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aN MiA cONFERENCE

Ready for What's Next: Building resilience and agility


The Role of the Finance Function is Transforming Quickly.

Today’s accounting professionals in business are leading transformation, driving sustainability, managing risks, and shaping decisions at every level.

This conference will tackle today’s business challenges and opportunities, and explore how one could build capacity for an agile financial sector.

Relevant for Professional Accountants in Business, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Executive Officers, members of finance teams and other professionals working in industry. 

This is your opportunity to step outside daily operations and think big, while staying grounded in practical solutions.

AGENDA



Time Session
08:00 - 09:00  Registration

09:00 - 09:20

Welcome Addresses

09:20 - 09:40

Keynote Speech
09:40 - 10:40  Priorities with Purpose: Tackling Today's Business Challenges
10:40 - 11:20  Networking Coffee Break
11:20 - 12:05 Shaping the Framework: Building Capacity for Agile Finance in Malta

12:05 - 12:50

 Smarter Risk, Better Decisions: Putting AI and Integrated Thinking to Work
 12:50 - 13:35  Sustainability and Resilience in Business
13:35 - 14:35  Lunch Break

14:35 - 14:55

Motivational Speaker
14:55 - 15:50  The Changing World of Work: Strategic Implications of EU Labour Law Reforms
15:50 - 16:00   Concluding Remarks


Disclaimer: Agenda and Speakers are subject to change

Event Details:

Event Date: 9th October 2025

Registration Time: 08:00 - 09:00

Sessions Time: 09:00 - 16:00

Venue: Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian's

CPE Accreditation: 5.25 Hours (1.5 Core Hours & 3.75 Professional Development).

Participation Fees:

Member: €130

Non Member: €160

Retired: €60

Student: €80

Register here!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DETAILED AGENDA

08:00 - 09:00: Registration

09:00 - 09:20: Welcome Addresses Ms Maria Cauchi Delia - CEO (MIA)

09:20 - 09:40: Keynote Speech

09:40 - 10:40: Priorities with Purpose: Tackling Today's Business Challenges

Moderator:

Mr Charles Xuereb - Deputy Chairperson (MIA PAIB Committee) and CEO (Trident Estates plc)

The aim of this session is to explore how organisations can navigate a rapidly changing landscape by aligning their top strategic priorities with purpose-driven action while also addressing key external risks.

Panellists:

Mr Ronald Mizzi -  Member (MIA Council & MIA Financial Services Committee) and Chief Financial Officer (APS Bank)

10:40 - 11:20: Networking Coffee Break

11:20 - 12:05: Shaping the Framework: Building Capacity for Agile Finance in Malta

Moderator:

Mr JP Fabri - Economist

Panellists:

Ms Larissa Vella - Manager, Economic Analyst (National Skills Council)

Mr George Vella - Partner, Transaction Advisory Services (Grant Thornton)

Profs Alexiei Dingli - Professor of Artificial Intelligence (UoM)

Mr David Vella - Chief Financial Officer (Eden Leisure Group)

Agility has become a defining characteristic of effective finance functions. However, agility does not happen in isolation. It is enabled by the broader framework in which finance teams operate. This session explores how Malta can strengthen its foundations for agile, future-ready finance. It discusses key factors that are necessary to build long-term resilience and adaptability in the Maltese finance and business landscape.

12:05 - 12:50: Smarter Risk, Better Decisions: Putting AI and Integrated Thinking to Work

Panellists:

Ms Ingrid Azzopardi - Head, Internal Audit (Tumas Group)

Mr Gordon Micallef - Chairperson (MIA Digital Committee) and Partner, Consulting and Transformation (RSM)

Dr Gege Gatt - CEO (EBO.ai)

This session discusses the importance of holistic thinking related to how a business creates value over time. It explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and integrated thinking can help organisations improve decision-making, manage risks more effectively and create long-term value for their organisations, while recognising the need for an organisation to evolve in both its structure and mindset if it wants to fully benefit from AI and integrated thinking.

12:50 - 13:35: Sustainability and Resilience in Business

Moderator:

Mr Nick Xuereb - Director and Group CFO (Toly Group)

Panellists:

Mr Ryan Borg - Deputy Councel, EU and International Affairs (MFSA)

Mr Chris Meilak - Partner Valuation, Modelling and Economic (EY)

Mr David Xuereb - Chairperson (Malta ESG Alliance)

The objective of this panel discussion is to explore the need for organisations to build long-term resilience by embedding sustainability into their strategy, operations and culture in order to manage risk and create value in a rapidly changing world.

13:35 - 14:35: Networking Lunch Break

14:35  - 14:55: Motivational Speaker

Ms Vanessa Camenzuli - Employer Brand & Communications

14:55 - 15:50: The Changing World of Work: Strategic Implications of EU Labour Law Reforms

Moderator:
Mr Karl Bartolo - Deputy CEO (MedservRegis plc)

Panellists:

Dr Matthew Brincat - Partner, Employment and Pensions (Ganado Advocates)

Ms Diane Vella Muscat - Director General (DIER)

As the EU introduces changes in employment law, businesses and finance functions must prepare strategically. This session discusses the implications of these changes on businesses, thus assisting participants in identifying practices within their respective organisations that need to be revisited.

15:50 - 16:00: Concluding Remarks

Mr Charles Xuereb - Deputy Chairperson (MIA PAIB Committee) and CEO (Trident Estates plc) 

Speakers

Ms Maria Cauchi Delia - Chief Executive Officer, MIA

Maria leads the institution in the fulfilment of its strategic objectives, in advising national and international institutions in matters concerning the profession and the wider financial industry and represents the MIA in its engagements with key stakeholders at both national and international level.

As a certified public accountant, Ms Cauchi Delia brings extensive expertise gained from her diverse experience in both the public and private sectors, having worked in various institutions in Malta and abroad. She holds a degree from the University of Malta and is a Fellow Member of the Malta Institute of Accountants.

Ms Larissa Vella - Manager and Economic Analyst, National Skills Council

Larissa is an economist and Manager at the National Skills Council, where she works on the National Skills Strategy and advances evidence-based skills policy. Her focus also includes skills intelligence, sectoral strategy integration, and stakeholder engagement. She holds Economics degrees from the University of Malta and University College Dublin.


Profs Alexiei Dingli - Professor of Artificial Intelligence (UoM)

Prof. Alexiei Dingli is an AI expert and Professor at the University of Malta, with over 20 years experience in the field. He has helped numerous companies successfully implement AI solutions. His work has been recognized as world-class by international experts, and he has received numerous awards from international organisations (such as the UN, European Space Agency and others). He is a member of the Malta.AI task force, aiming to position Malta as a global AI leader.

Ms Ingrid Azzopardi - Head, Internal Audit, Tumas Group

Ingrid Azzopardi heads the Internal Audit Function at Tumas Group, having led GO’s Internal Audit Unit for over 30 years. She has a Master in Accountancy, holds a CPA Warrant and the Practising Certificate in Auditing. and is also a Chartered Director. She sits on the Board of Bank of Valletta and has held board positions at the Housing Authority, Teatru Manoel, the Mediterranean Conference Centre, HSBC Life Assurance Company and HSBC Bank, Malta. At the latter two entities as an Independent Non-Executive Director she also chaired the Audit and Risk Committees. She is a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants and the UK Institute of Directors.

Ms. Azzopardi is a founding member of the Malta Forum for Internal Auditors, now the IIA Malta Chapter, where she held the posts of Vice Chair and Chair of the mentioned Forum. Ms. Azzopardi is currently the Deputy Chair of the Board of Administrators of the Malta ESG Alliance (MESGA). At an international level Ms. Azzopardi was actively involved on the Executive Committee of the Forum for the Irregular International Network Access (FIINA) and chaired the Interconnect Committee of the Forum. Ms. Azzopardi has presented at several conferences held locally and abroad on internal audit, revenue assurance, fraud and ESG.

Dr Gege Gatt - CEO, EBO.ai

Dr. Gege Gatt is the CEO of London-based company EBO an AI enterprise which automates citizen engagement. He is a digital entrepreneur, a TEDx speaker and has won the UK’s Enterprise Awards in 2024. He is a WHO reviewer on healthcare information strategy. Gege serves as an Executive Board Member of the Malta IT Law Association and is a specialist examiner at the University of Malta. He’s a Board Member of Humanity 2.0 developed by the Vatican in Rome with a consortium of thought-leaders to identify and remove impediments to human flourishing. His doctoral degree is in IT Law.

Mr Chris Meilak - Partner Valuation, Modelling and Economic, EY

Chris Meilak is a Certified Public Accountant, Economist and Partner at EY Malta, leading the Valuation, Modelling and Economics sub-service line in Malta. Chris joined EY in 2006 and has carried out several assignments in relation to valuations and financial/ business modelling. Chris holds an MA in Economics and the ACCA degree and is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Economics, University of Malta. Chris is a member of the MIA Sustainable Finance Committee.

Ms Vanessa Camenzuli - Employer Brand & Communications

Vanessa Camenzuli is an employer brand and communications strategist who helps organisations strengthen business performance by aligning their employer promise and the lived employee experience.

With 15 years of experience across talent management, communications, and branding, she partners with senior leaders to co-create strategies that attract the right talent, engage employees, and build cultures that are true to the organisation's values. Her work spans employer brand development, talent attraction, employee engagement, and internal communications - grounded in practical tools and measurable impact for lasting change.

Mr Charles Xuereb - Deputy Chairperson, MIA PAIB Committee and CEO, Trident Estates plc

Charles Xuereb, B.A. (Hons) Accty, CPA, FIA, MIM, was appointed CEO of Trident Estates plc in 2017.  After graduating in Accountancy in 1991, Mr Xuereb started off his professional career with PricewaterhouseCoopers.  He joined Simonds Farsons Cisk plc in 1995 and between 2005-2017 served as Group CFO. Charles is the Chairperson of the MIA PAIB Group. Since 2013, held the position of President of the Malta Association of Credit Management and sits on the Board of Administrators of the Central Business District Foundation.

Mr George Vella - Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton Malta, George serves as the Head of Advisory, leading a team of financial advisors recognized as leaders in the local capital markets. His team is accredited as external reviewers under the MSE Green Bond Bye-laws and is a prominent Corporate Advisor under the Prospects MTF rules.

The Advisory team at Grant Thornton includes a Business Consultancy Arm with specialised knowledge in Sustainable Finance, Economic Advisory, Business Process Re-engineering and Public Sector Advisory.

George also oversees a team of professionals that are skilled in Governance, Risk and Compliance as well as the Quantification of Financial Risks for regulated entities. The services of this team are highly regarded and sought after by financial institutions and fintech companies alike.

In addition to managing and leading the firm's advisory practice, George is also Chair of Finance Malta and serves as a member of the Malta Financial Advisory Council.

Mr Gordon Micallef - Chairperson, MIA Digital Committee and Partner, Consulting and Transformation, RSM

With a background in IT auditing and governance, Gordon brings over 24 years of experience integrating technology with business strategies. As a lecturer at the University of Malta and founding director of ISACA Malta, Gordon’s leadership is rooted in servant leadership and continuous learning. His pragmatic approach to delivering efficient solutions aligns with RSM’s commitment to excellence. Gordon fosters a culture of growth by uncovering hidden talents and mentoring professionals. Gordon is the Chairperson of the MIA Digital Committee. Outside of work, he finds inspiration in product design and photography, activities that complement his strategic role at RSM Malta.

Mr Nick Xuereb - Director and Group CFO, Toly Group

Nick Xuereb is a seasoned finance professional with over three decades of experience across professional services, manufacturing, aviation, and regulatory sectors. He began his career with PwC in 1988 before moving into industry in 1999 as Finance Director of Trelleborg, where he spent 12 years leading financial operations and supporting strategic growth.

From 2008 to 2013, he served as Chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority, during a pivotal period of expansion in the sector. As CFO of Air Malta (2011–2014), he played a key role in steering the airline through a complex restructuring process.

Nick is currently Director and Group CFO of Toly Group, a global supplier to the beauty and cosmetics industry. He also served on the council of the Malta Chamber of Commerce from 2015 to 2025, including four years on its Board of Management and as Deputy President between 2023 and 2025

Ms Diane Vella Muscat - Director General, DIER

Diane Vella Muscat has been appointed Director-General of the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations in 2019. In her current role, Diane is responsible for overseeing the regulation of employment conditions in Malta, acting as a conciliator in industrial disputes, and serving as an educator to support the implementation of labour reforms across the country.

She holds a Master degree in Public Policy and an MSc in Management. Diane is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor and is currently pursuing a Master in History at the University of Birmingham.

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E-mail: info@miamalta.org

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