07:45 |
Registration & Welcome Coffee |
08:30 |
Welcome Address
Ms Maria Cauchi Delia, MIA CEO
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08:35 |
Address
Mr William Spiteri Bailey, MIA President
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08:40 |
Keynote Speech - Harnessing Technology from Startup to Success
Dr Adrian Attard Trevisan, CEO, Umana Medical Technologies
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09:25 |
The Taxation of the Digital Economy
and, more broadly on the possible consequences of these debates on companies
Dr Giorgia Maffini, Special Advisor and Transfer Pricing Senior Manager, PwC London
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10:00 |
Keynote Speech
Dr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister
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10:10 |
Speech
Dr Adrian Delia, Opposition Leader |
10:15 |
Speech
Mr Silvio Schembri, Hon. Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation
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10:20 |
The role, purposes and duty of MDIA and new legislations
Mr Stephen McCarthy, CEO, Malta Digital Innovation Authority
What is the purpose and duty of the MDIA and the new legislation? This talk will explore the role that MDIA will take with respect to Innovative Technology Arrangements and how it will interact with other competent authorities such as MFSA and MGA, with particular reference to Virtual Financial Assets and Gaming applications that use a Distributed Ledger Technology. It will also explain the requirements and scope of both a Systems Auditor and that of a Technical Administrator
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10:50 |
Refreshment Break |
11:10 |
Ethical Hacking
Mr Martijn Sprengers, Information Security Advisor, Cyber, KPMG Netherlands
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11:20 |
The Reality of Cyber Risks: Risks in the Financial Services Sector - Panel Discussion + Live Survey
Panel Members:
- Ms Rosemary Amato, Risk Advisory Director, Deloitte Malta - Moderator
- Dr Olga Finkell, Partner, WH Partners
- Mr Martijn Sprengers, Information Security Advisor, Cyber, KPMG Netherlands
- Inspector Timothy Zammit, Cyber Crime Unit, Police Department
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12:20 |
The Impact of Technology on the Profession - Part 1: Technology Barometer Report
Dr Laura Buijs, Senior Manager Communications, Accountancy Europe |
12:35 |
The Impact of Technology on the Profession - Part 2: Panel Discussion + Live Survey
Panel Members:
- Dr Laura Buijs, Senior Manager Communications, Accountancy Europe - Moderator
- Mr Richard Anning, Head of IT Faculty, ICAEW
- Dr Peter J. Baldacchino, Head of Department of Accountancy, University of Malta
- Mr Gordon Micallef, Partner, RSM
- Mr Bernard Scicluna, National Professional Practice Director, Deloitte & MIA Audit & Assurance Committee Member
- Mr Narayanan Vaidyanathan, Head of Business Insights, ACCA
This session will present the findings of the Technology Barometer (2n edition), followed by a panel discussion complemented by a live survey. Accountancy Europe use this survey to learn how Member organisations deal with digitalisation and share best practices. |
13:10 |
Networking Lunch |
14:10 |
Breakout Session #1: Cloud Adoption by Financial Institutions
- Mr Michael Azzopardi, Senior Manager IT Advisory Services, Ernst & Young & MIA Digital Committee Member
- Prof. Alexiei Dingli, Head of Department, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology, University of Malta
Financial Services organisations have been more conservative in the adoption of cloud than companies in other sectors. This is primarily driven by the regulatory compliance and security requirements they have to meet. This session will explore the trends of cloud adoption in financial services, from a vendor independent perspective. Prior to joining EY, Mr Michael Azzopardi has worked in FSI for more than 17 years and had recently led the architecture strategy development of cloud adoption for a large multinational bank. Prof. Alexiei Dingli heads the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Malta. In this presentation they will present the different perspectives of Cloud Adoption in Financial Institutions, looking at the benefits, challenges and opportunities.
Breakout Session #2: The Professional Accountant's Guide to Distributed Ledgers and Blockchain
- Mr Narayanan Vaidyanathan, Head of Business Insights, ACCA
In recent years blockchain has become a much discussed technology that has captured the attention of organisations and regulators alike. As an eco-system technology, it offers the promise of revolutionising not just individual companies, but entire industries and supply chains. So what exactly is blockchain and why should professionals care about it? Join us for an engaging session that provides an introduction to this exciting and much discussed topic.
Breakout Session #3: Virtual and Augmented Reality in Business
- Mr Allan Kekenbosch, Digital Marketing Officer, PwC Belgium
- Mr Gregory Renier, Online Communications Manager, PwC Belgium
Virtual reality is not a dream anymore! It’s reality! Mr Allan Kekenbosch and Mr Gregory Renier will show you what the possibilities of virtual and augmented reality are by showing you some real use cases from within the Belgian PwC firm. They will give you the basics of the technologies and will guide you through a journey from start to end on how to get a working product. In this breakout you will see the power of these technologies and get the first hints on how to start by yourself.
Breakout Session #4: Data & Analytics
- Mr Jeroen Vlek, Director Digital Assurance & Innovation, KPMG Netherlands
Emerging technologies are disrupting many business models, including the audit and assurance industry. Much is spoken on the possible future impact of data & analytics, but what are the disruptors that are here, right now, that will change the way we work not in the distant future, but when we get into the office today? Disruption is a wave, whether we are overcome by it or surf it is up to us. In this session you will experience the data & analytics as well as other audit innovation game changers of today and learn about the impact on stakeholders and our workforce.
Breakout Session #5: The Ethical Impact of AI, Big Data, Cloud, IoT
- Mr Richard Anning, Head of IT Faculty, ICAEW
Greater use of big data, algorithmic decision-making and artificial intelligence can enable more consistent, evidence-based and accurate judgments or decisions, often more quickly and efficiently. However, these strengths can potentially have a darker side too. ICAEW is undertaking a wide range of work across the theme of ethics and new technologies, considering the impact on the accountancy code of ethics, businesses, audit and other areas of accountancy practice. This session outlines latest findings, and the implications for the code.
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15:10 |
Refreshment Break |
15:30 |
Addressing the Digital Skills Gap
Ms Claudine Cassar, Technology and Digital Leader, Director, Deloitte & MIA Digital Committee Chairperson
Artificial Intelligence is maturing rapidly and will have a very significant impact on all the professions. Accounting, reporting and auditing processes will have to evolve to adapt to the digital age, making it critical for professional accountants to understand how these new IT tools work. This should not be perceived as a threat, but instead as an opportunity for accountants to offer their clients even better value by learning how to harness the power of technology.
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16:00 |
Regulatory and practical aspects of Distributed Ledger Technology
DLT Overview by Dr Max Ganado, Senior Partner, GANADO Advocates
Panel Members:
- Dr Ramona Azzopardi, Partner, WH Partners - Moderator
- Dr Joseph Borg, Partner, WH Partners
- Mr Kenneth Farrugia, Head of Business Development, BOV
- Dr Max Ganado, Senior Partner, GANADO Advocates
- Dr Wayne Pisani, President of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners (IFSP) Partner, Grant Thornton
- Dr Gerd Sapiano, Analyst, Securities and Markets Supervision, MFSA
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a database that is consensually shared and synchronized across network spread across multiple sites, countries, or institutions. It allows transactions to have public ""witnesses,"" thereby making a cyberattack more difficult. The participant at each node of the network can access the recordings shared across that network and can own an identical copy of it. Further, any changes or additions made to the ledger are reflected and copied to all participants in a matter of seconds or minutes. With this technology users do not have to trust anyone else to ensure validity and accuracy, thus DLTs are often called trustless technologies. DLT is a new disruptive phenomenon in the technology arena. The hype around its potential as a disrupter has been intense and the Maltese Government has been at the forefront in resolving and establishing frameworks to address DLT regulatory and taxation complexities. |
16:50 |
Tax matters in relation to Initial Coin Offerings (ICO's), Cryptocurrency and services related thereto
Panel Members:
- Dr Ramona Azzopardi, Partner, WH Partners - Moderator
- Dr Chris Borg, Indirect Tax Principal, Deloitte & MIA Indirect Tax Committee Member
- Ms Geraldine Schembri, Managing Director, EMCS International
- Mr Matthew Zampa, Indirect Taxation Partner, Zampa Debattista & MIA Indirect Tax Committee Member
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17:30 |
Closing Remarks
Mr Fabio Axisa, MIA Vice-President |