Faisel Rahman

Biographical Information
"Faisel Rahman has a background in international development, including Grameen Bank and the World Bank, where he focused on developing the microfinance sector and expanding it around micro enterprise. He also briefly worked as an underwriter for a syndicate at Lloyds of London and co-authored a number of books on charitable fundraising and trust funds in the UK.

"In 2000 he developed the first microcredit project in the UK and later created an innovative and sustainable debt advice service. His work received accolades from the Bank of England and the New York Federal Reserve Bank and has helped hundreds of women create businesses and saved many hundred more from eviction.

"In 2005 he founded Fair Finance, and is currently its Managing Director. Fair Finance is a social business that aims to reduce financial exclusion and exploitation amongst poor and low income communities in the UK.

"Faisel is currently a board member of the European Microfinance Network. In 2007 he was elected one of the first UK Ashoka Fellows in recognition of his work in social enterprise and the potential to make system changing impact through Fair Finance and in 2009 was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He also writes a monthly column in the Guardian newspaper on financial exclusion."