This Webinar session on April 27 at 14:00 will cover issues related to Maltese Employment Law, Commercial Leases, Health & Safety and Commercial Contracts with an accompanying discussion by world experts on related Corporate Governance issues, an overview of what is happening in other jurisdictions and an open discussion about how COVID-19 can be navigated now and in the future.


Speakers: Dr. Roger Barker, Head of Corporate Governance, IoD UK
and Dr. Roberta Lepre, CEO, Weave Consulting
Special Guest: Charlotte Valeur, IoD Global Chair
Host: Edwin Ward, IoD Malta Chair


Dr. Roger Barker

Dr. Roger Barker is Head of Corporate Governance at the Institute of Directors (UK) and Managing Director of Governomics Ltd, a corporate governance advisory firm. Dr. Barker previously served as the IoD’s Director of Corporate Governance and Professional Standards between 2008 and 2016. He is a UK Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (the EU advisory body), Honorary Associate at the Centre for Ethics and Law at University College London and a visiting lecturer at Saïd Business School, Oxford, and Cass Business School, London. Dr. Barker is the holder of a doctorate from Oxford University and the author of numerous books and articles on corporate governance and board effectiveness, including: ‘Corporate Governance and Investment Management: The Promises and Limitations of the New Financial Economy’ (Edward Elgar, 2017), ‘The Effective Board: Building Individual and Board Success’ (Kogan Page, 2010), and ‘Corporate Governance, Competition, and Political Parties: Explaining Corporate Governance Change in Europe’ (Oxford University Press, 2010). A former investment banker, Dr. Barker spent almost 15 years in a variety of equity research and senior management roles at UBS and Bank Vontobel, both in the UK and Switzerland.


Dr Roberta Lepre

Dr Roberta Lepre is the founder and director of Weave Consulting - the CSR Specialists, a boutique firm which works with companies to achieve profitability through sustainability and helps them have a more positive social and environmental impact. She has served as legal advisor to the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality and Director of Victim Support Malta, an NGO which provides support to victims of crime. Other past roles include serving as a member of the Guardian for Future Generations, a high-level body set up under the Sustainable Development Act, Chairperson of the Platform for Human Rights Organisations in Malta, and member of the Commission on Domestic Violence. Roberta is a Member of the IoD Malta Governance Board and of the Sigma Foundation.


Charlotte Valeur

Charlotte Valeur is global Chair of the IoD. She began her career in 1982 as a fixed-income trader in her native Copenhagen and London. She went on to hold directorships at BNP Paribas (1992-97) and Société Générale (1998-99). Her non- executive experience includes positions with 3i Infrastructure (2009-13) Renewable Energy Generation (2010-16); the JPMorgan Global Convertibles Income Fund (2013 onwards); NTR (2014 onwards); Phoenix Spree Deutschland (2018 onwards); and Laing O’Rourke (2018 onwards). Apart from the IoD, she has chaired numerous firms, including DW Catalyst Fund (2010-17); Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate (2013-17); FSN Capital, funds II to V (2013 onwards); and Blackstone/GSO Loan Financing (2014 onwards). Charlotte’s solo ventures include Brook Street Partners (2002-11) and Global Governance Group (2009 onwards). She is also founder of Board Apprentice; a governor of the University of Westminster; and an honorary teaching fellow at Lancaster University Management School.


Edwin Ward

Edwin Ward is Director-General of IoD Malta and former Chairman of the Institute of Directors Malta Branch. He is Chairman of WX2, an international advertising and PR company representing and advising clients in regulated entities, and Chairman of WX2 Business Hubs Network, a cluster of co-working units. Edwin is Chairman of Praestantia CleanTech, the world’s first Blockchain Platform for Clean Technology with a mission to create and setup a global Cleantech Marketplace, and Non-Executive Chairman of the Paragon Group which has business operations across Europe and is an important driver in key European policy areas. Edwin was formerly a Chairman and CEO in the global network of Ogilvy & Mather International.

Why does Corporate Governance sit at the centre of the success or failure of Malta's economic system?

Corporate governance lies at the heart of our economic system. It is the interface between capital markets and companies, between employees and executives, and between society and the corporate sector. It is the driver of what companies do, how they do it and the effects they have on others. In other words, it sits at the centre of the success or failure of our economic system.

Our distinguished panel, John L. Bonello, Chair of HSBC Bank Malta plc., Judge Professor Mervyn E. King and IoD Global Chair Charlotte Valeur, will tackle some of the most important corporate governance issues that confront business today. Through this webinar, the IoD hopes to extend the boundaries of our understanding of how corporate governance contributes to the flourishing of Malta's business, our economy and society.

If you really want to get to grips with why corporate governance is the most important topic in Malta's recovery and its main driver of growth, don't miss these distinguished speakers.

The global lockdown during the current pandemic has seen an unprecedented fall in pollution levels in many parts of the world, including Malta. This has given every Board and every business a chance to take stock.

A truly green recovery will require a joint effort from government, business and society to overcome the challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and this IoD Malta webinar will bring some of the most enquiring minds to address the topic; President of Din L'Art Helwa Alex Torpiano, Professor Simone Borg, environmentalist Dr. Roberta Lepre and Dr. Nadia Theuma, Executive Director of Paragon Europe.

Targets like moving towards a zero-carbon economy in the Mediterranean instill business confidence and help to create a shared sense of purpose; inspiring others to act and scale up their own ambitions. We have an opportunity to create ambition loops, where businesses provide support for bold government policies and in turn the Maltese Government could adopt policies that drive further actions by businesses, creating new jobs and economic growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a grim global toll on lives, health services, jobs and mental health, but the climate debate hasn't gone away. And as Malta's Government looks to lift restrictions and ease the lockdown, we now have a real opportunity to embrace change - moving away from the carbon-intensive model with cars belching exhaust fumes in endless traffic jams and instead accelerate investment in clean projects using electric or hydrogen cars, solar power, and more responsible eco-purchasing behaviours that support a circular economy to reduce waste.

As Malta and the rest of the world looks to recover from the current health and economic crises caused by COVID-19, we have an opportunity to accelerate the transition to a modern, clean and green system. Will Malta's Boards be one of the key drivers of this change to a greener country?

The times we face are trying, utterly unprecedented and marked by absolute unravelling uncertainty. The situation at hand is extraordinary, for Boards, Directors and Corporate Governance. The speed with which the pandemic is spreading and its gigantic proportions have impacted every aspect of business across the Maltese Islands.

Running a business, any business, in the midst of a pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for business leaders in Malta, and for those in the supply-chain overseas. IoD Malta was a significant contributor to the MFSA's recent 'Stakeholder Consultation on Corporate Governance'. The MFSA has highlighted in its 'Consultation document' that business continuity management is integral to good corporate governance.

The restrictions imposed by the Maltese Government and other governments around the world in handling the COVID-19 outbreak raise significant challenges as regards corporate governance.

Many businesses are implementing remote working arrangements in an effort to maintain continuity of service and to provide valued members of staff an opportunity to contribute to the business. Only 8 weeks into this pandemic, many companies are having to take very difficult decisions. COVID-19's impact is in every aspect of business. Our speakers will speak to the issues and share their thinking and possible solutions.

What can IoD webinar attendees expect?

As ever, a crisis creates opportunity as well as threat. The opportunity to do things differently, to re-build a better business: one that is more efficient, fixing issues we had let lie, and creating a genuine robust and sustainable culture. A business built around the needs of all stakeholders and the team.

This is a focussed 59-minute session. What you will get is:

- A walk through the challenges facing business leaders during COVID-19
- Ways to strengthen how the Board communicates and collaborates with the executive team
- Understand better how Chairs and CEO's can work together
- Find out what strategy can contribute to dealing with the crisis
- Use Corporate Governance as a tool to weather the storm
- Q&A.

A corporate crisis in today’s world accelerates more quickly with a larger impact than ever before. The 24-hour news cycle and prevalence of social media contribute to the risk of destabilization and its acceleration. At law Boards are accountable to shareholders and one of their principal accountabilities is to exercise oversight over the executive team. How do Boards discharge that duty in times of crisis? That is precisely what IoD Malta's speakers will address during our free webinar on May 14 at 14:00; speakers, former HSBC Chair Sonny Portelli, APS Bank Chair Frederick Mifsud Bonnici and CEO of Malta Government Investments, Herald Bonnici.

A crisis can be the result of a number of different types of incidents and developments and can take on many forms, including the COVID-19 emergency. Natural and man-made disasters throw tightly linked supply chains into imbalance, amplifying how a regional event can have significantly greater and more far-reaching impact. IoD's speakers, moderated by IoD Chair Edwin Ward, will discuss how such incidents may call into question the effectiveness of a company’s Board of Directors and its ability to provide effective oversight and governance.


SPEAKERS:

Sonny Portelli
Frederick Mifsud Bonnici
Herald Bonnici

Moderator:

Edwin Ward

This webinar will focus on Malta's financial ecosystem taking into account the situation with COVID-19.

This IoD Malta 08:59 Club event brings together three talented speakers to understand a number of “do’s and don’ts” in the market that apply to all ecosystem players. They will provide an overview of the most critical financial ecosystem success factors and outline the impact of COVID-19.

Moderated by IoD Malta Chairman Edwin Ward, the webinar brings together all the major players outside the regulatory institutions, with speakers from leading private sector businesses, to analyse Malta’s financial ecosystem and to ask the serious question: Is it fit for purpose?

As Malta faces COVID-19 and international regulatory headwinds, can private capital be unleashed to back the innovation and rapid-scaling our economy needs? Do we have the financial ecosystem we need to develop our companies and our economy?

This session is for leaders of the hospitality and the tourism industry to better understand the latest innovation in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space - ChatGPT.

Along with ChatGPT, the presentation also covers other Generative AI tools such as DALLE-2, Mid Journey, etc and how they can be used to generate relevant and personalised content for marketing, positioning, and offer personalised guest experiences. The presentation covers the benefits of these tools for the industry leaders, how to use them to the maximum and how the future of the industry will evolve based on these technology innovations.

The session is presented by Jayanth Kolla, Founder of Convergence Catalyst, Head of Strategy for Google Health AI, Global Speaker, AI/ML, IoT & Blockchain expert and the author of the upcoming book "AI Rising: India's Artificial Intelligence Growth Story".

This webinar is supported by Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association and Mediterranean Toursim Foundation as part of the BRAIN Project.