GGI Conference Review
GGI European Regional Conference, Malta, 18-21 April 2024
Participants returned home from Malta with lots of fond memories of another wonderful GGI European Regional Conference. Members from host firm DAL Advisory demonstrated true Maltese hospitality, not only during the dinner, which was hosted at their office premises Blackleys, but also during the many sessions in which members could interact and exchange best practices with one another.
The conference was once again a splendid mixture of business and networking, embedded in a supportive surrounding with a cheerful atmosphere, delicious food, and the wonders that beautiful Malta had to offer to the many delegates who flew in from all over the world.
The hotel, the Westin Dragonara Resort in St Julian's, was a good base for plenary sessions and Expert Group meetings, as well as for the various social events and tours which were organised.
Prior to the start of the conference, on Wednesday 17 April, some early arrivals enjoyed a walking tour at sunset in the silent city of Mdina. It was fabulous to meet again and to spend the evening in this fortified former capital city of Malta, with its beautiful typical houses and gorgeous view over the valley. There was a very special surprise, where the cathedral doors opened just as the group neared, and a couple of choir girls chose two members to lead into the church. Here, there was a surprise concert by a soprano - so immensely beautifull. The evening ended with a delicious dinner in a local restaurant – what a relaxed atmosphere.
Another social tour was organised on Thursday, when some participants could visit Valletta, the capital city of Malta, whilst the GGI Executive Committee had their in-person meeting in the hotel.
In the afternoon, a well-attended session of the GGI International Taxation Practice Group (ITPG) featured quite a number of presentations and contributions from members from various countries. At the Understanding GGI workshop, new members and candidate firms could learn more about the many tools and resources that GGI offers, and about the best ways to leverage the membership. The Thursday afternoon also featured a cocktail reception for the Women of GGI, before the conference kicked off officially with the Welcome Reception and Dinner in the hotel's Dragonara Ballroom. The evening officially began with a very warm and personal video message from Dr Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, welcoming all GGI delegates to Malta, reminding everyone to vote in the next European elections this summer, and wishing everyone a great conference. Of course, there was also the introduction of all attending new members and candidates by GGI Global CEO Michael Reiss von Filski.
The Friday programme featured both social activities (like a cooking class at the Mediterranean Cooking Academy for accompanying persons, during which they prepared a “Mezze Feast” – excellent experiences to be reproduced at home) and the main GGI plenary session. After welcome words delivered by Claudio G. Cocca, GGI Founder and Chairman, and by Dr Robert D’Alessandro from the host firm DAL Advisory, we had some fabulous keynotes. Firstly, Prof Moray McLaren and Prof Mari Cruz Taboada talked about being “Fit for the future? The keys to building more powerful and profitable clients relations”, which provided much food for thought, and managed to fascinate and engage the audience. After a short break, Prof Dr Stefan Gerlach, Chief Economist at EFG Bank, delivered a very informative speech, reviewing the causes of the surge of inflation that the world economy has experienced since 2021. He examined in his speech why central banks failed to predict it and to take timely action to prevent or mitigate it. Participants got to know what policy choices were open to central banks and what the outlook for monetary policy is in the current junction. Following this presentation, Michael Reiss von Filski led an insightful and engaging panel discussion with all three keynote speakers.
The afternoon programme featured interactive Expert Group sessions, useful occasions for members to benefit from a vivid exchange of professional best practices, updates and trends from fellow GGI experts.
After a day packed with technical content and sessions, Dr Robert D’Alessandro and his team from DAL Advisory, hosted a wonderful dinner at Blackleys, serving typical Maltese food and creating a fabulous atmosphere for networking and enjoying the Maltese culture.
The Saturday morning session featured further Expert Group meetings, as well as the GCG M&A Dealmakers Meeting, for GCG and GGI members with an interest in M&A topics. The keynote speaker for the GCG session was Louis de Schorlemer, Managing Partner at Corporate Diplomat, who is a senior advisor in communication for M&A and corporate transformation. His presentation “Stirred, not shaken: about the true impact of M&A on people” focused on the people factor in M&A transactions, providing the audience with an interesting angle from which analysing this important aspect. The presentation was followed by a panel session moderated by Louis de Schorlemer and including Francesca Baldi (Baldi & Partners, Italy), Lee Lloyd (J. Lee Lloyd, LLC, USA) and Tim van der Meer (Marktlink, The Netherlands). The second part of the session featured further presentations by Francesco Mainini (Baldi Finance, Italy), Gary Hisiger (Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, USA), and a review of the latest GCG Technology Sector Report and Industry Insights by Stéphane Aubin (Arcéane, France), David López da Lama (CREA Inversión, Spain) and Marco Izzo (GCG Head Office).
Delegates could enjoy further sightseeing tours in the afternoon to discover Malta’s charms, such as a tour of the Three Cities, which offer edan intriguing look into Malta's maritime fortunes, and visits to Mdina, Rabat and Ta' Qali.
Packed with many information and impressions from these intense days, participants enjoyed a fabulous Gala Dinner at the breath-taking La Valette Hall, a fantastic venue to celebrate the end of yet another successful conference.
