Registration Time: 09:15
Sessions Time: 09:30-11:00  including a 15-minute break
Speakers: Mr Paul V. Azzopardi (Chief Executive Officer), Mr Joseph Darmanin (Chief Business Development Officer) and Ms Maria Xuereb (Chief Credit Officer) 
Venue: Online Webinar

Participation Fees (The Institute is now accepting payments via Paypal)
MIA Members: Free
Non-MIA Members: €15.00
Retired Members: Free
Students: Free

This information session is free for all MIA members and students who have paid their membership.

The MDB’s was established by an Act of Parliament in late 2017 with the strategic objective to address market failures, or financial gaps, by offering financing facilities to support productive and viable operations where the market is unable or unwilling to service on its own.
The MDB like many other promotional banks in Europe, took on a critical role in implementing countercyclical instruments, shifting its focus on emergency support measures to address the economic repercussions from COVID-19 and, more recently, the war in Ukraine. Alongside the extensive crisis response measures, the MDB’s core programmes continued to deliver. Since being set-up five years ago, the MDB reached over 700 businesses which employ around 40,000 persons, and more than 400 students, providing loans and guarantees exceeding €600 million.
The Bank is committed to continue developing innovative and impactful financial instruments to facilitate access to finance and push the economy in its regeneration efforts.

Topics on the agenda

The SME Guarantee Scheme (SGS) and the Guaranteed Co-lending Scheme (GCLS)

WHY IS THE SESSION OF RELEVANCE TO OUR MEMBERS?

Knowledge of MDB’s guarantee schemes will provide a new tool to accountants and financial advisers when they advise clients about new projects, expansions, reconstructions, and risk reduction especially where a bankable project lacks sufficient collateral.

Target Audience

Client accountants, in-house accountants and financial advisors

Speaker's Profiles

Paul V Azzopardi trained and worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and then obtained an MBA at first class standing from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, concentrating in finance and investments. 

After working for 10 years at the Malta Development Corporation, Paul worked in the securities industry in various roles but principally as corporate finance adviser, stockbroker and as a portfolio manager of private client accounts and mutual funds both in Malta and in Toronto, Canada.  He set up and ran a group of financial services companies for 16 years. 

Subsequently, between 2016 and 2020, Paul served as director on the Board of Directors of Bank of Valletta plc, BOV Asset Management Ltd., and BOV Funds Services Ltd., in which roles he chaired various board committees. 

In 2016 Paul was part of the Working Committee tasked with planning and setting up the Malta Development Bank.  Early in 2020 he joined the MDB and now serves as the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer.

Paul has written four published books:  “Investment and Finance – A Common Sense Approach” (Progress Press, Malta, 2004); “Behavioural Technical Analysis” (Harriman House, UK, 2010); “Why Financial Markets Rise Slowly but Fall Sharply” (Harriman House, UK, 2012: this book was short-listed as best technical book for 2012 by Technical Analyst Magazine of the UK); and, “Death by Pictures” (a novel published by Kite Publishing, Malta, 2021).

Joseph Darmanin is Chief Business Development Officer at the Malta Development Bank. He is responsible for the overall business strategy and the development of new financial products and business opportunities. He also leads the communications and public relations function of the Bank, as well as research and European affairs. Prior to joining the MDB, Mr Darmanin was a senior economist in the Governor’s Office of the Central Bank of Malta. During the latter part of his stint at the Central Bank, he was actively involved in the preparatory work for the establishment of the Malta Development Bank which included a comprehensive study on market failures in Malta’s banking system and further research in preparation for the negotiations with the EU Commission for the setting up of a development bank in Malta.

Maria Xuereb started her career in the banking sector in 1989, gaining experience through the departments and ranks from accounts, foreign, treasury to credit. During her early years she obtained a higher diploma in retail banking.
For a year she has also worked as a Personal Finance Manger within the life insurance and investment arm of HSBC.
After 21 years at HSBC, Maria moved to BNF Bank as a Deputy Head of the Credit Department. During her time at BNF she also had the opportunity to move out of banking for a year and gain experience directly within the private sector as the CEO of a private group of companies. This opportunity has provided her with a different perspective of business relations which proved valuable when she returned to her role within the banking sector.
In 2018 she joined the Malta Development Bank as a Chief Credit Officer where she was responsible for the setting up of the Credit Department of the Bank. To date she manages the credit team in the management and monitoring of all MDB’s schemes and credit facilities.

EVENT CPE COMPETENCES

1.5 Hours Professional

WEBINARS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and conditions  apply

DISCLAIMER

By Registering and/or Booking for this event, you agree that MIA will collect your information which will be using it in accordance with its Privacy Notice available at the following link.

Please note that all webinars are recorded by the MIA. Such recordings will be retained by the MIA for internal use.