Ziyad Abuo Habla

ISRAEL

Mr. Ziyad Abuo Habla is a researcher in accounting and financial policy and a leading voice in expanding financial inclusion to the Arab minority in Israel. Over 100 of his research and position papers have been showcased in leading Israeli economic and academic publications, including national newspapers such as Haaretz and The Marker. In 2014, two of his research reports influenced Israeli governmental policy concerning the Arab minority’s access to credit. In 2015, another of his research reports led the Israeli Institute of Charted Accountants to change its approach to local government audit reporting. Over the past two years, Mr. Abuo Habla has headed the Economic Council for Arab Society Development (ECASD), a non-profit research organization that supports Arab Israeli access to credit and entrepreneurship. Since 2012, he has also been an appointee of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in Business and Economic Development Issues for Young Entrepreneurs.

Mr. Abuo Habla holds two master’s degrees, one in Business Administration from Tel Aviv University and another in Political Studies from Bar Ilan University. He also holds two bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Administration and over twenty professional certifications in fields such as Entrepreneurship, Academic Research, New Public Management, Valuation Models, Sox 404, IFRS for SME’s, Bankruptcy, Strategic Planning and Political Leadership.

During his Fellowship year, Mr. Abuo Habla will undertake studies in financial inclusion, specifically innovation and entrepreneurship. Following his return to Israel, he plans to focus his research on the impact of political conflict on innovation and entrepreneurship within the Arab Israeli minority and in the Palestinian territories.