Directors Chapter by IFSP Malta

IFSP Annual Conference 2026
2026-05-26 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Malta) | Hilton Malta, St. Julians, Malta
Join industry leaders, regulators, directors, practitioners, and changemakers at the IFSP Annual Conference 2026 for a full day of high-level discussions focused on the future of Malta’s financial services industry and the evolving role of governance and leadership.
Featured Governance Session
One of the key highlights of this year’s conference will be the panel discussion:
“Future Boards: Rethinking Governance for a More Complex World”
The session will open with a fireside chat between Etienne Borg Cardona (Chair, IDC) and Maria Pierdicchi (Chair, ecoDa).
The discussion will be moderated by Etienne Borg Cardona and will feature an expert panel comprising:
Maria Pierdicchi (ecoDa)
Kenneth Farrugia (MFSA)
Anthony Diacono (MedervRegis PLC)
David Curmi (KM Malta Airlines)
Bringing together both Maltese and European perspectives, the panel will explore how boards must evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and fast-changing environment. Discussions will examine the governance trends reshaping boardrooms from ESG and AI to cyber risk and geopolitical uncertainty.
Key themes will include:

What defines a future-ready board
The skills and mindsets directors will need in the years ahead
How governance is shifting from traditional oversight to strategic stewardship
The challenges facing Maltese and European boards over the next decade
The actions needed to build resilient, high-performing boardrooms fit for 2030.

For directors, senior executives, compliance professionals, risk leaders, legal practitioners, regulators, and governance specialists, this session promises valuable insights into the future of board leadership and corporate governance.
Beyond this featured panel, the conference programme will cover a broad range of topics relevant to the wider financial services community, providing attendees with valuable perspectives, practical insights, and excellent networking opportunities across the sector.
📍 Venue: Hilton Malta, Portomaso, St. Julian’s
📅 Date: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Places are limited, and early registration is encouraged.
👉 Register now and view the full conference programme here:
https://ifsp.org.mt/conference/

ecoDa and Ethics & Boards Webinar: Launch of the 2026 European Corporate Governance Barometer
2026-05-21 10:00 - 12:00
🗓️ 21 May, 10 am CET
ecoDa and Ethics & Boards are pleased to present and discuss the key findings of the 2026 European Corporate Governance Barometer.
As Europe navigates rapid geopolitical and technological change, the Barometer shows that boards continue to strengthen diversity and independence, while important governance gaps remain:
🔹 Only 10% of companies have dedicated innovation or technology committees
🔹 Committees focused on geopolitics or public affairs remain extremely rare
🔹 Women chair 12% of boards, and fewer than 10% of CEOs are women
European boards remain younger and more regularly renewed than their US counterparts
A distinguished panel including:
💠 David Risser (CEO, Ethics & Boards)
💠 Maria Pierdicchi (Chair, ecoDa)
💠 Leena Linnainmaa (Chair, ecoDa Advocacy Committee)
will share insights on what these findings mean for the future of governance and the evolving responsibilities of European board members in 2026.
↪️ Register now:
Webinar Registration – Zoom

Raising the Bar for Directors in Malta
2026-02-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Xara Lodge, Rabat, Sqaq Tac-Cawla, Triq It-Tigrija,, Rabat, RBT 5320, Malta
The Institute of Financial Services Practitioners (IFSP) has launched the IFSP Directors Chapter — a key initiative aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing professional development, and shaping Malta’s voice in the evolving European regulatory landscape.
Join the Malta Business Network (MBN) for the official introduction of the Chapter and a panel discussion featuring leading voices from regulation, legal, and financial services as they explore how the responsibilities, expectations, and challenges of directors are changing in today’s corporate climate.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, 16th February 2026
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: Xara Lodge
Fee: Free for MBN members
Register: https://maltabusinessnetwork.com/events/raising-the-bar-for-directors-in-malta

Moderator & Speakers:
Moderator: Chris Curmi – Chair of the IFSP Tax & EU Affairs
Chris is a former Tax Partner at Deloitte with 35+ years’ experience advising on cross-border tax, corporate governance, trusts, and family offices. He serves on several industry councils, including the IFSP Tax & EU Affairs Sub-Committee and the International Fiscal Association. Chris also holds non-executive directorships with international groups and family office structures.
Kenneth Farrugia – Chief Executive Officer, MFSA
Kenneth leads Malta’s financial services regulator, drawing on decades of senior experience across audit, public administration, and anti-financial crime. Previously Director of the FIAU, he was instrumental in major policy and governance reforms and represented Malta at key international bodies including EBA AMLC, FIU Platform and EGMONT.
Manfred Galdes – Partner, ARQ
A compliance and AML specialist, Manfred brings over 20 years of public and private sector experience. Formerly Head of the FIAU, he now advises banks, financial institutions, and regulated entities. He is Chair of HSBC Malta, a council member of the IFSP Directors Chapter, and Strategy Director of the ACAMS Malta Chapter.
Etienne Borg Cardona – Chair, IDC Malta
Etienne is a corporate finance consultant and board advisor with three decades of senior leadership experience. He currently serves on several local and international boards, and lectures on financial management and corporate history. He holds a PhD in Leadership & Management and is a Council Member of the IFSP.
Louis de Gabriele – Managing Partner, Camilleri Preziosi
Louis is a leading corporate and financial services lawyer and has advised on many of Malta’s landmark public and private sector transactions. He regularly consults on governance matters and regulatory frameworks, and is ranked Band 1 in multiple legal directories for Corporate, Commercial, and Capital Markets.

The MBN looks forward to welcoming you for an insightful and timely conversation on the future of directorship in Malta.

ecoDa Webinar - Introducing the European People Governance Charter 2025
2026-02-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Online
ecoDa is pleased to invite you to a webinar on February 3rd at 16:00 CET dedicated to the European People Governance Charter, an updated reference framework developed jointly with the H-User Institute, in collaboration with Partena. Led by the People Governance Commission of the H-User Institute and chaired by Olivier Hérout (EVP HR and H&S, Equans), the Charter provides a structured framework and practical guidance for people governance, addressing both Boards of Directors and Executive Committees.
The Charter opens a structured dialogue on the role that people governance should play within organizations and promotes a culture of cooperation, transparency, and shared responsibility between governance bodies, operational teams, and the workforce. Grounded in concrete principles and actionable recommendations, it offers a pragmatic operational approach to people governance.
The webinar will feature opening remarks by Béatrice Richez-Baum, Director General of ecoDa followed by a discussion and debate between Hannele Jakosuo Jansson, Vice-President People & Culture at Neste Corporation and board member of Finnair, and Olivier Hérout, EVP HR and H&S at EQUANS (Bouygues). Moderated by Serge Hubert, Executive Director of the H-User Institute – The People Governance Institute, the session will conclude with key takeaways from ecoDa.
Click here to Register

ecoDa Webinar: Geopolitical risks: strategic decisions for board
2025-12-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Hosted by ecoDa and the EY Center for Board Matters, this one-hour session will delve into the top 10 geopolitical developments from the forthcoming EY 2026 Geostrategic Outlook report, offering board members and senior executives a forward-looking perspective on how geopolitics is reshaping the business landscape.
The session will be hosted by Jonathan Geldart, CEO of the UK IoD, and Famke Krumbmüller, EY EMEIA Geostrategy Leader, will present the key takeaways from the soon-to-be-released report. This webinar provides a unique opportunity for European board members and governance professionals to deepen their understanding of geopolitics as a driver of long-term value creation – not just a backdrop of uncertainty.
Jonathan Geldart will highlight how board members can proactively address geopolitical risks and opportunities. He will explore how boards can integrate geopolitical awareness into strategic decision-making, risk oversight, and long-term planning, ensuring that organizations are resilient and positioned to capitalize on emerging trends rather than merely reacting to uncertainty.
This exclusive session is designed to equip boards with the strategic mindset and actionable insights needed to thrive in a world where geopolitics increasingly intersects with business, regulation, and reputation.
Click here to register
