Senior Regional Representative
European Investment Fund

John McIlwaine

John McIlwaine is the Senior Regional Representative of the European Investment Fund for Italy & Malta, supporting institutional representation, stakeholder relationships, fundraising and engagement with EIF’s financial intermediaries.

John has held various positions at EIB Group since 2004 including advising the Chief Investment Officer, leading a team of over 40 transactions lawyers and chairing the EIF Investment & Risk Committee.

Prior to joining the the EIB Group, John was a lawyer with Linklaters, first in their London office and then in New York, Budapest and Bratislava.

John holds a law degree from Aberdeen University and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University.

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

13:40
Opening Address & Keynote Speech

Welcome Remarks: 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

Stefano Masino, Boston Consulting Group

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


Panelists:

- Kenneth Farrugia, CEO, Malta Financial Services Authority
- Marjut Falkstedt CEO, European Investment Fund
- Kenneth Farrugia, CEO, Bank of Valletta plc
- Joseph Zammit Tabona, Chairman, Malta Financial Services Advisory Council

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: Innovation & Regulation – Striking the Right Balance

Christopher Buttigieg, Chief Supervision Officer, MFSA

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

Short expert talks on the following topics followed by 2 panel discussions:

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

Fintech: Digital transformation in banking and financial services
Herman Ciappara, Chairperson, Fintech WG, 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 Valenzia, Partner, Mamo TCV

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


Moderator: Jon Mallia, Podcast Host, Jon Mallia Podcast

17:55
Evening Networking Reception

Informal networking over drinks and canapés

Day 2

Nov 20th

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