FinanceMalta, the public-private partnership set up to promote Malta's international financial services sector, have launched the programme for their 6th Annual Conference being held in Malta on 26th April 2013 with the theme “Competing in Global Markets: The New Normal”.

An outstanding international speaker lineup for the event includes leading industry thought-leaders, researchers, practitioners, academics and authors such as Robert Priester, Executive Director, European Banking Federation, Judith Hardt, Federation of European Securities Exchanges, Brian Healy, Head of the European Wholesale Securities Market, Ireland, Professor Anthony Fisher, Professor Drew D. Markson from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, California, Maria Xuereb, Partner Deloitte Hong Kong, Peter De Proft, Director General of the European Funds,and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), Alexander F. Wagner, Professor of Finance and Financial Markets at the University of Zurich, Mario Portelli Partner, PwC Bahrain, and Richard Ogden, Partner Ernst &Young, UK, amongst others.

The high-quality international speakers have achieved outstanding industry contributions and continue to wield considerable influence within the global financial services industry, bringing further reputational strength to Malta’s growing onshore EU jurisdiction. Industry veteran Peter De Proft, Director General of EFAMA and formerly CEO at Fortis Investment Management will be moderating a discussion on ETF’s as part of the workshops programme within the conference. Mr De Proft is a former Executive Director at Banque Nagelmackers 1747 / Groupe Delta Lloyd (1995-2004).  Prior to that Peter was a Central Banker, from May 1980 until September 1988. Peter has held a number of board positions in the fund & asset management industry, including Chairman of the Board of the Belgian Asset Managers Association (BEAMA). (Belgian Asset Managers Association), Board Member and Vice Chairman of Febelfin (2002-2006); Board Member of FEFSI/EFAMA  (2002-2004). He is currently Vice-Chairman of ESMA’s Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group.

Many local practitioners will be delighted that Maria Xuereb will be taking part via satellite. Maria has been with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Hong Kong since 1988, having previously worked in Malta and London.  She is a Partner in the Global Financial Services Industry Group and specializes in serving multinational financial services clients. She leads the firm’s securitisation service line in Hong Kong and China. Ms Xuereb is also involved in regulatory and risk management consulting projects for the financial services sector. These include Basel II projects; documentation of process and controls for Sarbanes Oxley attestation and diagnostic reviews of workflows and controls within several financial institutions.  

Initial sponsors for this firmly established part of the international financial services calendar includes HSBC Bank Malta plc., Ernst & Young, Linedata, Fenech & Fenech Advocates, Castille Staffing Limited and Bank of Valletta. Chris Bond,  HSBC Head of Global Banking & Markets, welcomed the international profile of the event and underlined why HSBC had given its enthusiastic support saying,"HSBC is proud to be the main sponsoring partner for the FinanceMalta 6th Annual Conference. As the world's leading international bank, HSBC continues to support the growth of Malta's dynamic financial services sector."

This day-long annual conference is a unique opportunity for the industry, government, regulators and, importantly, FinanceMalta’s corporate and affiliate members to engage with world-class speakers and practitioners to discuss developments in international financial markets, assess new business opportunities for Malta’s practitioners and the industry’s increasing potential for growth as part of Malta’s growing financial services jurisdiction, and network with peers.

FinanceMalta’s Bruno L’ecuyer added “We have been through the worst economic crash in more than 75 years. A world economy with no place to hide, ‘always on’ connectivity, a widespread distrust of business, governments and regulators, activist shareholders and interest groups. So far in this decade, competing in global markets has been a walk on the wild side, whilst we do not claim to have the answers, our carefully selected faculty of speakers coming from all four corners of the world will present, discuss and debate what is the ‘New Normal’ allowing the delegates to get a better fix on the challenges and opportunities ahead”.

For further information visit www.financemalta.org