Mr Alfred Zammit - Director of FIAU

Alfred Zammit is the Director of the FIAU. He joined the Unit in 2010 and today plays a crucial role in providing strategic direction, ensuring the effective execution of its responsibilities under Maltese law and in accordance with international standards. He regularly and actively engages in AML/CFT international workshops and conferences, representing the FIAU in prominent international forums. These include meetings of the Egmont Group of FIUs, the EU FIU Platform, and the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority. In December 2025 he was elected Moneyval vice-chair. Mr Zammit is also a regional representative of the Egmont Europe 1 Regional Group.

Ms Ariane Azzopardi - Director at KPMG & Chairperson of the MIA's Anti-Money Laundering Committee

Ariane Azzopardi is a Director within the Quality and Risk Management function. She has over fifteen years’ experience in this field, and is the delegate of the Risk Management Partner at KPMG in Malta. She is involved in the implementation and monitoring compliance with quality and risk management policies and procedures in KPMG in Malta also handling compliance and risk management queries, including those related to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (PMLFT) and ethics and independence. She delivers sessions on PMLFT at the KPMG roundtable and also at various other seminars and conferences.

Ariane is the chair of the PMLFT sub-committee at the Malta Institute of Accountants and a committee member of the PMLFT sub-committee at the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners. 

Dr Rakele Cini - Independent Legal Consultant

Dr Rakele Cini is a member of the MIA AML Committee. She is an independent legal consultant with many years of experience in AML/CFT, regulatory and compliance advisory. She set up rklAdvisory which primarily advises local & international firms / practitioners operating within the regulated industries on matters relating to the prevention of money laundering & funding of terrorism, due diligence, risk management, good governance, and other compliance areas. She is invited to lecture regularly by private institutions and regulatory bodies on these topics. She was previously head of Risk & Compliance at BDO Malta and, prior to that, formed part of the practice protection group at Deloitte Malta for numerous years. Rakele is an active member at the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners.

Ms Martina Mifsud - Head of Risk & Compliance at ARQ Group 

Martina Mifsud heads the AML/CFT advisory unit within the ARQ Group. She has previously worked with the FIAU, carrying out both on-site and off-site AML/CFT inspections. She has also worked as a compliance officer within the fund administration and investment services sectors. Martina has been engaged in a number of AML/CFT audits and enterprise risk assessments. She also assists a number of industry players in improving their AML processes and regularly delivers training to staff of various institutions. Martina is also a member of the AML committee of the MIA.

Ms Joette Sciortino - Partner at EY 

Joette Sciortino is a Partner at EY Malta. She joined the firm in 2006 after obtaining a Degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta.  She has significant experience in the financial services industry particularly in supporting and leading various financial crime and regulatory projects. She has been seconded to EY UK whereby she has led various cross-border financial crime engagements. Joette is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants and a Certified Public Accountant.

Dr Pauline Saliba - Executive Secretary of the National Coordinating Committee in the Combating Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism (NCC)

Dr Pauline Saliba is the Executive Secretary of the National Coordinating Committee on Combating Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism (NCC). Dr Saliba has a long-standing career within the public sector. After spending fifteen years in the Economic Policy Department of the Ministry for Finance, in 2019, Dr Saliba took a position as chief economics officer within the NCC Secretariat until she took her role as Executive Secretary and Head of the Secretariat in February 2023. With regards to educational achievements, Dr Saliba primarily graduated from the University of Malta in 2003 with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Economics. Subsequently, she read her Master of Science degree in Development Finance at the University of London. In 2018, Dr Saliba was awarded a PhD in economics. Dr Saliba has participated in several training events in Malta and internationally in relation to the anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing.

Mr Andrew Schembri - Head of Compliance, Malta Business Registry 

Andrew Schembri is the Head of the Compliance Unit at the Malta Business Registry. Andrew is qualified in Banking and Finance with more than 18 years’ of experience in the finance sector.  At the Malta Business Registry, he is responsible to ensure that companies are compliant with the regulations emanating out of the Companies Act and the Companies Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) Regulation. He is also responsible to oversee independent investigations and act on matters related to enforcement and compliance. He is also responsible for the risk assessment of legal entities and for sharing information on legal entities with the National Coordination Committee for the National Risk Assessment.

Mr Kurt Spiteri Lucas - Deputy Head, Financial Crime, MFSA

Currently the Deputy Head – Advisory within the Financial Crime Compliance team at the MFSA, Kurt Spiteri Lucas graduated in B.Com (Hons.) Banking and Finance from the University of Malta in 2005 and . He also holds an ICA Diploma in AML from the University of Manchester. Kurt joined MFSA’s Financial Crime Compliance Unit in 2015 after a 10-year stint in the industry. His main tasks involve providing guidance and expertise in Financial-Crime to the MFSA’s supervisory functions and representing the MFSA on various fora.

Mr Manfred Barbara - Director General Verification and Audit Department, MTCA 

Mr Manfred Barbara has been working within the Maltese Public Service for the past 33 years and has occupied a management position in the Maltese Tax Administration for the past 12 years.  He is currently in charge of the Verification and Audit Department within the Malta Tax and Customs Administration, which has the function of ensuring that the correct amount of taxes are reported.  He also has experience in managing the Collections and Debt Management functions of the Tax Administration.  He has obtained a Diploma in Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Malta.

Ms Gabrielle Caligari Conti - Assistant Director, Transnational Threats and Sanctions MFT 

Ms. Gabrielle Caligari Conti is the Assistant Director for Transnational Threats and Sanctions at Malta’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism leading national sanctions implementation and coordination. She supports private sector operators by providing clarity on compliance expectations, risk exposure and emerging transnational threat trends, representing Malta in key international forums.

Dr Jonathan Phyall - Head of Legal Affairs at FIAU

Dr Jonathan Phyall is the Head of the FIAU’s Legal Affairs Section. A lawyer by profession, he joined the FIAU in 2016 and has represented Malta and the FIAU in a number of European and international fora as well as being heavily involved in the drafting of amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations, and the Implementing Procedures.

Mr Alan Craig - Advisory Partner at Forviz Mazars & Deputy chairperson of the MIA's Anti-Money Laundering Committee 

Alan is the deputy chairperson of the MIA’s Anti-Money Laundering Committee. He heads the Business Advisory team within Forvis Mazars in Malta and is responsible for a specialised and multi-tasked team of professionals with skills in financial crime compliance, forensics and investigations, cybersecurity, risk and control. He has worked closely with both the local competent authorities and business community in the field of financial crime compliance and investigations and is a Court appointed expert in financial crime. Alan is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and a certified public accountant.

Ms Angela Fleri Soler - Risk & Reputation Leader & Director of independence at Deloitte Malta

Ms. Angela Fleri Soler is the Partner in charge of Quality & Risk Management at Deloitte. In addition to this, she fulfills the role of the firm’s Risk & Reputation Leader, Director of Independence, Ethics Officer and is also the firm’s MLRO. Angela also sits on the Risk Management Committee of Deloitte Central Mediterranean. 

Angela forms part of the AML Committee at the Malta Institute of Accountants, together with the AML Committee of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners.

Mr Mirko Rapa - Tax partner at PWC 

Mirko is a tax partner at PwC Malta and provides tax advice to a wide and varied portfolio of clients. Over the last 24 years has provided tax advice to companies operating in a number of sectors and individuals taking up residence in Malta. Mirko has also been involved in a number of national initiatives when it comes to PMLFT matters and is also the Risk Management partner of PwC Malta.

Chris Curmi - Representative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Chris Curmi is a retired Tax Partner of Deloitte Malta with over 40 years of professional experience as a UK qualified Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) in the audit, tax, accounting and advisory profession with a proven track record in the past 33 years, following specialization, in cross-border international taxation and expatriate taxation, Family Offices and HNWIs, trust and estate planning, immigration and citizenship matters. Following his retirement from Deloitte effective 1 June 2024, Chris currently occupies the position of non-executive director in an international  group of companies and Family Office and of which he forms part of several internal working groups of the related Family Offices. He is a founding and long standing member of the Council of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and chairs the IFSP’s Tax & EU Affairs Sub-Committee. He is also Chair of the Malta Branch of the International Fiscal Association and a Council Member of the Malta Branch of the Society for Estate and Trust Practitioners (STEP).

Ms Joanne Saliba - Partner at PWC and Chairperson of the MIA Audit and Assurance Group

Joanne Saliba brings over 20 years of expertise in auditing and financial oversight. She joined PwC Malta’s assurance division in 2002 after obtaining an honours degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta. She is the Chairperson of the MIA Audit and Assurance Group, a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a practising certificate in auditing. Joanne has successfully led audit teams on a wide range of complex projects, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Her leadership has spanned diverse sectors, with a particular focus on asset management. Since 2006, she has specialised in investment management, working with both local and international clients, including collective investment schemes and investment service providers. Her international experience includes audit secondments to PwC offices in Washington and Milan, adding to her extensive knowledge and expertise in the field.

Ms Janis Hyzler - Audit Director, Zampa Partners 

Janis joined Zampa Partners in December 2018 and is an Audit Director within the Audit & Assurance team, overseeing a portfolio of clients from various industries.

A qualified accountant and auditor, Janis graduated from the University of Malta in 2010 with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) Degree. She brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services sector, having kicked off her career at a Big Four audit firm. Her professional journey includes international assignments in the U.S.A and Australia, which enabled Janis to expand her knowledge base within the financial services sector.

In addition to her audit background, Janis held an accounting role within a corporate service provider, where she managed the financial reporting for clients spanning multiple industries.

Janis is also a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants ("MIA") and actively contributes to the profession through her involvement in the Audit & Assurance Committee's Working Group with the MIA.

Ms Vanessa Vella - Head of AFC & Compliance, RSM 

Vanessa is a seasoned financial services professional with over 23 years of experience, primarily in Anti Financial Crime and Regulatory Compliance. Throughout her career, she has held various senior regulated positions across the industry, including roles within credit institutions, fund administrators, collective investment schemes and corporate service providers. Her experience spans from financial crime compliance, regulatory compliance, implementation of applicable regulations and the management of relationships with the different regulatory authorities. Vanessa is the Head of the AFC & Compliance Function within RSM Malta.

Mr Manfred Galdes - Managing Partner at ARQ Group

Manfred is a subject-matter expert in compliance, having over two decades of private and public sector experience. A lawyer by background, former AML/CFT regulator and Head of FIU, Manfred today advises banks, financial institutions, investment firms and top-tier gaming companies on compliance, AML, governance and risk-related issues. He spends most of his time leading diverse engagements and providing simple solutions to complex compliance issues.

He is also Partner in the law firm FFF Legal, non-executive chairman of the board of directors of HSBC Malta plc, Council Member of the IFSP Directors Chapter, Strategy Director of the ACAMS Malta Chapter and a member of the AML/CFT Committee of the Chamber of Advocates. He also previously served as co-chair of the MIA’s sub-committee on AML/CFT.

Dr Clara Galdies - Legal & International Relations at the FIAU

Dr Clara Galdies joined the FIAU in 2019 and is a Manager within the Legal Affairs Section. Her responsibilities include drafting national AML/CFT legislation and representing the FIAU in international and EU fora. She actively participated in Council negotiations leading to the AML/CFT Legislative Package and is now closely involved in working groups led by AMLA, contributing to the development of technical standards and guidelines. Dr Galdies is a warranted lawyer and holds a Master of Advocacy degree together with an ICA International Diploma in AML.