From its annual Townhall to a customer event and the bank’s staff summer celebration, each occasion reflected HSBC Malta’s continued commitment to investing in its people, strengthening customer relationships and fostering a culture built on collaboration, inclusion and excellence. Together, the events highlighted the values that continue to define the bank as it looks confidently towards the future.

The programme began with HSBC Malta’s annual Townhall, where colleagues from across the organisation came together to reflect on achievements, discuss strategic priorities and look ahead to the next chapter of the bank’s journey. The event reinforced HSBC Malta’s culture of openness, collaboration and accountability, while recognising the collective contribution colleagues make every day in delivering exceptional service to customers. Employees also heard a clear and direct message: as the bank transitions to CrediaBank, the people who built the bank’s success will continue to drive it forward post transition.

The celebrations continued with a customer summer event, bringing together clients, partners and guests in recognition of the longstanding relationships built on trust, loyalty and shared success. The evening reflected HSBC Malta’s appreciation for the confidence customers continue to place in the bank and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting them through every stage of their financial journey.

The series concluded with HSBC Malta’s annual staff summer celebration, providing colleagues with an opportunity to celebrate achievements, strengthen connections across the organisation and recognise the teamwork and dedication that continue to drive the bank forward. Beyond celebrating success, the event reflected the importance HSBC Malta places on creating an engaging workplace where colleagues feel valued, connected and empowered.

Collectively, the three events underscored a simple but enduring message: HSBC Malta’s greatest strength lies in its people and the relationships they build every day. Whether supporting customers, collaborating with colleagues or engaging with the wider community, these relationships remain the foundation of the bank’s continued success. 

Commenting on the events, HSBC Malta CEO Geoffrey Fichte said, “The continuity of people, relationships and expertise is the foundation of our transformation and upgrade programme to CrediaBank. Our greatest strength has always been our people and the relationships we have built with our customers over many years. These events were a celebration of the trust, collaboration and sense of community that define HSBC Malta and continue to shape who we are today.

As we progress towards the proposed acquisition by CrediaBank, subject to regulatory approval, it remains very much business as usual. We continue to focus on delivering the highest standards of service to our customers, investing in our colleagues and supporting the communities we serve. This is the same team that will carry it forward into CrediaBank’s next chapter.

These celebrations remind us that while organisations evolve, the values that define them endure. As the transaction progresses, subject to regulatory approval, we do so from a position of strength, built on the trust of our customers and the dedication of our colleagues. That continuity, of people, of relationships, of expertise, is non-negotiable. It is the foundation this transition is being built on.

We look forward to the opportunities ahead and are confident that this next chapter will enable us to build an even stronger bank, continuing to deliver exceptional service for our customers while creating new opportunities for our people and supporting Malta’s economic growth.”

HSBC Malta and The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry have renewed their Gold Sponsorship Agreement, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing Malta’s business community through strategic collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of sustainable economic growth.

Welcoming the renewal, Malta Chamber President William Spiteri Bailey said: “This agreement reflects a shared conviction that Malta’s business community deserves access to the knowledge, connections, and insights needed to compete and thrive in an increasingly dynamic global economy. HSBC Malta’s international expertise and strong market presence make them a genuinely valued strategic partner, and we look forward to delivering initiatives that create real, tangible value for our members.”

Joyce Grech, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC Malta, added: “Through this partnership, we are deepening our engagement with the Maltese business community in a way that is practical, relevant, and geared towards long-term growth.”

Geoffrey Fichte, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Malta, said: “Our partnership with The Malta Chamber is one we hold in high regard. Malta’s business community is ambitious, internationally connected, and increasingly sophisticated in its needs. This renewed agreement reflects our commitment to being a bank that actively supports that ambition, not just through financial services, but through access, insight, and opportunity.”

The renewal of this Gold Sponsorship underlines the enduring relationship between The Malta Chamber and HSBC Malta, and both organisations’ commitment to fostering innovation, resilience, and sustainable business growth across Malta.

The BOV Foundation supported the conservation and restoration of a dismembered pala d’altare at the Parish Church of St George in Qormi, dating back to the 15th century. Following the completion of the three-year restoration project, the retable has now been returned to the church.

The retable is centred around The Lamentation, a highly significant 15th-century panel painting attributed to an unknown Sicilian artist active during the first half of the century. It is flanked by two later 15th-century side panels, St George and the Dragon and St Gregory with a Female Saint, attributed to a Northern Italian workshop, probably of Lombard provenance. Although now visually associated as a single ensemble, the three panels were created by different artists and at different times, before being brought together within the devotional and liturgical history of St George’s Parish Church. 

By the mid-17th century, the panels had been reunited on the Pietà altar, where they were mounted separately within a stone framework. It was also during this period that the associated painted crucifix was incorporated into the ensemble.

The conservation works, entrusted to PrevArti Laboratories, included technical examination, photographic and graphic documentation, infrared and X-radiographic investigation, consolidation of unstable paint and wooden supports, cleaning, the controlled removal of deteriorated varnish and later overpaint, structural repairs, filling of losses, reversible retouching and the application of protective varnish. The project also included the design and installation of a suitable hanging system for the safe display of the restored ensemble.

Pierre Bugeja, Founder and Senior Conservator at PrevArti, noted that this conservation project revealed important historical and iconographic information. Infrared reflectography and cleaning showed that later overpainting had substantially altered the appearance of St George and the Dragon, obscuring original details of the dragon, armour, reins and other narrative elements. In the right-hand panel, conservation also clarified the identity of the female saint accompanying St Gregory: a vessel previously altered by overpaint to resemble a book was revealed to be an ointment jar, supporting her identification as Mary Magdalene.

This project stands among the most significant conservation and restoration initiatives supported by the BOV Foundation. Ernest Agius, BOV COO and Deputy Chair of the Foundation, stated, “Through the BOV Foundation, we are proud to support initiatives that protect and preserve Maltese national heritage, ensuring they can be appreciated by present and future generations.”

The pala d’altare was the titular painting of the parish church from the mid-15th century to 1632, when it was replaced by a new titular painting of St George and the dragon, depicted by Gaspare Formica. 

Roderick Bartolo joins the Bank from outside the organisation and brings over 14 years of experience in banking, quantitative analytics and data science. He currently serves as a balance sheet optimisation consultant to the Bank on capital efficiency, funding strategy and banking book risk/return dynamics. Prior to that, he was Head of Quantitative Analytics and Financial Forecasting at MeDirect Bank Malta.

As Chief Risk Officer, Mr Bartolo will be responsible for establishing, maintaining and continuously enhancing a robust, independent and forward-looking enterprise-wide risk management framework.

Lawrence Schembri is a seasoned People & Culture professional with extensive experience in governance, employee relations, and organisational development within a regulated banking environment. He is currently Head of Quality & Governance within the People & Culture function at the Bank, where he leads the design and oversight of governance frameworks, policies and risk management relating to human capital.

As CPCO, Mr Schembri will be responsible for shaping and executing the Group’s People & Culture strategy to enable long-term organisational performance, leadership effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and a values-led culture.

Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of BOV, commented: “We have taken these steps with our long-term strategy and stakeholders’ trust in mind. By strengthening our risk management leadership and reinforcing our people-first culture, we are positioning the Bank for continued success. I am confident that our appointees will provide the expertise, stability and governance needed to keep the Bank on course as we continue to serve our customers, colleagues and community, and drive our strategic transformation forward.”

The Bank remains fully focused on delivering sustainable growth and value to its stakeholders amid this planned transition and beyond.

I watched the debate between Deborah Schembri and Nickie Vella de Fremeaux regarding the necessity of the gender corrective mechanism.

Dr Schembri began by highlighting two proposed laws by female backbenchers: the right to be forgotten after cancer treatment to combat discrimination and the right to 12 weeks of paid leave for parents at the Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU). These are valid laws that benefit both men and women.

However, she also admitted that she doesn’t believe increasing the number of women in Parliament will necessarily make them more attuned to specific “women’s issues”. She stated, “I won’t be in Parliament just for women but for everyone.” This admission essentially undermines the entire concept of the mechanism.

Adding more seats to artificially create a quota hasn’t addressed the core challenges women face when pursuing a career in politics.

In fact, none of the female MPs in the previous legislature (both those elected and those who gained seats with a few hundred votes) took any action to make attending Parliament easier for women juggling multiple responsibilities. This lack of effort prevents many women from contesting elections. To date, I’ve seen no progress on this issue, which is the root of the problem. Furthermore, those who secured seats through the mechanism, particularly those with young children, will soon face a wake-up call as they’ll still encounter these challenges.

I don’t see anyone, man or woman, passionately advocating for parliamentary sessions during normal office hours or any other family-friendly measures. This pressing issue has been widely discussed and, as far back as 2017 (nearly a decade ago), the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality reported that Malta suffers from a shortage of women candidates willing to contest elections. “This shortage stems from various factors, including the lack of family-friendly policies for all stakeholders in politics. This reality affects both male and female MPs with family responsibilities but is particularly acute for women, who are traditionally seen as the primary carers. It’s important to remember that fathers also have a responsibility to actively care for their children and deserve to enjoy their family life daily,” the report stated.

In response to this report, Parliament adjusted its meeting schedule, starting at 4pm instead of 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. While this was a positive step, it doesn’t fully address the needs of parents who need to be home with their children for various activities like extracurriculars, family dinners, homework help, bath time and bedtime routines.

At the opening of Parliament, I couldn’t help but notice the number of young families among the new MPs on our screens. The key difference is that in most cases, the men have supportive spouses at home who handle most of the domestic responsibilities, allowing them to focus on their political work. While exceptions exist, I’d wager a survey would reveal that the majority of family duties still fall on women. Furthermore, women tend to be more emotionally supportive of husbands running for office, though this isn’t always the case. However, with demanding careers, young families, household management and politics, something inevitably has to give.

During the election campaign, the Momentum party advocated for making Parliament a full-time role with professional pay so that MPs could meet during the day. This would also eliminate potential conflicts of interest with their actual professions. Interestingly, I couldn’t find any women proposing this.

I’ve also never heard that female MPs from both sides of the House had united to advocate for childcare facilities in Parliament. Surely that should have been their top priority in the last legislature to encourage other women to become politically active? Back in 2017 then Speaker Anglu Farrugia mentioned a childcare facility was coming “soon”. Then in 2022 the Nationalist Opposition proposed it again alongside other child-friendly measures and the Speaker said a childcare centre at Beltissebh would be operational by the end of the year. However, it hasn’t materialised yet. It’s always surprising how quickly other laws are introduced, almost causing you whiplash trying to keep up, yet something as crucial as this is consistently shelved. What’s the point of adding 12 more women to Parliament if they don’t advocate for themselves on such matters?

I understand Dr De Fremeaux’s concerns about the corrective mechanism being an insult to women, and as someone who has been a self-avowed feminist all my life, I agree. I see no progress or glory in simply bloating our parliament with another 12 seats to pretend we’ve achieved some contrived equality. True equality comes when parties are obliged to have an equal number of men and women on their ballot sheets, and then it’s up to the electorate to choose the best candidates. It’s obvious that the majority of voters don’t agree with this mechanism and it’s actually had the opposite effect. Rather than gaining more respect, women are now sneered at and belittled because they got in through this back door deal. It’s also typical that the PN and PL ensured no other woman from any other party had a chance of using this corrective mechanism. They can talk all they want, but if they really wanted to, they could have found a way to include third parties.

I also disagree that we “lowered any barriers” and that’s why more women contested this time. Instead, we lowered the standards. Any woman contesting knew she had a good chance of getting into Parliament even without knocking on a single door and people barely knew her. This actually happened in several instances.

Marlene Mizzi rightly pointed out that out of the 12 who were given a seat in the last legislature, three of those who weren’t voted in this time were once again given a seat they didn’t earn. How many times will the same woman be given a seat this way? With this mechanism, as she rightly said, the voice of the people has been tainted and women are reduced to mere numbers just to tick boxes. We’re also encouraging the idea that women don’t have to try too hard, similar to the current mentality that everyone gets a medal in a sports competition, no matter what.

Dr Schembri argued that the mechanism led to more women being elected on their own merits, which is debatable. It’s clear that having more women on the ballot increases choice and that is where the focus should be.

Sandra Gauci made very valid points about what holds women back, particularly the responsibility of raising young children. She reiterated her commitment to fighting the injustice of the gender mechanism favouring the two main parties because third parties aren’t on an equal footing.

During the debate, the causal elections or bye-elections were also discussed. This is another aspect of our electoral system that needs reform. Contesting in two districts should be abolished; voters should only have one district to choose from. This change would also encourage more women to run and eliminate the political manoeuvring over which district is “given up” based on party strategy. For example, at least 15 seats were contested in these bye-elections, adding unnecessary work and prolonging the election process.

Furthermore, we should eliminate the district system altogether and consolidate Malta into a single voting district. This would ensure that elected MPs truly represent the electorate’s will. Many politicians I would have liked to vote for simply weren’t on my district, which feels unfair. This system would also dismantle the patronage culture, promising favours in exchange for votes and the party infighting. We should thoroughly examine our electoral system to determine if it is effectively electing the right people based on their abilities and their commitment to serving the country.

Established as a joint venture between Melita and Smart Technologies, Smart Cloud was created to provide Maltese businesses with access to enterprise-grade cloud services hosted within the European Union, addressing the growing importance of data sovereignty for Maltese organisations, while benefiting from local expertise and support.

Over the past five years, Smart Cloud has grown into a trusted provider of cloud infrastructure and managed services. It now supports organisations across multiple sectors with solutions designed to meet evolving operational and regulatory requirements.

Today, the platform is trusted with more than three petabytes of active client data and operates from two geographically diverse data centres. This ensures high levels of resilience, redundancy and business continuity. Smart Cloud’s infrastructure is connected through two separate 10 Gbps internet routes and offers seamless integration with major hyperscale cloud providers through a single management dashboard.

Harald Roesch, CEO of Melita, said: “This milestone is as much about our clients as it is about Smart Cloud. The platform was founded with a clear objective: to provide businesses with secure, flexible and reliable cloud services backed by local expertise. Five years on, it has become an important part of Malta’s digital ecosystem, and the event at MICAS was a fitting opportunity to thank the organisations that have placed their trust in us.”

Joseph Aquilina, CEO of Smart Technologies, said: “What makes Smart Cloud particularly special is that it was created by two Maltese technology companies that recognised a gap in the market and shared a common ambition to address it. Over the past five years, we have seen cloud computing evolve from being a technology decision to becoming a business-critical enabler of innovation, resilience and growth. Hosting this event at MICAS, a symbol of Maltese ambition and innovation, felt like the right way to mark the occasion and thank our clients for their continued support.”

Throughout the past five years, security, compliance and data sovereignty have remained central to Smart Cloud’s development. The platform operates from ISO 27001 certified facilities and maintains rigorous operational standards designed to protect customer data and ensure service continuity.

The approach taken by the joint venture reflects changing trends within the cloud market, with businesses increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Smart Cloud enables customers to integrate and manage multiple cloud environments through a single interface, providing greater flexibility while simplifying administration.

The agreement was signed during a press event held at the Planetarium Hall at Esplora, followed by the official opening of the AMARE-MED 2026 Summer School, an Advanced School on Multispecies Modelling Approaches for Ecosystem-Based Marine Resource Management in the Mediterranean Sea, which is being hosted in Malta for its 2026 edition.

The MoU builds on an already established partnership between the two organisations through several European and Mediterranean initiatives, including JPI Oceans, the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation and Higher Education, BlueMissionMed, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, the ONE Water Alliance and Horizon Europe activities.

Minister for Justice, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima described the agreement as an important milestone in strengthening scientific ties between Malta and Italy. “I am pleased that this occasion centres on international scientific collaboration. It demonstrates how strong partnerships can create tangible opportunities for researchers, institutions and society alike”, said Minister Grima. 

He also stated that, “This partnership is closely aligned with Malta’s National Research and Innovation Strategic Plan, which places strong emphasis on research excellence, internationalisation, talent development and the strengthening of our national research and innovation ecosystem. It also contributes directly to the ambitions outlined in Malta Vision 2050, where knowledge, innovation and human capital are recognised as essential drivers of long-term prosperity, resilience and sustainability”.

In his introductory speech Prof. Nicola Casagli, President of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografiae di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS) said, “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Xjenza Malta marks an important step in strengthening scientific cooperation across the Mediterranean. Through this partnership, OGS and Xjenza Malta will promote joint research, capacity building, access to research infrastructures, and the development of new opportunities within European and international programmes. Together, we are investing in knowledge, innovation, and the sustainable future of our shared sea.”

In his opening speech, Xjenza Malta CEO Silvio Scerri explained how the agreement formalises a relationship that has already delivered significant value through shared projects and common objectives. “International cooperation is essential to scientific excellence. This partnership strengthens research capacity, broadens access to expertise and infrastructure, and creates new opportunities for participation in European and international programmes,” he remarked.

Dr Maria Azzopardi, Director of Xjenza Malta’s Internationalisation Unit, highlighted the importance of investing in researchers and fostering international networks. “At Xjenza Malta, we strongly believe that investing in people is one of the most important investments we can make. Supporting researchers, particularly those at the early stages of their careers, is essential if we are to build the expertise, skills and leadership that will drive future scientific and technological advances”.

Bank of Valletta has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering high-quality insurance and pension solutions for customers through its ongoing collaboration with Mapfre Msv Life, following a visit to Madrid for high-performing representatives from across the Bank’s distribution network.

The short visit brought together representatives from BOV’s Investment Centres, Personal Banking Channels, Business Development and Customer Value, and Private Banking teams. The initiative recognised strong performance in Insurance Services and Pensions during 2025, while also giving participants direct exposure to one of the Group’s leading international operations.

During the programme, participants visited Mapfre’s head office in Majadahonda, where they met senior management and gained first-hand insight into the company’s business model, life insurance strategy and investment management operations. The visit also gave them the opportunity to broaden their product knowledge, understand Mapfre’s approach to customer service, and exchange ideas with colleagues and experts from across the Group.

Beyond recognising individual and team achievement, the visit highlighted the value of continuous professional development in helping BOV representatives strengthen their understanding of the solutions offered to customers in Malta. It also reinforced the Bank’s commitment to investing in the expertise needed to provide customers with informed guidance across insurance, protection and long-term financial planning.

Alex Bezzina, Head of Insurance Services and Pensions Office at the Bank, accompanied the group. Commenting on the trip, he noted that, “This initiative recognised the strong contribution of our teams while also giving them valuable exposure to Mapfre’s wider expertise and operations. Opportunities like this strengthen knowledge, encourage the sharing of ideas and help us continue supporting customers with greater confidence and insight when it comes to insurance and pension solutions.”

BOV remains committed to working closely with Mapfre Msv Life to build on this partnership and continue enhancing the quality of service and solutions available to customers seeking protection, savings and retirement planning options.

After years of nothing much to celebrate since Trump took over, the US is rekindling its joy as a result of two momentous sporting events.

First, the New York Knicks won the NBA for the first time in 53 years and, understandably, the city went with wild with excitement. Grown men broke down in tears, and everyone, from adults to little kids, was jumping up and down in pure, unadulterated happiness. The vibe was infectious and even for someone like me who does not know much about basketball, watching those reels brings a smile to my face each time. There is something about watching passionate sports fans celebrate a win which is hard to beat.

On Thursday, New Yorkers all turned out for the massive celebration parade with Alicia Keys belting out her iconic anthem “Empire State of Mind” and everyone singing along to the famous lyrics, including the Mayor of New York himself. The best thing to watch were the Knicks’ smallest fans, the kids, who are so lucky to have experienced this in their lifetime. Children need heroes and it is indescribably touching to see them being so ecstatically happy and cheering for their favourite players.

The second event is, of course, the FIFA World Cup. As football fans from all over the world descended en masse on to the United States, sporting their team colours and inimitable football chants, Americans have embraced them wholeheartedly and the feeling seems to be mutual. The Scots have basically taken over Boston with their “Super John McGinn” and “No Scotland, no party” chants and the song which they have made their own “Freed from Desire”. Meanwhile, the Dutch, dressed in a sea of orange have their own pre-game traditions and chants as they move in unison from left to right. Obviously, there are so many other nations with their football rituals but these two in particular seem to be all over my feed; it’s simply impossible to watch these scenes without feeling happy. With so much depressing news all the time, for once the stories were uplifting and positive.

We definitely need some more happiness in this world and it’s a relief to see sports unifying different cultures when so many other forces are determined to try and tear us apart. Of course, this comes with a caveat: nations competing against each other can break down divisive barriers but only as long as order is maintained. When hooligans spoil it all as they did in Paris when Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League and yet hundreds of supporters rioted anyway, that speaks of an underlying unrest and a phenomenon which is inexplicable to me.

This week we also witnessed people of different political ideologies coming together with mutual respect during the inauguration of the Obama Presidential Centre. The image of four former Presidents, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton standing along side each other, so dignified and poised, represented something which has been sorely lacking in American politics for the last few years: decorum. The presidential office deserves gravitas and these men, together with their wives who were an essential driving force behind their careers, showed the American people, and the world, that it is possible to not agree on many issues and still behave with grace.

We should not under-estimate the strong symbolism of seeing leaders who behave appropriately and respectfully; the very fact that we even have to draw attention to it signals just how much we have veered away from proper conduct. It is so easy to fall into a nonchalant way of doing things, where rules are there to be broken, ethics fly out the window and laws are simply something scribbled on a worthless piece of paper – an attitude which we unfortunately live with every day of our lives here in Malta.

On the local front

Meanwhile, speaking of proper conduct why do prominent figures linked to the Labour Party insist on trying to discredit Alex Borg and Sarah Bajada? One would think that after a fourth electoral victory, they would be happy with the outcome and continue to live their lives. And yet, I keep reading posts which make me wonder if the aim is simply to topple the PN leader because they are afraid of him since he is the only real threat to Labour. I doubt they would exert so much energy on someone who is not a serious rival. It is all so unnecessary and when you drag personal issues into the mix, it becomes an unkind and cruel approach which the electorate on the whole has rejected. Let’s not forget that this is a tactic which the PN has often tried to use in the past and which has always backfired miserably.

Government ban vs parental responsibility

This week the UK Prime Minister announced that social media would be banned for those aged under 16s. Inevitably this led to two questions: how will it be enforced and is it really the Government which should be dictating what children have access to?

The first question is still being debated especially since Australia imposed this ban 6 months ago and the jury is still out as to whether it is working or whether those under 16 have simply found a loophole to get around it.

The second question is more problematic. Ideally, of course, it is parents who should be taking the reins by controlling and supervising their children’s online access. After all, they are the adults and that is the role of a parent until the children reach 18: to keep them safe, teach them right from wrong, and guide them to make the right choices. I find myself writing this and wondering, do these duties and obligations really need to be stated? Shouldn’t it be obvious that when you bring a tiny, defenceless baby into the world it is you, the parent, who has to be their guardian and guiding light as they grow up and make their way into the great unknown?

Well, sometimes I guess what is obvious for one person is not so obvious for the other. We can see the fallout all around us of adolescents who have not had the fortune of being born into a family where people care enough about their wellbeing to enforce discipline and rules. It is because of these types of parents who abdicate their responsibility that sometimes the Nanny state has to step in and do their job for them.

The British government took this draconian step after considerable pressure from the majority of parents themselves. The social media platforms include TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X. YouTube Kids however is exempt from the ban as is What’s App. It remains to be seen whether this ban will have the desired result and give parents more peace of mind about what their children are being exposed to. Perhaps it could also encourage this generation of parents to be ‘braver’ and realise that it never killed anyone to be told “no, you can’t have that.”