Founding Members

Türkan Akbaş was born in Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, Turkiye and emigrated to the United Kingdom with her family at a young age in 1989. She completed her legal education in the UK and has pursued a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades in international law.

Currently serving as a Senior Legal Associate at Greymore Solicitors, a London-based law firm, Akbaş represents clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional legal cases. In addition to her legal expertise, she has established herself as a strategic investor in the real estate and investment sectors. At the age of 18, she began making visionary financial decisions that grew her own capital and added significant value to her family’s businesses. Since then, she has provided investment consultancy to numerous individuals and companies. Today, she continues her professional journey as a solicitor in both a law firm, an investment company and an accountancy firm blending her legal insight with entrepreneurial foresight to embody sustainable success.

On 10 April 2025, Akbaş marked a historic milestone by being elected the first-ever female branch president in MÜSİAD’s 30-year history. She was appointed President of MÜSİAD United Kingdom, one of the association’s 100 representations across 84 countries. Her appointment is not merely symbolic—it reflects a concrete vision that strengthens women’s representation in business, involves youth in leadership, and promotes global cooperation.

Under her leadership, MÜSİAD UK is evolving from a local liaison office into a vibrant business platform that connects the UK to global markets. Her vision focuses on mentoring young people, inspiring female entrepreneurs, and providing members with access to new international opportunities. It is built on a philosophy of collective success—prioritizing “we” over “me”. Her service as a voluntary UN Women delegate further supports this inclusive and progressive approach.

Beyond her professional achievements, Akbaş is deeply committed to social impact. Through Save1Life, a non-profit organization she founded, she offers support to those in need both globally.

Türkan Akbaş is married and the mother of four children. She considers her most precious role to be an inspiration to her children, striving to transform today’s accomplishments into a legacy that will make them proud. In every investment and every decision, this sense of responsibility is clearly reflected. She believes that time and the right network are the most valuable resources in the business world, and that those who use them wisely can achieve sustainable success. Türkan Akbaş continues to be a leader who truly embodies the definition of “a woman who represents success.

Kamran Sattar is an influential banker with a proven track record in capital markets, corporate finance, and investment strategy. Over his career, he has facilitated more than £3 billion in capital market transactions, successfully executing deals across the oil & gas, mining, and technology sectors. His expertise has been instrumental in transforming small-cap companies into strong, revenue-generating businesses.

Kamran’s group successfully underwrote two key transactions with Touchstone Energy Inc. and was an early backer of AfriTin Mining, achieving significant returns in both ventures. He was also among the early-stage backers of Moxico Resources, Saudi Arabia’s first mining project focused on a world-class zinc-copper deposit. His ability to identify high-growth opportunities and structure strategic financial solutions has solidified his reputation as a leader in banking and investment.

With extensive financial qualifications and experience, Kamran ensures robust financial reporting, governance, and audit oversight. He is the principal of Portillion Capital, a boutique financial advisory firm serving a diverse clientele, including high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs). Portillion is registered and authorized by the FCA, and Kamran holds multiple senior management functions as a regulated individual, including SMF3 Executive Director, SMF16 Compliance Oversight, and SMF17 Money Laundering Reporting Officer.

Beyond banking, Kamran is also a strategic investor and entrepreneur. He is the CEO and largest investor in Love Hemp and a significant shareholder in Bushveld Minerals. His leadership and investment acumen continue to drive success across multiple industries, positioning him as a key figure in capital markets and strategic investment.

With a strong financial foundation and visionary leadership, Kamran Sattar remains at the forefront of global finance, delivering exceptional value to businesses and investors alike.

Ufuk Seçgin is the Co-founder and CMO of Halalbooking, the world’s leading online travel agency dedicated to halal-conscious travellers. Since joining the company in 2014, he has played a central role in shaping Halalbooking’s product proposition, brand positioning, and global marketing strategy, contributing significantly to its international scale and category leadership. Together with the founding team, Ufuk is focused on the ambition of leading Halalbooking to an IPO in 2030.

Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, Ufuk studied at Euro-Business-College before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he completed an MBA in Cardiff. He began his career in the corporate sector, spending over a decade in senior global marketing roles within BP’s lubricants division. During this time, he worked with internationally recognised brands including Castrol, BP, and ARAL, developing deep expertise in brand management, global campaign leadership, and multi-market strategy across international markets.

Since transitioning into the halal travel sector, Ufuk has built extensive global experience through frequent travel and hands-on evaluation of halal-friendly hotels and destinations. This practical exposure has given him a deep understanding of Muslim traveller expectations, behaviours, and evolving preferences, as well as the operational and commercial requirements for destinations and hospitality partners seeking to serve this market effectively.

His strategic expertise spans the halal-friendly travel and tourism ecosystem, with particular focus on Türkiye as a global leader in halal-friendly beach resorts; Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding tourism sector, including beach destinations, cultural tourism, and Umrah-plus offerings; and key leisure destinations such as the Maldives and Morocco. He has also been instrumental in developing Halalbooking’s loyalty strategy via the Halalbooking Loyalty Club and has a particular interest in building long-term loyalty programme partnerships with airlines, banks, and other major loyalty platforms to grow a broader halal travel ecosystem.

Alongside his commercial leadership, Ufuk has held several senior leadership and advisory roles within community and humanitarian organisations. These include serving as Chair of the International Affairs Committee at the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), as well as founding Chairman of Hasene Humanitarian Aid UK and The Alberonius Foundation. He is also a founding member of the Muslim Trade Forum (MTF). Through these roles, he has supported humanitarian and development initiatives across Aceh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Syria, East Turkestan and Palestine etc. reflecting a strong commitment to social responsibility and global development.

Ufuk is an experienced interview partner for television programmes and newspapers and regularly contributes as a moderator and panellist at international tourism conferences. His marketing expertise includes loyalty programme partnerships, influencer marketing, social media strategy, email marketing, and B2B marketing for travel agencies.

He is fluent in German, English, and Turkish, with intermediate proficiency in French, enabling him to operate effectively across diverse international markets.

Dr. Ayshan Mahmood Abdullah is a seasoned industry leader with a distinguished career spanning financial market infrastructure, global investment, and Islamic finance. With professional experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, he brings a rare blend of technical expertise, strategic insight, and principled leadership to the global Islamic finance ecosystem.

He is the Managing Director of Al Wadhiah, a Shariah-compliant investment platform established to deliver ethical, transparent, and globally diversified investment solutions. Under his leadership, Al Wadhiah provides structured exposure to real estate, physical gold, and selected international markets, while remaining firmly anchored in the principles of Islamic finance. Dr. Ayshan has played a central role in defining the platform’s long-term strategy, governance framework, and institutional positioning, ensuring full alignment with Shariah standards and international best practices.

Dr. Ayshan’s career is marked by a deep understanding of financial market infrastructure, regulatory environments, and cross-border investment structures. His work has consistently focused on building resilient, sustainable financial platforms that balance strong commercial performance with ethical responsibility. He is widely respected for his ability to translate complex financial systems into accessible, compliant investment solutions tailored to the needs of a global Muslim investor base.

In addition to his commercial leadership, Dr. Ayshan is the founder of aYmab Mission, a charitable initiative dedicated to creating lasting social impact through education, community empowerment, and humanitarian development. The mission reflects his conviction that wealth and finance should serve a higher purpose, contributing meaningfully to society while enabling opportunity and long-term self-sufficiency. Through aYmab Mission, he actively supports initiatives that promote dignity, inclusion, and sustainable development.

As a founding member of the Muslim Trade Forum, Dr. Ayshan Mahmood Abdullah exemplifies a commitment to ethical leadership, collaboration, and the advancement of Muslim-led enterprise on a global scale. His work continues to bridge faith-based values with contemporary economic realities, positioning him as a key contributor to the credibility, growth, and future direction of Islamic finance and trade.

Dr. Ziad Abu-el-Zeet, CEng MIET, is a distinguished entrepreneur, chartered engineer, and business leader with a unique career spanning academia, global engineering, and international food trade. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Yaffa Limited, a UK-based family business established in 2010 with a clear mission: to create sustainable international market access for Palestinian farmers and producers.

Under Dr. Abu-el-Zeet’s leadership, Yaffa Limited has grown from a start-up with an initial turnover of approximately £180,000 into a globally recognised brand with annual revenues of around £5 million. What began with a focused offering of Palestinian Medjoul dates and olive oil has evolved into a diversified portfolio of high-quality products, including herbs, spices, black seed products, and premium dates sourced from Palestine, Medina, Algeria, and Tunisia. Today, Yaffa is a household name associated with quality, authenticity, and ethical sourcing.

Dr. Abu-el-Zeet has played a central role in Yaffa’s international expansion, building distribution networks across more than 20 countries, including markets in Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North America, Africa, and Australia. He has also overseen the development of multiple complementary brands such as Palestinian Delights, Golden Dome, and Al-Rayyan, enabling the company to serve diverse consumer segments while maintaining consistent quality standards. In the UK, Yaffa products have been successfully supplied to major retailers including Asda and Sainsbury’s, as well as leading distributors in the ethnic and mainstream food sectors.

Before entering the food and agribusiness sector, Dr. Abu-el-Zeet built a strong technical and academic foundation. He began his career as a post-doctoral research assistant at City University London, followed by senior engineering roles at ALSTOM Power in the UK and consultancy engagements with ALSTOM in Switzerland. He also served as an Assistant Professor at Bir Zeit University in Palestine, combining academic leadership with international consultancy work. This blend of technical expertise, analytical thinking, and commercial insight has strongly influenced his approach to building scalable, resilient businesses.

In addition to his commercial achievements, Dr. Abu-el-Zeet is a Founding Member of the Muslim Trade Forum, where he actively contributes to advancing ethical trade, halal market development, and cross-border collaboration among Muslim-led enterprises. As a speaker at international platforms such as Alimentaria, he brings a compelling perspective on building global brands rooted in authenticity, sustainability, and social impact, and on how halal and values-driven trade can unlock new opportunities in global food markets.

Born on 18 November 1954 in Mombasa, Kenya, Prof. Esmail Harunani is a distinguished dental surgeon, healthcare entrepreneur, academic, and community leader. He is married to Mariam and has four children and eleven grandchildren. His family reflects strong professional values, with two daughters registered pharmacists, one son a practising solicitor, and another a dental surgeon with a special interest in oral surgery.

Arriving in the UK in 1974, he qualified with a BDS from the University of Bristol in 1979 and has since attained numerous postgraduate qualifications, including MFDS (RCS England, Edinburgh and Glasgow), MFGDP, DPDS with distinction, Diploma in Restorative Dentistry, FFGDP (UK), and an MSc in Clinical Leadership from the University of Glasgow. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi and a former Clinical Teacher at King’s College London, and has served as an examiner for multiple Royal College examinations.

Starting from humble beginnings, he opened his first NHS dental practice in 1986 and went on to found Dentistry For You, now a group of over 20 practices with more than 300 staff, providing NHS and private care with exceptional patient satisfaction. He is CEO of Harunani & Co Group, encompassing healthcare, property, education, and charitable ventures, including Dentac and the Harunani & Co Charitable Foundation.

His leadership has been widely recognised through major awards, including Professional Businessman of the Year (2014), Leadership Excellence in Dentistry (2018), and multiple national awards in 2025. Internationally, he has expanded into Saudi Arabia with Oasis Clinics and serves as a director of World of Hospitality.

A lifelong advocate of NHS access, ethical leadership, faith-driven service, and community welfare, Prof. Harunani has created over 120 jobs, pioneered inclusive care models, and led extensive charitable and community initiatives locally and globally.

Shazid Miah serves as  Vice President and Head of Foreign Relations at ASKON UK, operating at a senior strategic level to advance economic, trade, and diplomatic engagement between the United Kingdom, Turkey, Bangladesh, and other international partners.

In this role, he works closely with government institutions, public bodies, and senior business leaders, facilitating cross-border cooperation, investment flows, and the development of long-term economic partnerships. His legal background enables him to provide trusted legal and strategic counsel on complex investment transactions, acquisitions, and cross-jurisdictional projects.

Shazid’s legal career was shaped by his early experience at leading City law firms and at Canary Wharf Group plc, where he developed strong expertise in construction law and large-scale commercial development projects. His professional portfolio includes advising both private and institutional clients, with a particular focus on supporting family offices and international investors, especially from Turkey and the Middle East, in UK real estate acquisitions and development ventures.

Prior to his current role, Shazid played a significant part in the growth and positioning of MÜSİAD UK, contributing to business engagement initiatives, trade events, and international delegations. This experience laid a strong foundation for his work at ASKON UK, where he now operates at a broader and more senior level, engaging directly with governments and international stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.

With multidisciplinary expertise spanning law, diplomacy, and technology, Shazid brings a practical, solutions-driven, and senior-level approach to building trust, creating opportunity, and fostering meaningful collaboration. He remains deeply committed to strengthening international partnerships and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Khalid Sofi is a Partner and Head of the Charity and Not-for-Profit team at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams LLP, a London-based law firm. He is widely recognised as a leading authority in charity law and advises charities, not-for-profit organisations, professional associations, community interest companies, and philanthropic foundations both in the UK and internationally.

With nearly three decades of legal experience, Khalid provides strategic and practical advice across the full lifecycle of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. His work spans initial set-up and registration, governance, audit and risk management, restructuring and mergers, trading subsidiaries, and regulatory compliance, including Charity Commission investigations and statutory inquiries. He advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, frequently acting in complex, sensitive, and high-stakes regulatory and governance matters.

Khalid has extensive experience advising organisations with a wide range of charitable purposes, as well as high-net-worth individuals and families on the establishment and management of philanthropic foundations. He is regularly instructed on matters involving organisational transformation, regulatory risk, and long-term sustainability within the charity and voluntary sector.

A key area of Khalid’s practice is his specialist expertise in the Muslim charitable sector. He is a trusted adviser and point of reference for many Muslim organisations in the UK and overseas, assisting clients in establishing and managing charitable structures in accordance with Islamic principles, including waqf arrangements. His work in this area reflects a deep understanding of both the UK regulatory framework and faith-based governance considerations.

Khalid qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and has advised on some of the most complex charity law matters in recent years. His recent experience includes:

• Advising multiple charities subject to Section 46 inquiries by the Charity Commission concerning allegations of mismanagement and misadministration.

• Supporting an international aid organisation with the restructuring of its legal entities, strengthening governance frameworks, and managing relationships between affiliated entities.

• Advising mosques and community centres on transitioning from unincorporated charities to Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), including asset transfers, dissolution of legacy entities, and removal from the Charity Register.

• Acting in High Court charity proceedings involving disputes between rival charities over high-value land and property held on trust, including complex issues relating to cy-près.

In addition to his advisory work with charities and private clients, Khalid also advises governments and public bodies on developing and improving regulatory frameworks for the charity and not-for-profit sector.
Khalid is a member of the Charity Law Association and is ranked as a Leading Partner for Charities and Not-for-Profit by The Legal 500, as well as recognised as a Notable Practitioner by Chambers & Partners—the two most prestigious and globally respected independent legal directories. These rankings reflect his standing as one of the UK’s foremost practitioners in charity and not-for-profit law.

Ashraf Omar is a highly respected business leader with over 50 years of experience in Import and Export, Fashion and Real Estate Investments. 

Established in 1974, Paramount Holdings has grown into a leading enterprise with a strong reputation for quality and innovation. 

Under his strategic leadership, Paramount Holdings is set to expand into the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. This move aligns with the company’s vision to strengthen its presence in the Middle Eastern market and tap into opportunities for trade and investment. 

Alongside the real estate business, he leads Paramount Knitwear (Leicester) Limited, which supplies major high-street stores in UK, Europe and Middle East. The company has a major mission in promoting modest wear which blends elegance, comfort, and dignityin every style.

Ashraf Omar believes in contributing positively to making a world a better place. He has opened an eye clinic in Bangladesh, a hospital in Gujarat in India and also a hospital in  Jakarta in Indonesia. This reflects the companys’ conscious effort to contributepositively to society in need. 

Deena Ataie is the Owner and Director of Heriots Patisserie, a distinguished British heritage brand established in 1917. Since acquiring the business in 2016, she has successfully led its strategic transformation and growth across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale channels. Under her leadership, Heriots Patisserie has strengthened its market presence while remaining firmly rooted in its legacy of quality, creativity, and artisanal craftsmanship.

With a clear vision for sustainable and responsible growth, Deena has overseen product innovation, brand development, and operational expansion, positioning Heriots as a premium offering within both mainstream and halal markets. Her approach combines commercial acumen with a strong emphasis on excellence, authenticity, and customer experience.

Deena is widely recognised as an influential business leader within the UK food and hospitality sector. In 2024, she was a finalist for the Islam Channel Businesswoman of the Year Award, reflecting her leadership, impact, and contribution to enterprise. She is a sought-after speaker and has contributed to discussions at leading industry platforms and international forums, including Anuga, the Makkah Halal Forum (MHF), and PROPEL, where she has shared insights on entrepreneurship, brand growth, and the evolving halal economy.

Her expertise and perspective have also been featured in national media, including BBC Radio London, where she has spoken on topics such as sustainable business growth, leadership, and innovation within heritage brands.

A committed advocate for halal excellence within UK hospitality, Deena champions higher standards, greater visibility, and the evolution of modern, premium halal dining experiences. Through her work, she actively promotes inclusion, quality, and innovation, helping to shape the future of halal food and hospitality in the UK and beyond.