Chairman
FinanceMalta

George Vella

Mr. Vella has over 16 years experience in corporate and project finance, research and development, strategic and project management, starting his career in 1995 at PwC where he worked in assurance, advisory and risk management arms.

In 2001 he joined the Corinthia Group and fulfilled a number of roles both locally and abroad, including that of Finance Director at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest and Corporate Finance Executive at the Corinthia Head Office. Tasks included business planning and budgeting processes, feasibility studies and acquisition bids, the implementation of a standard accounting package, raising of funds for project and corporate finance.

In 2005, he took on the role of Head of Corporate Strategy at APS Bank and was a member on the Bank’s risk management and credit committees.

At Grant Thornton, George and his team provide a variety of services including financial control, internal audit, evaluation services, assistance in the preparation of business plans, feasibility studies and cost benefit analyses, business valuations, assistance with mergers and acquisitions, project finance and corporate finance advisory services.

Apart from the management and leadership of the firm’s advisory practice, George also still holds various technical roles in high profile advisory assignments, including EU funding projects and applications as well as fund raising for the private sector, both through negotiating bank loans or raising private equity, and through assisting in public equity and bond listing. ‍

Empowering financial services

Empowering financial services

Speaker's Agenda

Day 1

Nov 19th

13:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee

Delegates arrive, collect materials, and network before the sessions begin.

13:30
Opening by Conference Host

Trudy Kerr, Award Winning Interviewer, Presenter, Motivational Speaker and Live Events MC

13:40
Opening Address & Keynote Speech

FinanceMalta Chairman

13:50
Address by Minister of Finance

Hon. Clyde Caruana

14:00
EnVision 2050: Quality as the Pillar of Malta’s Financial Future

Dr Jonathan Spiteri, Senior Lecturer, University of Malta

14:15
Panel Discussion: The Future of Malta’s Financial Services – Raising the Bar on Quality

Presentation:

Jürgen Kreuz: The impact of AI on Financial Services
Founder | Cyber Security Consultant | IT-Auditor | Coach | ISO27001 | Trusted Advisor


Panel session:

- How regulatory frameworks can support high-quality financial services
- Ensuring Malta remains a competitive yet sustainable jurisdiction
- The role of talent, governance, and technology in financial excellence


Moderator
: Keith Zahra, Communications & EU Affairs Specialist

Panelists:

- Kenneth Farrugia, CEO, Malta Financial Services Authority
- John McIlwaine, Senior Regional Representative for Italy and Malta, European Investment Fund
- Kenneth Farrugia, CEO, Bank of Valletta plc
- Joseph Zammit Tabona, Chairman, Malta Financial Services Advisory Council
- Jürgen Kreuz, Founder | Cyber Security Consultant | IT-Auditor | Coach | ISO27001 | Trusted Advisor

15:10
FIRE UP! Your Habits: Where executive wellbeing meets high-performance returns

Daphne Grech Cumbo

Up your Level | Coach & Trainer (ICF ACC)

15:30
Coffee Break
16:00
Host Intervention
16:15
Fireside chat: Rethinking Scale: A small nation’s Role in a Digitally-Driven Financial World

Ed Vaizey (Lord Vaizey of Didcot), member of the House of Lords, broadcaster and business adviser
Dimitris Litsikakis, Director, Profile Software

16:35
Fireside Chat: Geo Economics and the Future of Finance: Navigating Power, Policy, and Regulation

Christopher Buttigieg, Chief Officer Supervision, MFSA

Dan Hanqvist, Deputy Director, Helsinki Geoeconomics School

16:55
Spotlight Sessions: Key Trends Shaping Malta’s Financial Future

The evolution of ESG and sustainable finance
Gabriella Borda, Chairperson, Sustainable Finance Working Group, MFSAC

Fintech: Digital transformation in banking and financial services
Herman Ciappara, Chairperson, Fintech Working Group, MFSAC

Family offices: Navigating a shifting regulatory landscape
Conrad Cassar Torregiani, Chairperson, Family Offices and Tax, MFSAC

AI: Malta’s AI in Fintech Strategy
Ian Gauci, Chairperson, AI Working Group, MFSAC

Aircraft Leasing
Nicholas Valenza, Partner, Mamo TCV

Auto-enrolment – Pillar 2 Pensions
Matthew Brincat, Partner, Pensions and Employment, Ganado Advocates


Moderator: Jon Mallia, Founder of Izra Ltd., Podcaster & TV Producer

17:55
Evening Networking Reception

Informal networking over drinks and canapés

Day 2

Nov 20th

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