Listed in order of appearance as in agenda
Marina Grech
Marina Grech is a Partner within Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice. She advises clients on regulatory and corporate matters relating to investment services, asset management and investment funds, including AIFMs, UCITS management companies, brokers, AIFs, venture capital, real estate and private equity funds. Marina also assists authorised entities with ongoing regulatory compliance, governance, risk and compliance frameworks, internal controls and reporting structures. Her practice includes corporate restructurings, entity establishment and operational matters. Marina holds an LL.M in Banking & Finance and a Diploma in Taxation.
Gavin Ryan
Gavin Nicholas Ryan is private equity and venture capital expert. He is the Lead Trainer of the Malta Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s annual flagship course. He is also the author of the 2026 PEVCA Malta Private Equity State of Play Report. His firm Wider Europe Capital Management focuses on private equity and SME finance in emerging markets, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Gavin has managed various funds, including a €2.5bn green energy fund, a $200 million private equity growth fund for Soros Investment Management and a $30 Advent International million venture fund. He has provided advisory services for multiple multilateral institutions, enhancing their investment strategies and capacity building efforts. Gavin is Italo-English and grew up in Lombardy. He has a Masters in Engineering from Cambridge University and an MBA from McGill University.
Albert Alsina
Albert Alsina has more than three decades of international experience in multinational settings where he held several General Management executive positions at global and European levels in the USA, UK, Brazil, Germany, Zimbabwe, Spain and Malta. He has also held Board positions in many African, Asian and South American companies. In 2013, Albert founded Mediterrania Capital Partners Ltd, which today manages MC II, MC III and MC IV funds. Nowadays Albert is Chairman of all Mediterrania’s Investment Committees and a Board member of several portfolio companies of the three funds. Albert is an Associate Professor at the EADA Business School in Barcelona and currently sits on the Board of Directors of AVCA (African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association). Albert is an AMP graduate from Harvard Business School (USA). He also completed the GLP from Wharton (USA) and PADE from the IESE Business School (Spain) and holds master’s degrees from Fulda Fachoschule (Germany) and Université de Poitiers (France) as well as a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Barcelona (Spain). Albert is the author of the book “Value Creation in Private Equity” published in 2020 as well as several white papers and press articles. Albert is fluent in English, French, German and Portuguese, as well as in Catalan and Spanish.
Mark Watkinson
Mark Watkinson is a portfolio non-executive director with a strong interest in financial services, technology, start-ups, corporate governance and Africa. He is currently the chair of a Malta listed public company and the chair of a Malta private business and advisor to a new fund that is in the process of being established with a focus on Education Technology. Mark has 30+ years' experience as an international CEO and director in financial services. Worked and managed businesses in eleven countries.
Przemyslaw Koger
Przemyslaw joined Alter Domus in November 2013 after a solid career at PwC London. He has nearly 20 years of experience in financial services and sits on board of Alter Domus regulated entities both in Malta and Luxembourg. He is an approved person by the Malta Financial Services Authority and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Furthermore he sits on the boards of asset holding and other companies for a range of Private Equity and Real Asset clients. Prior to joining Alter Domus, Przemyslaw was part of the asset management assurance practice of PwC where he managed audits of an extensive portfolio of private equity and real estate clients as well as traditional asset managers. He has significant and diverse experience in the financial services sector and during his career was involved in controls assurance work, new fund launches, valuations of unlisted investments and review of incentive schemes. Przemyslaw also has strong technical knowledge of IFRS, UK GAAP, GAPSME and regulatory framework in Malta, Luxembourg and the UK. Przemyslaw qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC and has a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors in the UK and hold a STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) diploma.
Domenic Azzopardi
A qualified ACCA accountant with extensive experience in financial services, currently serving as Associate Client Director and Head of Fund Services at Alter Domus. Since joining the firm in 2011, Domenic has taken on several key regulatory mandates, including Director mandates, Compliance Officer, and MLRO. Domenic also holds a Banking Certificate from the Institute of Financial Services, combining technical expertise with strong leadership in client management, compliance, and fund services. With over a decade of experience, Domenic has developed a deep understanding of complex fund structures and regulatory frameworks, enabling him to provide strategic guidance to clients while ensuring the highest standards of governance. Domenics’s role involves leading teams, fostering client relationships, and driving operational excellence across fund administration and compliance functions.
Tomáš Hanáček
Tomáš Hanáček, Chief Business Development Officer, AccoladeBefore joining Accolade in 2018, Tomáš Hanáček spent nearly two decades gaining experience in banking, strategic investments, and fintech projects. Today, he heads the group's Business Development team. He focuses on relationships with investors and business partners, developing investment opportunities in industrial real estate within the Accolade Funds platform, and capital raising.
Geza Szephalmi
Dr. Geza Szephalmi is a real estate and Private Equity investment professional who graduated at the ELTE Law School (Budapest), and obtained a postgraduate degree at Bristol University (International Business Transactions). He is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of VBL plc. (listed on the Malta Stock Exchange Market). Other current and previous positions of his include Managing Director of PineBridge Investments (USD 63 bn assets under management), Vice Chairman of the International Energy Charter (Brussels), member of the OECD Advisory Board, Chairman of the Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and board member of several international enterprises, listed on the London, Warsaw, Budapest and Malta Stock Exchanges.
Ryan Zahra
Ryan has worked in financial services since graduating with a B.Com (Hons) Banking & Finance degree from the University of Malta in 2009, with a focus on asset management for the past 10 years. He currently sits on the Investment Committee and is directly involved on a daily basis in the fund management function at AUM Asset Management Ltd, an MFSA-licensed AIF Manager with a focus on alternative investments.
Olivier Nolens
Olivier Nolens is a Director in the US Business Tax Services group based in London and has been practising US tax law for the last 20 years. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.Olivier has over 25 years of tax experience, of which 5 years advising clients on Belgian and European tax matters, and has prior to joining the US Business Tax Services Group at Deloitte worked in accounting and US-based law firms.Olivier has advised various multinational corporations and sovereign wealth funds on cross-border finance restructurings, and acquisitions, mergers, divestments in a US domestic, US outbound and US inbound context, as well as various US based real estate investment trusts and private equity funds on various types of US domestic, inbound and outbound investments. Olivier has assisted various US entities with the public listing or private placement of their equity interests or debt instruments. He specialises in providing tax structuring and due diligence services on corporate and private equity transactions.
Michael Bianchi
With well over 15 years of working experience, Michael is specialised in Investment Management Services working within Deloitte's Financial Services Practice. During this time Michael worked for two years with Deloitte in London, managing a number of multi-national companies in the Insurance and Investments Management Practice prior to returning to Deloitte Malta in 2009. Michael services a broad client base both locally and internationally and is responsible for the statutory and non-statutory audits of a number of clients, including Collective Investment Schemes, Investment Management Companies and Fund Administrators as well as other regulated and non-regulated entities. Michael coordinates various international engagements where he has developed numerous connections within the Deloitte Network. Michael also Chaired the FSI sub-Committee at the Malta Institute of Accountants for two years and is now Chairing the Sustainable Finance sub-Committee at the Institute. Michael is also the Firm’s Sustainability Leader. Michael is conversant with the technical accounting and reporting requirements for a wide-range of financial instruments and derivative products under IFRS. Michael has a good understanding and appreciation of Information Technology (IT). Michael was appointed to the position of Audit & Assurance Business Leader at Deloitte Malta, with effect from 1 October 2024.
Daniele Beranrdi
Daniele Bernardi is the founder and CEO of Diaman Partners, a Malta-based asset management company authorised by the MFSA and focused on quantitative investment strategies and digital assets. An automotive engineer by training — he spent seven years designing motorcycles at Aprilia before moving into finance in 1999 — he founded the Diaman Group in 2002 to bring systematic, model-driven investing to the Italian market. Under his leadership, Diaman Partners launched the first Malta-domiciled AIF investing in crypto assets and the first UCITS fund giving retail investors exposure to crypto-related securities. He is the author of academic papers including the Diaman Ratio and the Return Parity approach, chairman of DIAMAN Tech, and a recognised inventor at the European Patent Office for two patents in mobile payments.
Anabel Mifsud
Luca Celati
Luca Celati is a Director at Heka Funds Sicav PLC, a Scheme that manages six crypto funds. Most of his career has been in Risk Management. Prior to moving to the buy side as a co-Founder of Abraxas Capital Management in London in 2002, he was ran Risk Management for 3 years in the debt division of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in London. Previously, he was a Proprietary Trader for 8 years at Bankers Trust Company in London and New York. He is a pioneer in Credit Derivatives. He also the author of The Dark Side Of Risk Management (FT-Prentice Hall, 2004)
Mark Caruana Scicluna
Mark Caruana Scicluna is a Senior Associate within Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice. He advises on the structuring, licensing and ongoing servicing of investment funds, asset managers, custodians and investment firms. Mark has developed particular expertise in the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), advising on the authorisation of crypto-asset service providers and token issuers, as well as regulatory matters affecting established CASPs. He regularly speaks at local and international conferences and has delivered lectures on financial services regulation at various leading institutions, including the University of Malta and the MFSA.
André Zerafa
André Zerafa co-leads Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice and advises promoters on corporate, regulatory and legal matters relating to asset management, investment funds and related service providers. He specialises in structuring alternative investment funds across diverse strategies and has contributed to various Maltese legislative initiatives. André also leads the firm’s sustainable finance practice and has completed a Sustainable Finance programme at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He chairs the Wealth/Asset Management Pillar within MFSAC and serves on the IFSP Council. He is an ACAMS Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.
Christopher P. Buttigieg
John McIlwaine
John McIlwaine is the Senior Regional Representative of the European Investment Fund for Italy, Croatia & Malta, supporting institutional representation, stakeholder relationships, fundraising and engagement with EIF’s financial intermediaries. John has held various positions at EIB Group since 2004 including advising the Chief Investment Officer, leading a team of over 40 transactions lawyers and chairing the EIF Investment & Risk Committee. Prior to joining the EIB Group, John was a lawyer with Linklaters, first in their London office and then in New York, Budapest and Bratislava. John holds a law degree from Aberdeen University and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University.
Stephanie Farrugia
Stephanie Farrugia is a Lead Senior Associate within Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice. She advises clients on the establishment and licensing of investment services providers, UCITS funds and professional investor funds, as well as related regulatory and corporate matters. Stephanie’s experience also includes company law, corporate projects, financing transactions and related security arrangements. Having completed her traineeship at Ganado across the Investment Services & Funds, Corporate, and Banking & Finance practices, she brings a broad understanding of the legal and regulatory considerations relevant to financial services businesses.
Matteo Michele Musi
Matteo joined the Tax business at Deloitte Malta in 2023, where he is Transfer Pricing leader. Matteo brings with him over 20 years’ experience in advising multinational enterprises, private equity firms and corporate clients on transfer pricing analysis and planning, business restructuring and value chain transformation (principal model), as well as Advance Pricing Agreement (APA), Arbitration Convention Procedure (AC) and Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) negotiations. Matteo has vast experience in cross-border tax matters, corporate reorganisation, tax due diligence and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This includes a relevant amount of structuring deal related services for corporates and private equity firms. Matheo has considerable expertise serving both corporate and private equity client in the following industries: Technology, Gaming, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Automotive, Fashion & Luxury, and Renewable Energy. Past projects include (but are not limited to): Transfer pricing policy design; value chain transformation; transfer pricing audit and negotiation assistance (enquiry and investigation); permanent establishment analysis and risk management; APA and MAP procedure; debt to equity structure analysis; principal model; IP Principal model, and treasury location study. Matteo has been a member of the leadership team since June 2024.
Chris Borg
Chris heads Deloitte Malta’s Indirect Tax service line, leading a team of dedicated professionals providing a wide range of indirect tax advisory and compliance services to Deloitte’s local and international clients. Chris is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience and deep expertise in indirect tax matters. His experience spans various industries, in particular eCommerce (especially iGaming and online betting), energy, financial services, luxury assets, real estate and telecommunications. He graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy with first class honours from the University of Malta, and in 2014 he attained the UK Institute of Directors’ diploma in company direction. He is fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants and of the Malta Institute of Taxation, and member of the Malta Institute of Financial Services Practitioners. Chris is also a lecturer and examiner in VAT and Tax, including acting as examiner for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and as moderator of the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) offered by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). Furthermore, as chairperson of the Malta Institute of Taxation's indirect tax technical committee, he acts as alternate representative on the European Commission's VAT Expert Group and as representative on the Indirect Taxes Sub-Committee of CFE Tax Advisers Europe.
Christopher Bergedahl
Christopher is a partner within Deloitte Malta's Tax business where he specialises in working with multinational clients providing support on financing, IP and value chain alignment projects. More recently, he has been involved in supporting Malta-based clients impacted by the global minimum taxation framework. Christopher joined Deloitte Malta in 2014, having enrolled in the Deloitte Pathway Programme. In 2017, he graduated summa cum laude from the International Tax Centre Leiden, following which he worked as a Teaching Assistance for the Fall Term of the 2017-18 class. He currently serves as chairperson of the Malta Institute of Taxation’s International Tax Sub-committee and Treasurer of the Malta Golf Association. Christopher has been a member of the leadership team at Deloitte Malta since June 2024.
Robert Taylor East
Robert Taylor-East is a Partner within Ganado Advocates’ Corporate Finance & Tax practice. He advises clients on a broad range of corporate and tax matters, drawing on extensive experience gained both in private practice and within the tax and corporate services department of a leading Big Four firm in Malta. His experience spans a diverse range of clients, structures and transactions. Robert also lectures on the Maltese fiscal aspects of trusts and foundations as a visiting lecturer on the Diploma in Taxation at the Malta Institute of Taxation.
David Borg Carabott
David Borg-Carbott is Of Counsel within Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice, where he advises investment firms, asset managers, investment funds and their service providers. He has extensive experience advising on complex legal structures, transactions and regulatory matters, including redomiciliations, mergers, custody and settlement. David also advises clients on financial services regulatory and compliance matters, including regulatory authorisations, the establishment and licensing of investment services businesses and funds, and the regulatory aspects of corporate acquisitions within the financial services sector.
James Farrugia
James Farrugia co-leads Ganado Advocates’ Investment Services & Funds practice, with a focus on asset management, investment services, investment funds and fintech. He advises clients on regulatory matters, providing practical and commercially focused solutions to complex regulatory challenges. James has extensive experience advising blockchain-based projects and businesses operating at the intersection of financial services and technology. He regularly contributes to international legal and industry publications and has spoken at local and international conferences on developments across the investment services, funds and fintech sectors.
