DORA and Sustainability – Meet the Panellists

DORA: Navigating new obligations in the financial sector: Insights, Challenges and Knowledge Sharing

Moderator – Beppe Sammut, Senior Associate, Ganado Advocates

Beppe Sammut is a Senior Associate within the insurance and pensions team of Ganado Advocates, where he specialises in the (re)insurance and pensions area, with a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance legal and regulatory matters, and corporate law-related matters. He also has experience in the banking sector, having been involved in secured financing, banking regulatory, derivatives, debt and equity capital markets and financial markets regulation.

Beppe has written a number of articles regarding the banking, insurance and pension legal areas, and has also delivered several lectures at the University of Malta and the Malta International Trading Centre.

Andrew Schembri – Partner Digital Services, PWC

Andrew is a Partner within the PwC Digital Services team with a specialised focus on Digital Consulting and Cyber Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) topics. Throughout his career, both in Malta and internationally, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of the intersection between technology and risk management, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. In an era where cybersecurity is paramount, he stands out for his commitment to ensuring that technology not only meets regulatory standards but becomes a powerful enabler for innovation and growth. More recently, Andrew has taken the lead at PwC Malta on the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and is an active contributor to the DORA Expert Group at EMEA level within PwC.

Alan Azzopardi – EY – Manager – Technology Risk Consulting

Manager at EY Malta with over 18-years career in the ICT sector, with a focus on cybersecurity spanning over seven years. He is recognised for his management of IT teams and his commitment to strengthening cybersecurity measures. His approach has significantly contributed to maintaining system efficiency and establishing resilient cybersecurity defences. His proficiency in performing risk assessments and adhering to industry regulations is central to preserving data integrity, which he ensures through business continuity and disaster recovery strategies. Alan combines his knowledge with the capacity to merge technical solutions with business objectives.

Christian Bonnici West – Resident Academic University of Malta

Dr Christian Bonnici West is a Resident Academic at the University of Malta, specialising in information security, consent management, privacy, surveillance, risk management, strategy, management, and related fields. Additionally, he is an independent professional with two decades of experience in various aspects of information security across multiple industries, including pharmaceuticals, education, contract security, gaming, and financial services.

Keith Cauchi – Chief Information Security Officer MeDirect

Having nearly 20 years of IT and Cyber security experience, Keith has joined MeDirect Bank in 2017 where as CISO he is responsible to oversee the organisation’s information security strategy. Prior to joining the bank, Keith has worked as an IT Security professional in various senior roles within the Private and Public sectors. Keith holds an MSc in Information Security, a BSc in Business and Computing as well as CISA and CEH professional certifications.

ESG Panel Discussion

Moderator – Luke Hili, Associate, Ganado Advocates

Luke Hili is an Associate within Ganado Advocates’ insurance and capital markets practices. Luke regularly assists clients wishing to raise finance on the capital markets via listing on both domestic and foreign exchanges, and further advises clients on how best to navigate their continuing obligations post-listing. Luke also advises on securitisation and structured finance generally, and frequently assists clients seeking to establish securitisation vehicles and/or cells within a securitisation cell company.

As part of his daily activities, Luke also assists insurance undertakings and distributors with their ongoing corporate and regulatory needs, including the formation and servicing of companies, share transfers, routine drafting of shareholders/directors’ resolutions, as well as regulatory notifications to the MFSA. Luke also assists local and international clients with legal due diligence exercises, and further advises on commercial and civil law matters as they arise.

Additionally, Luke regularly assists financial market participants and advisers with the formulation and drafting of their sustainability disclosures, and has over the past year assisted a number of life insurers seeking to comply with the obligations incumbent upon them pursuant to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

Matthew Swain – Head of Sustainability APS

Matthew Swain is Head of Sustainability at APS Bank Plc. Prior to this, Matthew spent close to two decades in London working with a major global bank. He specialised in renewable energy lending for corporates, eventually managing and implementing global sustainability risk policies. He is experienced at assessing ESG impacts of large scale financing projects as well as developing climate strategies for the banking sector. In his time at APS he has lead the development of an ESG Strategy Framework and setting up the banks Medium term ESG commitments.

He is now working to implement a wider Sustainability strategy ensuring alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as overall responsibility for Emissions Accounting and ESG reporting.

Gabriel Aquilina, Senior Analyst, Capital Markets Supervision, MFSA

Gabriel Aquilina is a Senior Analyst within the Capital Markets Supervision function at the MFSA. He joined the MFSA in 2019 and specialises in the Continuing Obligations of companies listed on a regulated market, including the listed entities’ compliance with their respective financial and sustainability reporting requirements. Amongst the different committees and working groups in which Gabriel represents the MFSA within the European fora, he is also a member of ESMA’s Sustainability Reporting Working Group. Gabriel holds a Master in Accountancy degree from the University of Malta.

Charles Xuereb – Trident plc CEO

Charles began his career as an auditor with a Big Four firm and later joined Simonds Farsons Cisk plc in 1995, where he held key financial roles, including Group Chief Financial Officer. In 2017, he became the CEO of Trident Estates plc, a property group listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. A Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants, Charles also holds leadership roles in various professional organisations and holds a BA Honours degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta.

Jeanelle Arpa – Senior, Transactions, Strategy, and Sustainability

Jeanelle focuses on sustainability advisory within the strategy and transactions practice at EY Malta, and holds a PhD in engineering from the University of Malta. She is involved in assisting entities in various sectors with implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, from scoping to double materiality assessments, data gap assessments, and disclosure drafting. Jeanelle has also worked on national feasibility analyses and strategic development plans for sustainability matters for public sector entities.

Reana Micallef – BOV Asset Manager – Lead Risk Manager

Reana Micallef is the Lead Risk Manager at BOV Asset Management Ltd., with over seven years of experience in asset management and risk management within the financial sector. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta. Her expertise spans across all risk types with a particular focus on operational, financial and ESG risks.