Monday, 9th September 2019
Malta Financial Services Authority
This event has already passed and registrations are closed.
About MFSA
As the country’s recent National Risk Assessment highlighted, money laundering and terrorist financing may represent a threat to the stability, profitability and integrity of the financial services sector.
As Malta continues to establish itself as a leading global player in remote gaming, e-money, digital currencies and FinTech innovations, it is critically important that the MFSA strengthens its regulatory setup to mitigate any current and future risks which jurisdictions like Malta may face in the future.
Earlier in February, the MFSA published the prudential and conduct Anti-Money Laundering / Countering Financing of Terrorism supervisory strategy. The strategy is focused on enhancing the MFSA’s approach towards its role in AML/CFT supervision but also to enhance its supervisory standards in order to safeguard the integrity and trust in the Maltese financial services sector.
CEO Joseph Cuschieri highlighted that “The MFSA is committed to supporting the sector in seizing this opportunity in a safe and controlled manner by establishing a regulatory environment that fosters growth whilst clamping down on money laundering and terrorist financing.” Mr Cuschieri added that “The MFSA will not accept compromises and complacency in this area. We want Malta to grow responsibly and set standards which are in line or better than those of our peers in Europe. That is why we have placed money laundering and terrorist financing as one of our key priorities in the strengthening of our regulatory system. In the coming months and years, the MFSA’s challenge is to continue with its transformation programme so that it becomes a more modern financial supervisor which embraces technology and innovation, entering the FinTech space with optimism and preparedness”.
Speakers
Chief Executive Officer, MFSA
Joseph Cuschieri
A Certified Public Accountant by profession and a fellow member of the Malta Institute of Accountants, Joesph is specialised in management accounting, corporate finance, economic regulation and business management. He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College, UK and an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. Throughout his professional career, he held various roles amongst which, COO at the Malta Communications Authority, CCO at Vodafone Malta, senior consultant with EY and Chairman and CEO at the Malta Gaming Authority. Joseph is also a member of the Blockchain task force where he was involved in the development of a new regulatory framework for virtual currencies and distributed ledger technology.
Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Malta
Mark A. Schapiro
Mark A. Schapiro, a career member of the United States Foreign Service, began serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Malta in July 2017. On September 29, 2018, he became Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim. Prior to arriving in Malta, Mark served as Director for Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus at the National Security Council from 2015-2016. Mark has received multiple U.S. Department of State Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Commander’s Award for Public Service from General David Petraeus (2007) and the Superior Civilian Service Award from U.S. Army 3ID Commander MG Anthony Cucolo (2010). Mark has an undergraduate degree from Brown University, a graduate degree with Distinction from the London School of Economics, and most recently was a 2017 Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, where he received the Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens Award for Excellence in Strategic Writing.
Chief Officer, MFSA
Dr Christopher P. Buttigieg
Dr Christopher P. Buttigieg is the Chief Officer Strategy, Policy and Innovation at the MFSA. Prior to this appointment, he was the Head of Securities and Markets supervision, responsible for work in the field of policy, regulation and supervision of securities, markets and FinTech.
Chief Officer Supervision, MFSA
Marianne Scicluna
Marianne Scicluna was appointed as Chief Officer Supervision in August 2014. In this role, Marianne is responsible for the co-ordination of the supervisory and regulatory strategy across all the sectors under the remit of the MFSA.
Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs
Kevin Piccoli
Kevin Piccoli’s current role makes him responsible for the CFTC’s international technical assistance program. He is also the US CFTC representative on the International Organization of Securities Commissions Asset Management Committee.
Attorney Lead, LabCFTC - CFTC
Brian Trackman
Brian Trackman is the Attorney Lead for LabCFTC and is Counsel on FinTech and Innovation in the Office of General Counsel. He advises on a wide range of FinTech issues and is a senior member of the FinTech Interdivisional Working Group.
Senior Analyst, ESMA
Patrick K. Armstrong
Patrick K. Armstrong works in the Risk Analysis and Economics department of ESMA, with the financial innovation team. Topics the team recently addressed are crowdfunding, contingent convertibles and alternative indices.
Senior Officer, BaFin
Thomas Hagen Weiss
Thomas Hagen Weiss is a Senior Officer with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin. As part of the securities supervision, his focus is on the regulation and assessment of crypto assets.
Director of Authorisation and Supervision, Financial Services Commission
Renu Audit
Renu Audit is a lawyer by training with more than 25 years of experience in commercial, corporate and financial services regulatory environment across jurisdictions like India, UK and Mauritius.
Crypto Consultant, OSCE
Loretta Joseph
Loretta Joseph is the blockchain consultant at the OSCE . Loretta is an external resource to GIABA, She advises a number of global organisations on responsible adoption of blockchain technology across policy makers, governments and industry.
Senior Manager, MFSA
Martha Chetcuti
Martha Chetcuti is a Senior Manager at the MFSA. Prior to joining the Office of the Chief Officer for the Strategy, Policy and Innovation Directorate, Martha led the FinTech and Innovation Function under the same Directorate.
Senior Analyst, MFSA
Christos Efthymiopoulos
Christos Efthymiopoulos is a Senior Analyst within the MFSA’s FinTech & Innovation Function and is managing the team responsible for the authorisation and supervision of Virtual Financial Assets (‘VFA) operators. Christos has been heavily involved in the development of the VFA framework
Chairman, MDIA
Dr Joshua Ellul
Dr Joshua Ellul was appointed as the first Chairman of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority. He is also the Director of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies at the University of Malta.
Advisor to the MDIA
Gordon Pace
Gordon Pace is a Professor of Computer Science of Computer Science at the University of Malta. His research interests lie in the field of formal methods, developing techniques to ensure that computer systems work as expected. He also currently acts as advisor to the MDIA.
Partner, GANADO Advocates
James Farrugia
James Farrugia spearheads GANADO Advocates' Investment Services and Funds licensing and regulatory consultancy activities.
Managing Partner, GTG Advocates
Dr Ian Gauci
Dr Ian Gauci is the Managing Partner at GTG Advocates, Afilexion Alliance and Caledo Group. Dr Gauci also provides consultancy on legal matters related to blockchain technology, smart contracts, crypto-currencies and ICO/ITO.
Analyst, MFSA
Pierre Bonnici
Pierre Bonnici is an analyst within the MFSA’s FinTech & Innovation Function. While assisting the team working on the authorisation process of the VFA Framework, his main area of focus is to develop and implement the supervisory process.
CRO, MDIA
Trevor Sammut
Trevor Sammut is the Chief Regulatory Officer at the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, responsible for the Management of the Authority’s Regulatory Department, composed of the Authorisations, Compliance, and Enforcement functions.
CEO, Ciphertrace
Dave Jevans
Dave Jevans has 20 years of experience in the security and payments markets. He also serves as the chairman of the Anti-Phishing Working Group. Dave is also a frequent speaker on blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and electronic crime.
Senior Analyst, MFSA
Sandra Saliba
Sandra Saliba joined the Securities and Markets at the MFSA, responsible for investigations & policy, after having worked on Payments Policy at the Central Bank of Malta. Her professional interests include EU regulatory governance & cybersecurity.
Senior Associate, Camilleri Preziosi Advocates
Diane Bugeja
Diane Bugeja is a Senior Associate at Camilleri Preziosi. She provides advice to local and overseas clients on the impact of regulatory regime on their business models.
Manager, FIAU
Dr Jonathan Phyall
Dr Jonathan Phyall is a manager within the Legal and International Relations Section of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit. Jonathan has been involved in multiple projects related to AML/CFT including the drafting of related legislation.
Co-Founder of Shyft, Special Advisor to OECD
Joseph Weinberg
An investor in Bitcoin and previous director at Coinsetter. Joseph Weinberg knows his way around the digital currency world. Currently, he is the co-founder of Shyft, the world’s first blockchain-based trust network.
FTI Consulting
Federica Taccogna
Federica Taccogna is a strategic advisor on financial crime to the MFSA and leads teams performing financial crime investigations on its behalf and designing and devising its supervisory strategies and policies.
AML/CFT Consultant
Philip Bugeja
Philip Bugeja currently serves as an independent consultant and specializes in the prevention of financial crime, Bribery and Corruption, Risk, Anti Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
Economic Crime Squad, Financial Crimes Investigations Department
George Frendo
George Frendo joined the Malta Police Force as an Inspector in 2017. His main areas of responsibility within the Economic Crime Squad include offences related to Gaming, Crypto Currencies, Online Fraud, Sports Manipulation and Match Fixing.
Head of Policy, Chainalysis
Jesse Spiro
Jesse Spiro is the Global Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs for Chainalysis. Previously he was the Global Head of Threat Finance & Emerging Risks for Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv.
Co-Founder & CTO, KnowMeNow
Godwin Schembri
Godwin Schembri holds a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics and Computing and an MBA in eBusiness. He has a strong background in Software Development and held C-level positions within various companies.
Compliance Manager, FIAU
Rudolf Muscat
Rudolf Muscat is a compliance manager within the Compliance Section of FIAU, his primary focus being the monitoring of subject persons within the Gaming, Investment Services and VFAs sectors to ensure their compliance with AML/CFT obligations.
Senior Managing Partner, Filletti & Filletti Advocates & Head of Department of Criminal Law, University of Malta
Dr Stefano Filletti
Dr Stefano Filletti is in private practice and has held various positions of trust. He also acts as an advisor to both private and public entities and has held various posts.
Partner, Ganado Advocates
Dr Leonard Bonello
Dr Leonard Bonello is a Partner within GANADO Advocates’ Banking and Finance team. Leonard also heads the Fintech group at GANADO Advocates and is involved in assisting a number of blockchain-based projects.
Chairman of AML Committe, IFSP
Juanita Bencini
Juanita Bencini is an ex-KPMG Malta partner where for 17 years she headed the Risk Consulting Advisory practice. Today, she works as a consultant to the financial services industry.
Financial Analyst, FIAU
Matthew Pace
Matthew Pace is employed as a financial analyst within the Financial Analysis Section of the FIAU, and has joined the unit in the year 2017. Matthew graduated from the University of Malta with a B.A. (Hons.) in Criminology.
Manager, FIAU
Ruth Aisthorpe Gauci
Ruth Aisthorpe Gauci is employed as a manager within the Financial Analysis Section of the FIAU. Ruth graduated from the University of Malta in 2011 with a BA(Hons) in Criminology and completed a Diploma in Financial Services Operations and Compliance.
