The
Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) organized CFO Conference 2025 on theme
" Quantum Leap: Agility & Competitive Edge," at a local hotel.
A
major highlight of the conference was the keynote address titled “Leadership
Metamorphosis: Recalibrating CFOs in Motion” by Mr. Syed Hyder Ali, Chief Executive and Managing Director of
Packages Group. He examined the multidimensional evolution of the CFO role,
shifting from traditional financial stewardship to becoming strategic business
leaders. Mr. Hyder Ali emphasized the CFO's potential to drive innovation,
performance, and resilience amid today’s volatile economic climate.
Mr. Saif Ullah, President of ICAP, in his keynote
address, eloquently underscored the critical importance and timeliness of this
year’s theme. He reflected upon the unprecedented velocity of transformation
reshaping the global financial and business landscape, emphasizing that today’s
finance leaders must cultivate agility, embrace disruptive technologies, and
position themselves as strategic enablers. He further asserted that in an era
defined by complexity and volatility, the ability to anticipate change and
proactively drive value creation is no longer optional but imperative for
sustained organizational success.
Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui, Vice President of ICAP,
conveyed his profound gratitude to the distinguished guests, organizing
committee, ICAP Council Members, sponsors, and participants for their
invaluable contributions to the success of the conference. He highlighted the
evolving and pivotal role of CFOs as catalysts of organizational
transformation—not merely as stewards of financial integrity, but as visionary
leaders driving digital integration, fostering a culture of ethical governance,
and steering their institutions toward long-term, sustainable growth in an
increasingly complex business environment.
The
conference proceeded with a thought-provoking panel discussion titled
'Empowered Growth: Leveraging the Digital Ecosystem', expertly moderated by Ms.
Sana Mela, Vice President Strategy at Swyft Logistics. The panel featured a
distinguished lineup of speakers, including Mr. Atyab Tahir, CEO of Hugo Bank;
Mr. Salman Hafeez, Executive Director at Nishat; and Mr. Faisal Khan, CEO of
IGI General Insurance. The session offered deep insights into how businesses
can unlock scalable growth through digital transformation, real-time data
analytics, and enhanced financial agility.
This
was followed by an insightful presentation titled “Ethics in AI:
Safeguarding Trust & Transparency in Finance” by global technology
thought leader Mr. Asmar Atif,
Chief Intrapreneur and Head of Octopus Digital at Avanceon. He explored the
intersection of artificial intelligence and ethics in finance, stressing the
urgent need for robust governance structures to uphold transparency, trust, and
accountability in algorithm-based financial decision-making.
A
second keynote address was delivered by Mr.
Lee White, CEO, IFAC, titled “Finance in the Age of Acceleration:
Navigating Complexity with Agility.” Mr. White urged finance professionals to
proactively embrace artificial intelligence, align with sustainability
imperatives, and adopt inclusive leadership models to ensure continued
relevance and competitiveness in an increasingly complex global economy.
Further enriching the program, Mr. Ashfaq Yusuf Tola, President of
the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), delivered a presentation
titled “Redefining Finance: Quantum Thinking for Agile Times.” His address
highlighted the significance of forward-thinking, adaptive finance strategies
in uncertain and fast-changing environments.
Adding a fresh perspective, Mr. Faizan Hanif, a young ICAP member,
engaged in a dynamic conversation with Mr.
Zunair Zafar, CfO, The International Grammar School, Lahore. Titled
“Unleash Your Superpower,” the discussion inspired emerging professionals to
harness their strengths and lead with purpose in the finance domain.
In a session focused on investment
and economic opportunities, Mr. Azfar
Ahsan, Chairman of Nutshell Group, delivered an engaging speech titled “Investment
Opportunities in Pakistan: Evolving Business Climate.” He highlighted the
current trends, sectoral opportunities, and economic reforms shaping Pakistan’s
investment landscape.
The
human capital dimension took center stage during the panel discussion titled
'The Human Balance Sheet: Future-Proofing Talent & Leadership.' Moderated
by Mr. Khalil Ahmed Hashmi, CFO of SPEL Ltd., the session featured an
impressive lineup of speakers: Mr. Muhammad Faisal, Chief Executive Officer of
Lucky Motors; Mr. Javed Akhtar, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at
Style Textile; and Ms. Toima Asghar, CHRO at Systems Pvt. Ltd. The panel
emphasized the urgent need to cultivate diverse talent pipelines, instill
future-ready competencies, and foster leadership rooted in empathy,
adaptability, and innovation.
Sustainability
and governance took center stage in a fireside chat titled “Beyond Compliance:
ESG for Sustainable Success.” The discussion was led by Ms. Nazifa Butt,
Director at WWF Pakistan; Mr. Fawad Ul Hassan, Operational Controller at
Nestlé; and Ms. Nadia Rehman, Member for Climate Change and Food Security at
the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Moderated by Mr. Aleem Zubair, Partner at
A.F. Ferguson & Co., the session explored how ESG frameworks can be
harnessed as strategic drivers of long-term business success.
A
powerful motivational talk titled “Commanding the Leap” was delivered by Mr. Qaiser Abbas, renowned leadership
coach and author. His session energized the audience, encouraging finance
professionals to lead with vision, confidence, and courage amid change and
disruption.
The conference concluded with a
high-level panel discussion titled “Riding the Economic Wave,” moderated
by Mr. Farid Alam, CEO of AKD
Securities. The session featured eminent economic and financial thought leaders
including Mr. Khurram Schehzad,
Advisor to the Finance Minister of Pakistan, and Dr. Shahid Kardar, a respected economist and former governor of
the State Bank of Pakistan. The panel provided an in-depth analysis of
Pakistan’s macroeconomic landscape, key fiscal policy directions, and the
broader business environment.
In the closing address, Mr. Muhammad Awais, Vice President ICAP,
expressed his sincere thanks to all participants, speakers, and organizing
teams. He reaffirmed ICAP’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s
finance profession by fostering leadership, innovation, and ethical excellence.
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