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

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Discussion Topics:
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- How niche financial services drive Malta’s global positioning
- Fintech, capital markets, insurance, and asset management as growth pillars
- The role of government and industry in building long-term resilience
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Moderator: Trudy Kerr, Award Winning Interviewer, Presenter, Motivational Speaker and Live Events MC

Panellists:

Michael Xuereb, Senior Executive Advisor, Office of Chief Officer Strategy Policy & Innovation, MFSA
Charlotte Crosswell, Chair, Raidiam
Louis Degabriele, Managing Partner, Camilleri Preziosi
Mike Wardle, CEO, The Z/YEN Group of Companies

Hon. Clyde Caruana

Maria Luís Albuquerque

Hon. Jerome Caruana Cilia

Breakout Session 1: Beyond Compliance: Integrating ESG to Drive Business Growth in the Mediterranean (Room: Perellos – Groundfloor)

This breakout session, organised in collaboration with Weave Consulting under the EU co-funded Train4ESG project, explores how Maltese SMEs and financial services providers can harness Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as drivers of growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability. Beyond ticking regulatory boxes, ESG integration is increasingly seen as essential for business resilience, attracting investment, enhancing reputation, and tapping into new market opportunities. Join ESG experts, finance professionals, and sustainability pioneers in an engaging panel discussion to discover practical strategies, tools, and insights that can turn ESG commitments into competitive advantages.

Presentation: Vaiva Kiaupaite-Gruisniene, Senior Lecturer, TalTech
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MODERATOR: Roberta Lepre, Managing Director, Weave Consulting, the ESG Specialists
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PANELISTS:
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Marie Briguglio, Economist, University of Malta

Norbert Paul Vella, Partner, PwC Malta

Mark Watkinson, Former International Banking CEO and Director

Vaiva Kiaupaite-Gruisniene, Senior Lecturer, TalTech
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Breakout Session 2: The Future of Asset Management: Bridging Traditional Investments & Crypto (Room: Grandmaster Suite -First Floor)

As digital assets gain traction in institutional portfolios, asset managers must navigate the evolving landscape of crypto, tokenization, and traditional investments. This panel brings together leading asset managers and experts to discuss how digital assets are reshaping investment strategies, risk management, and regulatory frameworks. Panellists will explore key trends, challenges, and opportunities in integrating crypto into traditional portfolios, the role of institutional adoption, and what the future holds for alternative investments in a rapidly shifting financial ecosystem.

MODERATOR: Elaine Bonnici, Director, AQA Capital Ltd

PANELISTS:

Pedro Noronha, Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager, Noster Capital Management

Daniele Bernardi, CEO @ Diaman Partners Ltd | Digital Asset Management

Volker Kang, Director Financial Services Consulting, KPMG Zurich

Nes Ozkan, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Europe | Rudiq

Fabio Frontini, Group CEO, Abraxas Capital Management LTD
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Breakout Session 3: Capital Markets: The Road Ahead through Private Equity, Venture Capital & Global Listings (Room: Vilhena – First Floor)

This session will explore how Malta can enhance its capital markets by fostering a robust private equity and venture capital ecosystem, elevating market depth and liquidity, and positioning itself as an attractive hub for foreign listings. Industry leaders will discuss strategies to strengthen investor confidence, regulatory frameworks, and international competitiveness, ensuring Malta’s financial sector remains a key player in global markets.

Presentation: Rory Renshaw, Partner, Simmons & Simmons LLP

MODERATOR: Herald Bonnici, Secretary General, Malta Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PEVCA Malta)

PANELISTS:

Simon Zammit, CEO, Malta Stock Exchange

Rory Renshaw, Partner, Simmons & Simmons LLP

Patrick Mangion, Head of Capital Markets, Calamatta Cuschieri MoneyBase

Mike Portanier, Head of Investor Relations, Mediterrania Capital Partners

Martin Bresson, Public Affairs Director, Invest Europe

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Breakout Session 4: Captives Reimagined: Malta’s role in the Global Insurance Arena (Room: Verdala - Second Floor)

As global risk management needs evolve, captive insurance is experiencing a strategic revival. This session explores Malta’s positioning as a leading EU jurisdiction for captive insurance structures, examining how recent regulatory developments and international trends are reshaping the landscape. Industry experts and regulators will discuss Malta’s unique advantages, challenges in cross-border supervision, and the jurisdiction’s potential to attract new business amid increasing scrutiny and innovation in insurance.

Presentation: Patrick Hoedjes, Head of Policy and Supervisory Convergence Department at the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)

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MODERATOR: Matthew Bianchi, Deputy Chairman, FinanceMalta

David Galea, Head of Office, Marsh Captive Solutions, Europe

Romina Farrugia , Deputy Head, Insurance and Pensions Supervision, MFSA

Phil Clark, Director of Insurance, Group Insurance, Vodafone

Patrick Hoedjes, Head of Policy and Supervisory Convergence Department at the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)

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This panel explores Malta’s strategic efforts to attract and sustain investment in financial services, examining how agencies, regulators, and private sector actors can work together to position Malta as a high-quality, business-friendly jurisdiction. The discussion will cover licensing, company registration, sector-specific support schemes, and operational ease for international players. Special attention will be given to the role oftech and fintech companies in supporting the financial services sector.

Discussion Topics:

- Investment incentives and ease of doing business in Malta

- The role of registries and regulatory certainty in attracting foreign firms

- Case studies and best practices in company setup and scaling

MODERATOR:

Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director, World Alliance of International Financial Centers
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PANELISTS:

Geraldine Spiteri Lucas, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Malta Business Registry

George Gregory, CEO, Malta Enterprise

Gareth Genner, Group CEO, Trust Stamp

Alison Micallef, CEO, Malta Development Bank

Alfred Zammit, Director, Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit

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As global tax regulations evolve, Malta’s financial sector must stay ahead of shifting compliance requirements, digital trends, and international reforms. This panel will explore the latest developments in global tax policies, including OECD initiatives, EU directives, and corporate tax reforms, and assess their impact on Malta’s financial landscape. Experts will discuss strategies for businesses to navigate these changes while maintaining competitiveness and compliance.

Key topics include:

- Digitalization of taxation and emerging compliance challenges

- EU tax directives, state of play

- The OECD's Pillar 2 and the global minimum tax

- Balancing tax competitiveness with transparency and sustainability.

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Joseph Caruana, Commissioner for Tax and Customs, MTCA

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MODERATOR: Juanita Brockdorff, Founding Partner, Brockdorff Grech Law

PANELISTS:

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Joseph Caruana, Commissioner for Tax and Customs, Malta Tax and Customs Administration [MTCA]

Aldo Farrugia, Director General, Legal, Technical and International Affairs, MTCA

John Vella, Professor of Law, University of Oxford

Benjamin Angel, Director, Directorate ‘Direct taxation, tax coordination, economic analysis and evaluation’, European Commission

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Bernice Buttigieg, Chief Strategy Officer, FinanceMalta

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