A Nottingham University Business School academic has been ranked among the world’s most powerful women in Islamic finance.

Professor Meryem Duygun holds the Aviva Chair in Risk and Insurance at NUBS and also works as an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Leicester as well as being President of the International Finance and Banking Society.

She has now been voted 35 in the WOMANi 2018 report. The rankings were put together to champion the role of women in Islamic Banking and Finance. They look at areas such as professional leadership, advocacy and industry-wide recognition.

Professor Duygun said: “To be listed in WOMANi report came as a delightful surprise to me. It is a great honour and a genuine recognition of the importance and significance of the contribution that women across the world make in the area of Islamic Banking and Finance.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career. I hope this award will inspire many other women to make their mark in the world of Islamic Banking and Finance.”

The report said: “Throughout Islamic history, women have played important and influential roles in major areas such as policy making, politics, academia and business; from the first woman entrepreneur, Khadija Bint Khuwailad, to thousands of other Muslim women.

“Active participation of women in business and finance is a contemporary phenomenon, which has its roots in the Western influence on lifestyle and business organisations.

Islamic banking and finance in general have been traditionally dominated by men. But over the last two decades, we have seen more and more women shattering the industry’s glass ceiling. These inspirational female leaders and industry pioneers have inspired and motivated a new generation of female talent.”

Read the report.