ICAI Bahrain's 17th Annual Conference Charts the Course for Finance Professionals
TDT I Manama
The ICAI Bahrain Chapter successfully hosted its 17th Annual Flagship Conference, aptly themed “Future Ready,” on November 21 and 22, 2025, at the Gulf Convention Centre. Under the leadership of Chairperson CA Vinit Maroo, the high-impact two-day event brought together globally acclaimed speakers, thought leaders, and finance professionals to explore the critical convergence of finance, technology, ethics, and leadership.
The conference began with a powerful inaugural ceremony. Key attendees included H.E. Mr. Vinod K. Jacob, Ambassador of India to Bahrain, Mr. Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner, KPMG Bahrain, and Mr. Abbas Al Radhi, Chairman, BAAA. All three emphasized the crucial role of governance, technology adoption, and human values in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The highlight of Day 1 was the keynote address by renowned investor Mr. Ramesh Damani, who presented a compelling session titled “The Future of the Indian Market.” He provided an optimistic outlook on India’s economic ascent, pointing to the country’s entrepreneurial energy, growing capital market maturity, and expanding investment opportunities.
Day 1 also featured insightful sessions on RegTech, technological disruption, and AI-driven transformation, with impactful contributions from speakers including Ram Subramaniam, CA Jatin Karia, CA Paresh Gupta, Arif Siddique Khokhar, and Wasif Shahzad. The day concluded with a musical evening, which offered a relaxed networking platform for all attendees.
Day 2 shifted the focus from technical excellence to broader themes of purpose, leadership, and sustainability. Mr. Joy Paul (GBM) opened the day with a strong session on AI in Finance, highlighting the role of automation, data-driven insights, and outlining the future roles for finance professionals.
This was followed by a dynamic ESG panel moderated by CA Arvind Sharma (KPMG Bahrain), featuring Reem Al Bastaki, Clint McLachlan, and Tahani Hussain. The discussion stressed the importance of embedding sustainability into business strategy to build resilience and ensure long-term value.
After an energizing fitness break, Mr. Gaurav Mehta and Arvind Benani (Protiviti Middle East) led an insightful discussion on Scaling AI in Organisations with panelists Umair Murtaza and Maytham Abbas, focusing on governance and the ethical adoption of artificial intelligence.
One of the most inspiring moments of the entire conference came from Padma Bhushan D.R. Mehta, Founder of Jaipur Foot, whose story demonstrated the power of blending innovation with compassion to transform millions of lives globally.
The program continued with a session by Gururajan Krishnamurthy (Zoho MEA) on future-ready cloud ecosystems, followed by an empowering talk from Colonel Rajeev Bharwan (Retd.), who highlighted discipline, resilience, and mental strength as essential traits for the future-ready professional.
The conference culminated in an impactful dialogue, “Is India Future Ready?” featuring Shri Sachin Pilot alongside CA Vinit Maroo. The discussion covered India’s demographic strength, technological momentum, and its growing potential for global leadership. The event formally closed with awards, raffles, and the vote of thanks delivered by CA Vinod Rathi, the Vice Chairperson.
The 17th Annual Conference, with its powerful insights and strong lineup of global thought leaders, successfully reaffirmed ICAI Bahrain’s commitment to shaping a truly Future Ready professional community.
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