Uzma Ashraf Apartment 719, St. John College, 82-Pokfulam Road, HKU, Hong Kong Email: oozeeashraf@hotmail.com oozeeash@hku.hk Mobile: + 852 928 54145 Experience Summary: Professional experience of working in public sector for more than 8 years at senior positions including working with the International Financial Organizations (IMF/ WB/ IDA/ DFID) on TARP Project linked to the IMF s Standby structural adjustment arrangements that involved policy negotiation, formulation & implementation on financial administration & restructuring in Pakistan. As Assistant Commissioner, and later, as Deputy Commissioner at Federal Board of Revenue, have finalized assessments for the largest corporations of Pakistan: and for non-resident corporations. As Second Secretary at FBR, conducted action oriented field research for the successful extension of the TARP Project. At prime Minister s Secretariat, on a Special Assignment on governance reforms at ministries and departments level, made reports and presentations for the Prime Minister s review and policy formulation. Recently, I have landed myself into research and academia. My research is focusing on the need and prospects for an enforcement mechanism in the post- crisis international financial regulatory architecture, with Dr. Douglas Arner. In Hong Kong, remained involved with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in conducting wealth management and tax planning for high worth clients; ADB Project on Microfinance: legal framework and implications for south Asia; various projects on international financial crises; regulatory architecture, international financial law, liquidity in banking sector, etc, and published in peer-reviewed international journals; Occasionally, delivered lectures as guest speaker at Directorate of Trainings (DOT), Lahore and Islamabad; contribute, articles on socio-economic issues in the top English newspapers of Pakistan. Last but not least, has started an annual series of inter-faith dialogue between Monotheist religions in Hong Kong since 2011 with international participation. Distinctions Was awarded HKU Star League Award at the Vice Chancellor s Prize Presentation ceremony, on April 09, 2011 at HKU. Won Outstanding Research Award from the Institute for Business & Finance Research (IBFR), USA, for the article titled, A road to Financial Stability, published in The Global Journal on Business Research (GJBR), May 2011. Recipient of prestigious University Fellowship from the University of the Hong Kong, 2010-2014 for the research on International Financial Law. Recipient of University Postgraduate Studentship (2010-14) to carry out research towards the degree of PhD at HKU. Was nominated by US State Department for International Visitor s Leadership Program (IVPL), on Administration and Accountability in Local and State Governments, Aug-Sep 2009
Won Allen & Overy Prize 2007 / 08 for Legal Aspects of International Financial Law, the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), London. Was Awarded Ross Cranston Prize for 2007 / 08 in Banking Law, Centre for Commercial Law Studies,(CCLS), London Recipient of British Chevening Scholarship, British Council, United Kingdom, for pursuing LLM degree in 2007. Qualified prestigious Superior Civil Services Examination of Pakistan, (CSS) in 2002. Have the honor of being the first woman qualifying the competitive exam and prestigious academic qualifications from my district, was included in the top ten personalities of the area in 2003. Conferences: Organizing an inter-faith dialogue to discuss Religions common grounds and differences with respect to Human Rights, on November 19, 2012, at the University of Hong Kong, between three Monotheist religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In this inter-faith dialogue, the Hong Kong representatives of three Monotheistic religions would come together to deliberate on the many instances where religious values come under conflict with human right issues in today s world. An international panel of three academics would further explore the adage that Religions influence societies through their cultures and legislations, but Governments also influence religious practices on the basis of their secular understandings of human rights. Where should the border between human rights and religious views lie? Are religions and states transgressing each other s domains? This event is a sequel to an initiative that I started in Hong Kong since 2011. Invited to present a paper titled, The Reform of the International Financial Regulatory Architecture: Addressing Legitimacy Issues, 4th Annual Conference of the Graduate School conference on Global Financial Markets at (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Friedrich Schiller University Jena), on Emerging Economies in Globalized Financial Markets, June 21-22, 2012. Panel discussant with Peter Draper (South African Institute of International Affairs & WITS University), on The role of BRIC countries in international financial markets and international financial market regulation: participation, influence and control. Was selected to present and participate at the Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP) workshop at Harvard Law School, in May-June 2012. The article titled, The Development of International Financial Law During the 20th Century, prepared for the conference was reviewed by Christine Desan, in addition to receiving feedback from a number of academics participating at the special group sessions individually devoted for each participant s work. The IGLP provides a prestigious forum to reflect on innovative approaches to global policy in the face of a legal and institutional architecture manifestly ill-equipped to address most urgent global challenges. The workshop is structured around six substantive thematic streams, namely: The Corporation in Global Society (CGS), Global Law and Political Economy (GLPE), Global Science and Technology Studies (GSTS), International Economic Law and Regulation (IELR), Law and Economic Development (LED), and Legal Architecture of Monetary Integration (LAMI). Recent scholarly trends as well as classical texts for these specific areas are explored, discussed with an aim
to goal is to understand the history and structure of contemporary world political and economic system, as well to map the legal structure of money, finance, development and governance, and opening them up to contestation and debate. Invited to speak on, Reform of World Structure, Regional Security, Afghanistan 2014, International Aspects of Domestic Affairs, in a workshop on Regional Security Challenges and Multilateral Response in the Asia-Pacific, attended by senior security advisors, ex-ambassadors and heads of defence-related research institutes from China, India and Germany including NATO representatives, held at the Central Party School, Beijing, November17, 2011. Delivered a talk as a first Pakistani on Tri-lateral Dialogue on Regional Security Disputes, during a seminar on The Global Strategic Environment and the Security of the Global Commons, in cooperation with the China Reform Forum (CRF) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Beijing, as part of China-India- Germany Trilateral Dialogue, held at Beijing, 15-16 November, 2011 Presented a paper on The Need for Consolidating International Financial Regulatory Architecture: Case for a Global Supervisor, at the13th International Conference on Finance and Banking: Lessons Learned from the Financial Crisis, Karvina: Silesian University, School of Business Administration, October 12-13, 2011, Ostrava, Czech Republic. Organized an International Conference on Religion & Violence: Seeing it as it is, at HKU, and participated as a panellist, on September 15, 2011. As memorabilia to 9/11, it was an Interfaith-Dialogue between three Monotheist religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, moderated by a Buddhist scholar, and attended by His Excellency, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Hamaid, head of the Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia, Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque of Kab a as well as the head of the Saudi Consultative Council, as special guest. Participated and prepared the paper during the International Workshop on China s Rise and Its Changing Image in the Global System June 02-05, 2011, jointly organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Hong Kong Baptist University, DAAD/ German Academic Exchange Service and Hong Kong America Centre (HKAC), in Hong Kong. Presented the paper, A Road to Financial Stability, at the Global Conference on Business and Finance, organized by the Institute for Business & Finance Research (IBFR), 2-5 January, Las Vegas, Nevada, US where my paper was selected for Outstanding Research Award. Participated in the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP), on Further emancipation of mind through bold innovations. Co-hosted by the State Administration of Foreign Affairs (SAFA), and People s Government of Shenzhen Municipality, October 29-31, 2010, Shenzhen, China. Published two articles based on the participation made in the conference in DAWN and Business Recorder, the daily English newspapers in Pakistan. Organized a series of high-level Workshops & Conferences on VAT Legislation/ Implementation; as part of World Bank/ IMF and Government of Pakistan s agenda, August 2009-2010, in Pakistan & Dubai, UAE.
Research Papers: Arner, Doug; Ashraf, Uzma. "International Financial Law." In Oxford Bibliographies in International Law. Ed. Tony Carty. New York: Oxford University Press, forthcoming. Ashraf, U., & Arner, D. W. (October, 2011). The Need for Consolidating International Financial Regulatory Architecture: Case for a Global Supervisor. Proceedings of 13th International Conference on Finance and Banking. Karviná, Silesian University, School of Business Administration, 2011, pp. xxx-xxx. ISBN 978-80-7248-708-0. Paper presented at the 13th International Conference on Finance and Banking. Karviná: Silesian University, Ostrava, Czech Republic. Ashraf, U., Arner, D. W., & Gill, I. M. (2011). A Road to Financial Stability. Global Journal of Business & Finance Research (GJBR), 5(5). Ashraf, U. (January 2012). Changing Perceptions: Fighting a Military or an Ideology. The Diplomatic Insight, 5(1), 12-13. http://thediplomaticinsight.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/01/englishjan2012.swf Newspaper articles: Ashraf, U. (2011, Friday, December 23). Why call it black swan again and again, Daily Times. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\23\story_23-12-2011_pg3_6 Ashraf, U. (2010, December 20). Talent apartments` for overseas compatriots, DAWN. Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/20/talent-apartments-foroverseas-compatriots.html Ashraf, U. (2011, March 05). From plagiarism to resignation!, Opinion, Business Recorder. Ashraf, U. (January 2012). Changing Perceptions: Fighting a Military or an Ideology. The Diplomatic Insight, 5(1), 12-13. Ashraf, U. (2010, December 08). Shenzhen - Opportunities for Pakistan to learn, Opinion, Business Recorder. http://www.brecorder.com.pk/news/articles-andletters/articles/1131522:shenzhen--opportunities-for-pakistan-to-learn.html Reviewer / Editor for Journals: Reviewer for Journal of Research in International Business and Management, (JRIBM) (ISSN:2251-0028) Editor for Greener Journal of Law and Enforcement, of International Greener Journals Reviewer for Journal of Research in Peace, Gender and Development (JRPGD), (ISSN: 2251-0036)w.interesjournals.org/JRPGD Education PhD (2010-2014 contd.) Asian Institute of International financial law (AIIFL); The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, courses read:
Law of International finance International Economic Law Regulation of Financial and Securities Markets Advanced Research Methodology Research Ethics How to Publish Your Research Thesis Topic: The Need and Prospects for an Enforcement Mechanism in the Post- crisis International Financial Regulatory Architecture MBA Distinction* Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, courses include: Financial Management Analysis of Financial Statement IAS Financial reporting standards Public Economics Managerial accounting & Control Systems Cost management Public Finance Business Laws & Banking Laws Statistics and Mathematics for Business Human Resource Management International trade Financial Management IAS/ IFRS/ Auditing & Change Management & BPR LLM Finance and Banking (Sept 2007-2008) Distinction* *(Two highest awards of distinction; two prizes of the year, two cash awards) Queen Mary, University of London, Courses: Legal Aspects of International Finance U.K. Business Taxation Banking Law Academic Communication Skills for Law 2 Thesis Topic: International Financial Regulations- Operational Risk Management LLB University of the Punjab, Lahore (2006-2010) M.Phil (Coursework Only) (2000-2001) Distinction* Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, Courses included: International Law International Organizations International Political Economy Research Methodology Politics of South Asia M.Sc International Relations, (1998-2000)
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, major subject areas included: International Law International Organizations International Political Economy Research Methodology Politics of International economic Relations Dimensions of Modern strategy Various Courses on regional and global politics, international relations and foreign policy B.A (1995-1997) Distinction* University of the Punjab, Lahore; Courses included: English Literature European History Political Science Work Experience Professional experience with the Government of Pakistan/ Federal Board of Revenue, from Feb 2002- August 2010 as Assistant Commissioner/SO/SS Second Secretary/ Deputy Commissioner, Tax Policy & Reforms wing, FBR Headquarters, Islamabad Before joining PhD at HKU, I was posted at Strategic Planning & Statistics Wing (SP&S) of Federal Board of Revenue, to carry out the reforms under 7-years Tax Administration and Reform Project (TARP), implemented by the Government of Pakistan under the joint coordination of International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), International Development Association (IDA)/Department for International Development (DFID) teams. Being part of the Project Implementation team, and the Prime Minister s Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan On a special assignment, was responsible for the evaluation of government departments in terms of their assigned targets by the Prime Minister as part of governance reforms agenda. As Assistant Commissioner of Income tax, Corporate Zone, Islamabad, Pakistan Income Tax Assessments of Corporations including the Oil & Gas sector, (OGDCL) the biggest revenue generating firm in Pakistan, Cement manufacturing plants, and all Non-Resident firms at Corporate zone Islamabad. Professional Trainings Income Tax Specialized Training for 13 Months at DOT Income Tax, Lahore Courses included Income Tax laws theory& Practice, Accounting Practices, Wealth Tax, Customs act, Sales Tax act, Contract Laws, Banking Practices and Examination of books of accounts. Common Training Program, 8 months, at civil services of Pakistan, Walton, Lahore Courses on Financial Management, Public Administration, Government Functioning, Economics, Syndicate Research and Public speaking etc
Mandatory Capacity Building Training Programs organized by the Directorate of Training and Research, Lahore and Islamabad, on application of different laws, Efficiency and Discipline Rules, Code of Conduct, and their application, accountancy and book keeping etc. Revenue Forecasting Attended first international conference/training in revenue forecasting held in April-May, 2005 at Directorate General of Training & Research Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore, Pakistan. Skills Summary Project Management skills ranging from Conception and Negotiation to Implementation, Supervision and Post-implementation Monitoring & Compliance of international projects involving international partnership. Communication, Presentation & Management Skills; Excellent command over written and spoken English. Effective time manager and administrator with the ability to meet financial deadlines, budget targets, keeping in view limited public sector resources. Proficient user of the windows operating system; MS word, Power Point & MS Excel, average user of MS Excess; Lexis Nexus/ West law. Finance and Accountancy Examining audited financial statements of the companies in the light of contractual documentations & accounting standard for the purposes of raising demand, audit selection & fixing tax evasive transactions. Preparation of evaluation reports, on the directives and policy guidelines issued to FBR, Pakistan on Revenue reforms and collection of taxes for presentation before the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Organizing and conducting international and national, seminars, conferences and workshops at the highest levels, on public, private and academic issue areas. Extra-Curricular Activities Has organized a series of inter-faith dialogue/ conferences since 2011. Elected Vice President, British Alumni Association of Pakistan (BAAP), since November 2009-12. Student Representative for the LLM program at Queen Mary, University of London 2007. Founded an Association of Post graduates in my native area, Kasur, since 2004. Executive member of QBDS, QAU, Islamabad 1999-2000. As Mess Secretary at DOT, Lahore, arranged various official functions 2004-05.