Lama Makarem
Lead Advisor
20 years of experience in banking, risk management and strategy & management consulting in Lebanon and the GCC.
- Consultant with CSTouch (2023-Present) supporting social enterprises, startups, NGOs and SMEs in Lebanon and MENA countries in their investment readiness and fundraising journeys.
- Investment Specialist at Berytech for the USAID-funded WE4F Program in MENA targeting 35 innovative SMEs (2022-2023), providing investment readiness support on financial model development, funding need validation, data room preparation and fundraising process.
- Head of financial Risks at Bank Audi, Beirut, Secretary of the Board Group Risk Committee (2015-2022). Monitored the Bank’s financial position, designed and ran stress test scenarios, formulated risk strategy and appetite, developed recovery plans and oversaw the risk management process across subsidiaries.
- Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Dubai, member of the Financial Services Practice group (2012-2015) working across private and public sector institutions.
- Lecturer of Risk in Financial Services at Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) (2014-2017) giving a series of 2-day courses to prepare bankers/ risk professionals for CISI’s exam required by the Central Bank.
- Market Risk Analyst at BLOM Bank, Beirut (2007-2011)
- BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut (2007), MBA from London Business School (2013)
- CFA charterholder (2013) and the holder of the FRM (Financial Risk Manager) certification (2010)
- Completed postgraduate courses in Corporate Finance, Financial Engineering, Financial Mathematics, Fixed Income, Derivatives and Trading Strategies with DNA Training & Consulting.
