MANAMA — Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG) Sunday proudly announced that Dr. Wajeeha Awadh, section head of Digital Banking and FinTech at the group headquarters, has become the first Bahraini woman to have been awarded a PhD in the FinTech domain.

Dr. Awadh, whose studies were sponsored by Al Baraka Banking Group, received her PhD in management with a research focus on FinTech from Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia.

Her in depth research work and study has established her as one of the group’s and the kingdom’s leading FinTech and digital banking experts. Numerous awards underscores her experience and contributions to the field. In 2019, she was named among the Top 300 Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance by Cambridge IFA as well as ranking 29th worldwide and the first in Bahrain.

Having joined ABG in 2015, Dr. Awadh currently looks after the group’s comprehensive and pioneering digital transformation strategies and is presently engaged with several digital banking and FinTech projects group-wide focusing on leveraging the power of technology to better serve and meet the fast evolving demands of customers and ensuring greater efficiency and productivity internally.

Adnan Ahmed Yousif, president & chief executive at ABG, said, “We’re delighted to support top talent in this ever important area of our business. Digital transformation is at the heart of what we do and we’re extremely proud to have dedicated experts like Dr. Wajeeha Awadh helping to drive and further accelerate our digital journey.

“Investing in our people and supporting their growth is a critical part of the Innovation First culture we embrace across the Group. We congratulate Dr. Wajeeha and look forward to her further advancement in the sector and to the contributions she will continue to make on behalf of the Group and our stakeholders.”

The Head of IT & Senior Vice President Ahmed Albalooshi, stated, “Wajeeha is a young and highly motivated individual with a thirst for knowledge and has set the bar high for all young members in the group. She is a valuable resource and contributor in our Digital Transformation Team and we have very high expectations of her.”

In addition to her role at ABG, Dr. Awadh also lends her digital expertise, acting as an external expert to a number of universities advising on their FinTech courses. Previously, she also served as head of the Bahrain TechAwards in 2019, which took place in Dubai, and was a member of Women in FinTech Bahrain (WIFBH), an initiative of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, aimed at promoting the sector and the role of women within it.

Dr. Awadh’s work has also been published in a number of international academic publications and non-academic sources in London and Kuala Lumpur and she has spoken at some of the industry’s most prestigious conferences and seminars both locally and internationally. — SG