awardee, he has authored five books and delivered 250+ talks globally.

General Surgeon,Former Chairman of the Board of Directors,RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund,

Dr. Leckman is a general surgeon in Salt Lake City. He is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors of RESULTS and the RESULTS Educational Fund, organizations dedicated to creating the political will to end the worst aspects of poverty. As a volunteer for 40 years, he has successfully advocated for microfinance,maternal and child health, fighting HIV, TB and malaria. He was Utah’s 2005 Doctor of the Year and a past President of the Utah Medical Association. He helped initiate the Health Access Project, providing over $26 million in donated care. He has served globally as a volunteer surgeon with Project Hope and Hernia International. He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Salt Lake City and was 2018–19 District Governor for Rotary in Utah. He was awarded Rotary’s Regional Award for a Polio-Free World in 2020. He  his medical degree and training from the University of Utah.

Principal Coordinator , Sustainable Development Goals, Interim Government of the People's Republic of,

Lamiya Morshed has 31 years of experience in international development, microcredit, social business, and global advocacy, playing a role in advancing sustainable development worldwide. She served as Executive Director of Yunus Centre since its founding in 2006 and joined Grameen Trust in 1994, helping to establish microcredit programs in many countries and leading microcredit missions to many countries, including Turkey, Timor-Leste, China, Nepal, the Philippines, and Costa Rica. 

She also served as Managing Director of Grameen Healthcare Trust and Chairperson of YY Ventures, and held board positions in organizations such as Grameen Healthcare Services, Grameen Kalyan, Yunus Social Business, Grameen Creative Lab, and the YY Foundation. She has presented papers and talks at numerous high-level international forums on behalf of Grameen Trust and Yunus Centre.

Educated at schools around the world, she is multilingual and holds a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Since August 2024, she has been serving as the Principal Coordinator for SDGs Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh

Co-founder and Director, Yunus Sports Hub,

Yoan Noguier is the co-founder of Yunus Sports Hub.After he led the procurement for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Yoan decided to perform a world tour to promote social procurement for mega events, during which he met Professor Yunus in 2017. 

Their early collaborations led to landmark partnerships with the International Olympic Committee, Paris 2024, AFD, BNP Paribas, and others. Together, they created Yunus Sports Hub to harness sport and social business as tools to fight poverty, unemployment, and the climate crisis.

Yoan also serves as Vice President and Managing Director of Yunus France.

Raised on a farm in southern France, he brings grounded values and a lifelong passion for sport to his work. His unique journey bridges elite sport, entrepreneurship, and social development.

Olympian, African Champion, Former Professional Basketball Player and Entrepreneur,

Kady Kanoute Tounkara OLY is a Malian and French Olympian, African Champion, and former professional basketball player. She co-captained the first Malian women's basketball team to qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. A five-time French national champion, she also holds a Marketing and Management degree from Fordham University. Beyond her playing career, Tounkara is a significant figure in sports administration, serving as the Chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Education Committee, a lead trainer for the IOC Athlete Career+ Program, and a member of the IOC Athletes' Entourage Commission. She also contributes as an IOC Safeguarding Regional Hub Working Group member and is involved in the IOC's engagement with Esports. An entrepreneur looking to empower Africa sustainably and ethically, she also has two years of experience as Director of Brand Communication for a solar energy company and is a consultant for the Yunus Sports Hub, supporting athletes to become entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh Women’s National Cricket Player,

Sumaiya Akter, born on 15 October 2005 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, is an all-rounder cricketer who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin (ROS). She has proudly represented Bangladesh in women’s cricket, including serving as captain of the Bangladesh Women’s U19 team during the Women’s U19 World Cup and Asia Cup. Sumaiya began playing cricket in her hometown of Mymensingh, driven by a deep love for the game and a dream to represent her country for many years. Her favorite cricketer is Mst Farzana Haque Pinky, whose batting style she admires and relates to. Sumaiya’s best cricketing moment was the day she first represented Bangladesh, and her ambition is to become a top-ranked all-rounder in world cricket. She is particularly attracted to the ODI format and fondly recalls attending the final match of the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup as a fan. Outside of cricket, she enjoys hanging out with friends.

Founder, Ogrograhi

Tanzeel Rashid is a young development professional, climate advocate, and youth activist who founded the organization Ogrograhi at just 14 years old. Through Ogrograhi, he has implemented over 50 social action projects in the fields of climate change, public health, and youth empowerment. He leads a dedicated team of over 100 young changemakers, empowering them to drive community-based initiatives and take ownership of local development efforts. Tanzeel’s leadership in grassroots activism has earned him numerous national and international recognitions, including being named a Top 10 Finalist for the Global Student Prize 2023, a UN Millennium Fellow (Class of 2022), a US Department of State Exchange Program alumnus, recipient of the Letters to Strangers Mental Health Changemaker Award 2024, and being recognized as an Ashoka Young Changemaker

Founder, Zohra Handicraft (Nobin Udyokta)

Ms. Fatama Tuz Johora is a young entrepreneur and founder of Johora Handicraft, a rural area-based artisan business in Kushtia, Bangladesh, that empowers underprivileged women through traditional crafts. Inspired by her mother, a skilled artisan, Fatama began crafting Nakshi Kantha and embroidered garments at the age of 18. As demand grew, she secured BDT 300,000 in funding from Grameen Trust’s New Entrepreneurship Program in February 2024. With this support, she renovated her workshop in Pachrasta, expanded production, and now employs 5 full-time and 35 part-time women artisans, most of whom were previously unemployed. While pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Management at Kushtia Government College, she continues to balance her studies with her growing business. Fatama actively leverages social media and entrepreneurial skills to scale her brand and foster sustainable livelihoods for women in her community. Her journey reflects the spirit of youth-driven innovation and the power of inclusive finance to transform lives.

Youth Activist, Advocate for Equality

Aysha Siddiqua is a dynamic student leader and youth activist from Bangladesh, recognized internationally for her role in the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement opposing fascist governance.Aysha has championed the fight against discrimination, working tirelessly with various platforms to promote equality and climate justice, while also standing firm against human rights violations. Her ‘She Leads’ a platform to help people to fight for human rights and I'll inspire for social sustainability. Currently a third-year Computer Science student at BRAC University, Aysha represented youth and their rights at the UN General Assembly (UNGA79) with the honourable Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Yunus, inspiring change through her passion and commitment.

Co-CEO & Shareholder, Yunus Social Innovation

Lisa is an experienced corporate intrapreneur and impact entrepreneur. Lisa has 15+ years of experience in establishing innovation initiatives globally. In 2017, Lisa shaped and led the MAN Impact Accelerator, owned by MAN Truck & Bus and Yunus Social Business. She joined Yunus Social Business in 2020 to design corporate social innovation programs and shape their EU-based intrapreneurship function. Today, Lisa serves as Co-CEO and shareholder of Yunus Social Innovation, a sister organization of Yunus Social Business.

At YSI, Lisa, alongside her co-CEOs Sergio and Lucie, shapes strategies that help corporate innovators build impact-first businesses and work with social entrepreneurs and sector partners to jointly shape the next generation of business leaders.

Lisa combines her background in political science, journalism, and innovation with a passion for corporate social intrapreneurship, transformation, and ecosystem building. She worked for consultancies, venture builders, and corporations within Europe and, at YSI, focuses on the DACH region.

Co-founder & Managing Director, Yunus Environment Hub

Christina co-founded Yunus Environment Hub (YEH) together with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Hans Reitz. YEH develops social business solutions that tackle the environmental and climate crisis. The expertise of the global YEH network covers waste & plastic management, circular economy, carbon neutrality, biodiversity, afforestation, sustainable agriculture, clean energy and access to clean water.

Christina was appointed to the Commission on Sustainable Business, Trade and Finance of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development and serves as co chair of the ministry’s PREVENT Waste Alliance. She is part of the advisory committee of the Circular Action Hub, a board member of the Circular Economy for Africa association, a Responsible Leader of the BMW Foundation World Responsible Leaders network and has  a Social Impact Scholarship of KfW Foundation. 

She has lectured at several universities and speaks regularly at high profile events. In 2016 she co-founded “Circular Economy Rhein Main” and in 2019 “Colombia Circular”, platforms to develop a circular economy in Rhein Main metropolitan region and Colombia respectively; in 2016 she co-founded “The Plastic Lab”, a creative laboratory to keep plastics out of nature.

Executive Director of Yunus Social Business,

Francisco Vicente has over 20 years of professional experience,working in the social business economy for over a decade. He is currently the Executive Director of Yunus Social Business Latin America.

A business administrator with an MBA from Hult International Business School, he is responsible for managing investments in Brazil and Colombia. In total, he has invested in around 50 social businesses on the continent, which have impacted over 10 million lives at the base of the social pyramid.

Recently, together with local partners, he developed the Zunne Program, which focuses on investments in the North and Northeast regions, the poorest in Brazil. The program focuses on providing low-interest loans to early-stage social businesses led by women and/or black or indigenous people.

In addition, with this project, YSB made its first investments in the Amazon Rainforest, in businesses that generate social and environmental impact, keeping the forest standing and generating income for local communities

Managing Director, Grameen Shakti

Sohel Ahmed is the Managing Director of Grameen Shakti, a leading social business in the world that focuses on improving access to energy. With over a decade of experience in renewable energy, Sohel oversees all aspects of the organization. He has led major development projects in partnership with global agencies such as UNDESA, USAID, the World Bank, and ADB. Sohel also heads Grameen Shakti’s “Consultancy & Knowledge Practice” cell, which implements innovative projects including the water-and-energy nexus, solar-based EV charging enterprise model, and just energy transition initiatives. As an advocate for renewable energy (RE), the SDGs, and climate action, he has contributed to global energy forums, including as a member of the UN Technical Working Group on Energy Access. Recognized for promoting women’s participation in the energy sector, he serves as a Senior Advisor and Steering Committee member of the World Bank’s WePOWERnetwork, and received their Individual Achievement Award for his leadership.

Sustainable Tourism Educator; Committee Member, “Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change” for conserving environment and ecosystems in Bangladesh,

Syed Shafat Uddin Ahmed Tomal is an environment and sustainable tourism expert known for championing eco-tourism, forest conservation, and sustainable travel. With a background in marketing, he has emerged as a key voice in responsible tourism on national and international platforms.

He is the only private stakeholder appointed by the Ministry of Environment to make a guideline for developing tourism by conserving the environment and ecosystem in tourist areas. Twice elected to the Board of Directors of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB)—once as its youngest ever—Tomal actively promotes the Sundarbans as a premier eco-tourism destination.

Tomal has represented Bangladesh at global platforms like ITB India and Vietnam’s Eco & Sustainable Tourism Conference and participated in workshops by PATA and the Bangladesh Tourism Board. He has also served as an Adjunct faculty at American International University of Bangladesh teaching young leaders about sustainable tourism and hospitality.

His achievements have earned him honors such as the Sher-E-Bangla Golden Award and recognition by the Asia Tourism & Hospitality Awards in Malaysia, underscoring his leadership in sustainable tourism.

Co-Founder and CEO Dana Asia Ltd,

Duncan Power is a seasoned social enterprise and social business leader with over 30 years of experience in social finance and social enterprise innovation. He began his impact journey as CEO of Mercury Provident, a UK ethical bank (now Triodos), where he championed community-focused lending. Later, with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), he established a pioneering social investment fund—now Charity Bank—which proved the viability of lending to “unbankable” charities. Duncan then brought CAF to Australia and Southeast Asia , facilitating over AU$120 million in grants and transforming more than a million lives. In 2011, he founded Dana Asia to bring Professor Muhammad Yunus’ Social Business model to life across Asia Pacific. Through microenterprise development and access to finance, Dana Asia works to empower marginalised communities and build pathways out of poverty. Duncan remains a passionate advocate for inclusive growth, blending financial tools with social purpose to create sustainable, life-changing outcomes.

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Yunus Thailand

Callum Mackenzie, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Yunus Thailand: Callum co-founded Yunus Thailand in March 2020 and has led the organization in its efforts to build a social business economy in Thailand and Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability and reducing inequality. He has created a number of successful initiatives, such as Waste Hero Education, reaching 750,000 students to date across 6 continents, while currently building social business subsidiaries of Yunus Thailand, such as the Seaweed Social Business and Grameen Thailand. Callum has a diverse range of experience from working in the social business and international development sector around the world with organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, ActionAid, the European Institute for Cooperation and Development, and the UK Government. Callum holds a Master’s Degree in International Development from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor’s with Honors from Queen’s University Belfast in Conflict Studies.

Managing Director, Grameen Kalyan ,

A K M Moinuddin Chowdhury has been the Managing Director of Grameen Kalyan since 2019—the largest non-government primary healthcare provider in Bangladesh, founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. He holds an MBA from Bayes Business School, City University, London (formerly Cass Business School), and began his post-MBA career as a Principal Consultant at Frost & Sullivan in London.

With over 36 years of professional experience, including 16 years in the Bangladesh Army, Mr. Chowdhury has held senior leadership roles across the development and financial sectors. He has worked as an international consultant, overseeing major donor-funded initiatives by DFID (UK Aid) and DFAT (Australian Aid) in Bangladesh, with a focus on strategic management, finance, and government engagement.

He managed the £82.7M Chars Livelihoods Programme, DFID’s flagship poverty reduction project, and later served as Director of Finance at Maxwell Stamp Plc-UK, where he contributed to vital public financial reforms in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.

Founder and President, Euglena Co. Ltd and Chairman, Euglena GG Ltd. (Grameen Euglena),

Mitsuru Izumo is the Founder and President of Euglena Co., Ltd., a pioneering biotechnology company leveraging the microalga Euglena to address malnutrition and environmental challenges. Inspired by a transformative visit to Bangladesh in 1998, Izumo founded Euglena Co., Ltd. in 2005 after achieving the world’s first successful commercial cultivation of Euglena. He also serves as the Honorable Chairman of Grameen Euglena in Bangladesh. A graduate of the University of Tokyo and the Price-Babson Program at Babson College, Izumo previously worked at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. He has  numerous honors, including Japan’s Prime Minister’s Awards for Entrepreneurship and SDG Promotion, and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a published author, policy advisor, part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo, and member of Keidanren. Izumo exemplifies the fusion of innovation and impact, using science and business to promote global sustainability and social good.

Managing Director, Grameen Danone Foods Limited

Leading Possibilities, Unlocking Growth, Driving Transformation.

Dipesh Nag is a globally experienced business leader with a proven track record of driving sustainable growth across Asia and Europe. Known for translating complex strategies into practical execution, he unlocks potential within systems, aligns cross-functional teams, and strengthens financial performance through operational precision.

He has led supply optimization in Austria, accelerated transformation programs in Japan, and led performance renewal in Bangladesh’s evolving nutrition landscape—bringing together an international perspective and grounded leadership. At Grameen Danone, he restructured leadership systems, optimized operations, simplified governance, and institutionalized KPI-led financial discipline.

With leadership roles at Novartis, Sandoz, Square Pharmaceuticals, and Banglalink, Dipesh brings agility, foresight, and deep execution focus to every challenge. A certified Six Sigma Green Belt, he specializes in performance culture, cross-border transformation, and building future-ready organizations.

Trustee, Albukhary Foundation

Sharifah Sofia is an Economist with an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University. During her graduate study at the LSE, Sharifah Sofia was an external consultant to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, examining methodologies to empower rural women in Ethiopia's agricultural sector. During her graduate study at SIPA, Sharifah Sofia led a research paper on prudential regulation and sustainable investment for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA). Sharifah Sofia serves as a Trustee of the Albukhary Foundation and is responsible for driving its educational initiatives. She was a member of Albukhary International University’s Board of Governors and chaired its scholarship committee from 2018 to 2022. She has close to 8 years of work experience in the private sector, in the field of corporate finance, strategy, and private equity—both in Malaysia and Singapore. Sharifah Sofia belonged to the inaugural cohort of Southeast Asia Next-Gen Leaders at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

Executive Director, Católica-Lisbon Yunus Social Innovation Center, Adjunct Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics,

Frederico Fezas-Vital is a tireless leader, a catalyst for positive change, and a builder of systemic bridges in multi-stakeholder environments, immersed in the social innovation and impact ecosystem for nearly two decades. He leads the CATÓLICA-LISBON Yunus Social Innovation Center – a Center of Excellence that generates knowledge and promotes initiatives and projects in social innovation – and also serves as the Executive Director of the Pact for Mental Health in the Workplace, a coalition of organizations committed to developing and improving their policies on mental health and employee well-being.

He is an advisor, consultant, professor, trainer, and mentor in the fields of entrepreneurship, social innovation, and creative sustainability communication.

Executive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology (YCA),Professor, Albukhary Centre of Excellence for Socioeconomic Development & Innovation (ACE-SEDI),President, Yunus Thailand (YT),

Professor Faiz Shah heads the Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology (YCA), and the Yunus Thailand Foundation. He has led the design and delivery of masters programs in Social Business, and ESG, at the Asian Institute of Technology and Albukhary International University, and continues to inspire the next generation of social innovators, and shape the future of social business education and impact entrepreneurship.

Professor Faiz Shah has led the Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology (YCA) since 2012. He is a member of the AIT Management Team and has a faculty affiliation with the School of Management. Since 2023, as Professor at the Albukhary Centre of Excellence in Socio-Economic Development & Innovation (ACE-SEDI), he has headed the emerging interdisciplinary graduate program focused on Social Business. In a 40-year international career as an educator, entrepreneur, and development professional, Professor Shah has overseen over 300 projects and trained over 3,000 grassroots changemakers from more than a dozen countries. He is the lead author of “Responsible Business Guide - A Toolkit for Winning Companies” (CIPE-RBI-ACCA, 2010).

Professor Faiz Shah continues to lead the design and implementation of the Yunus Masters, the Professional Masters in ESG, and the Master’s in Social Business. He is at the helm of the Social Business Academia Network and serves as the President of the Yunus Thailand Foundation (YT). As Visiting Professor at the College of Innovation at Thammasat University and the Faculty of Management at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, he guides young women and men to formulate their own independent pathways to contribute to society.

Chair of the Board, Praava Health

Sylvana Quader Sinha is Chair of the Board at Praava Health, which she founded in 2014 and led as CEO for nearly 11 years. Praava is Bangladesh’s first and only one-stop shop click-and-brick outpatient healthcare system, established with the mission of democratizing high-quality medical treatment in emerging markets. Sinha is a widely recognized authority on identifying and building resilient market-opening businesses in economies and sectors where potential has yet to be unlocked. Prior to founding Praava, her work bridged the most advanced capital markets with the least developed frontier economies. Sinha is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the WEF’s UHC2030 Private Sector Constituency and serves on the board of PATH.org. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Columbia Law School and Harvard’s Kennedy School. She is also a member of Wellesley's Business Leadership Council and a mentor at Columbia Business School’s Eugene Lang Center Entrepreneurship Centre and an expert mentor at Harvard Innovation Labs.

Founder, Grameen Foundation and Independent Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations

Alex Counts is a nonprofit leader, educator, consultant, and author.  He established the Grameen Foundation in 1997 with the assistance of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus and built it into a global organization over 18 years as its CEO. He is the author of Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind: Leadership Lessons from Three Decades of Social Entrepreneurship (Rivertowns Books, 2021), a semi-autobiographical work focused on lessons in nonprofit leadership and self-care, Small Loans, Big Dreams, and 2 other books.  He has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Washington Post, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and elsewhere, and is an active blogger.  He serves as the Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance. He lives with his wife Emily and cat Meena in Hyattsville, Maryland, and serves in a volunteer capacity as a court-appointed special advocate for foster children in his county.

Managing Director, Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation

Veronique Faujour began her career in the press sector from 1986 to 2016 as Product Manager at Bayard Presse Jeune, Sales Director, and finally as Senior Division Marketing Director – Responsible for development and distribution. She worked for the La Vie/Le Monde group, then for Fleurus Presse, the group’s youth press subsidiary. She later joined the Marie-Claire group as a magazine publisher before joining Uni-Editions as Deputy Managing Director. In 2010, she was Managing Director of Uni-Editions.

In 2016, she joined the Group Crédit Agricole S.A. as Marketing and Communication Director within the Development, Customer and Innovation division of Crédit Agricole S.A. On January 1, 2020, she was appointed General Secretary of Crédit Agricole S.A. before being appointed Managing Director of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in November 2022.

Chief Executive Officer, Global Impact Initiative

Giles Gunesekera OAM is the Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative (GII), a purpose-driven organisation that designs and develops impact investments aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With over 30 years of leadership experience across finance, social impact, and international development, Giles is recognised for his ability to build cross-sector partnerships that generate both financial and social returns. He is currently undertaking a PhD focused on affordable housing and impact investing, with an emphasis on Indigenous and marginalised communities. Giles has served on numerous commercial and not-for-profit boards and has long been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to social welfare. He is passionate about empowering communities through inclusive finance, and his work focuses on shifting capital to create systemic change and measurable impact at scale. 

Chairman and Director, Grameen Bank

Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury is the Chairman and Director of Grameen Bank and also the Vice Chancellor of North South University (NSU), Bangladesh. With over 37 years of experience in academia and leadership across Bangladesh, the U.S., Canada, and China. He has served as Vice Chancellor of Primeasia University and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University, and held senior roles at NSU including Dean of the School of Business and Economics. He also served as a visiting Professor of Yunnan Normal University, China. 

He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and an M.S. in Operations Research from Northeastern University, USA and completed Post-Doctoral research at the University of Calgary, Canada. A global advocate for social business, Professor Chowdhury has collaborated closely with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to advance inclusive finance. He has published 70+ scholarly works and led research funded project by the World Bank, British Council, OAF, ISC, and others.

Recognized by AACSB for leadership in DEI, he was also awarded an Honorary Professorship by Nanjing Audit University, China. His work continues to shape education, research, and social innovation.

Executive Vice Chairman, Gramen Trust

Abdul Hai Khan is a prominent practitioner of microfinance and social business. He serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of Grameen Trust (GT) and previously held the position of Managing Director of Grameen Trust from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022.
Before joining GT, Mr. Khan worked as the Deputy General Manager of Grameen Bank and served as the Head of Training and the Special Programs Department. He has worked with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus for over 40 years.

Mr. Khan has extensive experience with GT’s worldwide replication programs based on the Grameen Bank Approach (GBA). He has conducted numerous international training programs on various issues related to microcredit and social business in various countries, as well as conducted monitoring and evaluation visits to microcredit projects operated and/or managed by GT globally. He had an opportunity to work as CEO of Grameen Kosovo and General Manager of Family Bank, Bahrain. He has also directed ‘Fact Finding Missions’ in Nepal, Bolivia, South Africa, and Yemen.

Mr. Khan serves on the boards of several microfinance organizations and social business entities in Bangladesh, India, Kosovo, China, and other countries.

Director of Administration and Strategic Projects, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc. 

Raymond is the Director for Strategic Projects & Administration at Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), which is one of the first Grameen Bank Replications in the Philippines.  He has held various roles within the organization over the past 19 years- ranging from research and project management to operations support.  In his current role, he oversees Human Resources, I.T, and a variety of social business projects and advocate initiatives.  He also manages NWTF’s subsidiary, Dungganon Bank, which caters to MSME clients. 

Among the projects Raymond currently oversees is NWTF’s youth advocacy program which raises social awareness among junior and senior high school students in areas where the foundation operates in microfinance programs.  Through this program, they have successfully formed over 136 3 Zero Clubs and counting that compliments the microfinance and other programs of the organization.

Co-CEO & shareholder, Yunus Social Innovation

Sergio is a corporate social innovator and entrepreneur. He has over 15 years of experience driving sustainability, innovation, and impact at the intersection of technology, business, and society. He joined Yunus Social Business in 2019 to lead corporate partnerships, including the design and launch of the Reckitt Access Hub between 2022 and 2025. Today, he serves as Co-CEO and shareholder of YSI.

At YSI, Sergio leads efforts to design bold impact strategies, turn corporate employees into impact innovators, and support social entrepreneurs in becoming the next generation of global business leaders. He works with both corporations and changemakers to build forward-thinking businesses that prove purpose, impact, and profit are not opposing forces—but complementary drivers of lasting success.
His leadership combines corporate strategy, human-centered leadership, and deep ecosystem building, shaped by previous roles as Director of Technology for Good at Ericsson and CEO of Purple IVY, a strategy firm focused on sustainability integration in the Nordic markets.