Bitpod

In our fourth bitpod we discuss the topic of Artificial Intelligence with Profs. Matthew Montebello. Profs Montebello is a full professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of ICT, University of Malta. He heads the Agent Technology Research Group at the departmental level, as well as coordinates a number of Interest Groups within the same faculty. During this bitpod, we discuss the status quo, current challenges, misconceptions, and future opportunities created by AI, on a local and global level.

Prof Matthew Montebello is a full professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of ICT, University of Malta. He heads the Agent Technology Research Group at the departmental level, as well as coordinates a number of Interest Groups within the same faculty.

Before joining the University in 1999 with a Ph.D. in Computer Science he was already heavily involved in Education in secondary schools after graduating in 1990 at the University of Malta B.Ed.(Hons) degree. Having obtained extensive teaching experience and having been involved with the introduction of computer labs through the Ministry of Education, he proceeded to follow the Computer Science domain when he pursued his post-graduate studies obtaining a Master's and a Doctorate at the Cardiff University in Wales in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

Furthermore, in 2009 and 2016 he also completed an M.A. and an Ed.D. (Higher Education) specialising in the application of artificial intelligence to e-learning. In 2017 he published a Springer monograph entitled 'AI-injected e-Learning' and was offered a visiting academic status at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he collaborated with the Computer Science department and College of Education on numerous projects and research initiatives.

In May 2018 he was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and published his second Springer monograph entitled 'Ambient Intelligent Classrooms'. In 2019 he was re-appointed head of the department and edited an IGI-Global handbook of research on Digital Learning while also in the process of authoring his third Springer monograph on Digital Learners.

#AI #artificialIntelligence #research #technology #learning #universityofMalta #future #bitpod #malta #podcast #pkfmalta

Maria Formosa, born on the 1st October 1987, raised in Dingli with my parents and older sister.

For the past 7 years, since the first day it was founded, I have been part in building a foundation for motor neuron disease patients by the name of ALS Malta. My husband who is the founder of ALS Malta and an ALS patient himself has come with the idea to help other people on the island affected by this disease, together with a lot of awareness, campaigning and fundraising activities, we have built a home where patients can live and have the necessary care. The first home welcomes 13 residents and has been open for the past 5 years. Throughout these last years the need has unfortunately continued rising and we have therefore continued campaigning and fundraising to build another home. In the coming months the newer and bigger home will be open in which 30 other patients can reside and find adequate care together with other services which offer quality of living.

Currently I take care of my husband needs as his permanent care giver along with others who can fill my time when I am absent. I also campaign, organise events, deliver the adequate equipment to patients, manage accounting and secretarial daily jobs and HR. Being a foundation we have started off as my husband and I covering all roles needed to run the foundation, whilst in the past year we have passed on certain roles to other employees who joined us on board to be able to run smoothly our foundation and the various tasks it entails.

My overall goals are to offer the most adequate quality of life to our patients as well as their relatives, by our full respect and full understanding as we are also going through this journey first-hand. Our aim is to help every person that asks for our help and find solutions to offer them quality of life, all necessary equipment, as well as all the information needed to face this debilitating disease in the most serene way.

My biggest accomplishment has obviously been in delivering these services to our patients and gaining the respect and support of people from all around Malta who has come together and raised enough funds to ultimately open these two homes. In terms of personal accomplishments, I strongly believe that I have learnt a lot on how to be disciplined and

focused in order to arrive to accomplish goals, and also that love, respect and sacrifice can push all boundaries in terms of being there for one another in all circumstances.

On a personal note, last year I have achieved my masters degree in Management, something I have always put aside and almost feared but with dedication I have managed to achieve. In my free time I enjoy the countryside, being able to feel free and close to nature together with my family, grandma, nephews and nieces. I also enjoy a lot training sports as it gives me the energy and positive attitude to face my days.

In our third episode we focus on the work of the Foundation for the Wellbeing of society which is chaired by Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, the Former President of Malta. The Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society aims to create and safe space for dialogue on social wellbeing with a special focus on the importance of children’s participation in our society. The Foundation is backed up by academic research and operates through a consultation process with the children themselves in order to instill the idea of an inclusive, just, equitable and eco-friendly society.

Our speaker, her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca served in politics for 45 years and was a member of Parliament for 16 years. She is a graduate Bachelor in Legal and Humanistic Studies and is a notary public from the University of Malta. Ms Coleiro Preca is also Honorary Professor of the University of Warwick, Honorary Doctor of Laws from University of Leicester (UK), and Honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Malta.

#bitpod #malta #society #wellbeing  #MarieLouiseColeiroPreca #children #podcast #pkfmalta

In this episode, Krystle Penza, a mother, an avid activist for women's empowerment, and co-founder and Managing Director of the Maltese jewelry brand Mvintage, takes us on the journey towards becoming a Successful Female Entrepreneur.

Discover how she's built her company from scratch, while simultaneously raising her daughter... making her jewelry brand one of the most sought-after jewelry designer brands in Malta. Krystle brings along 15 years experience of entrepreneurial flair in fashion brand management, distribution, wholesale, retail, and franchising. She's a force to be reckoned with.

In our seventh bitpod session, we discuss mental health and how to achieve a work-life balance. More specifically, we discuss mental health awareness, stress management, and work-life balance. Our guest speaker is Mr. Matthew Paris, who is a learning and development officer at Richmond Foundation. Richmond Foundation’s mission is to support people experiencing mental health problems and those around them, throughout various aspects of life.

In this episode together with Dr. Claire Azzopardi, who is the deputy dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, we discuss the major ongoing topic of menstrual leave. Currently, in Malta, this topic is being debated on whether such a policy should be implemented. The episode entails a short discussion on the pros and cons of menstrual leave, its impact on the workplace, its different effects depending on how it is implemented if there are any actions that could be taken to reduce the stigma on menstruation, and whether we can learn from any successful countries that implemented such policy of menstrual leave.

Dr. Azzopardi Lane is currently the Head of the Department of Disability Studies, within the University of Malta’s Faculty for Social Wellbeing, of which she is also Deputy Dean. She spent years working as a front-liner in the disability sector, in Malta and abroad, in both the educational and social support fields.

Having read for a Master’s degree focusing on persons with intellectual disabilities with higher support needs, particularly sensory needs, at the University of Manchester, she worked in this field for 16 years putting her education into practice.
Dr. Azzopradi lane then read for her Ph.D. at the University of Kent’s Tizard Centre, looking more closely at the lived experiences of young persons with intellectual disabilities in Malta, focusing on their sexual well-being and family lives, in terms of what are now Articles 23 and 25 of the UNCRPD.
Dr. Azzopardi Lane’s research and follow-up work has since been presented not only in Malta, but also elsewhere, from Europe to Asia, the United States, and Canada, and including at the last Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the UNCRPD. She also authored a number of book chapters, and publishes regularly in key international journals, acting as a peer reviewer for such journals too.

In today’s bitpod we discuss Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), which has been making rounds in the global business environment. For this bitpod podcast we are joined by Jannico Cabanero, an Economist, who discusses ESG and its importance to businesses and investors, current trends, and regulations, and finally, what can enterprises and the government do to promote ESG integration in the Maltese market environment.

#bitpod #podcast #malta #ESG #CSR #environment #social #corporategovernance #pkfmalta

PKF Malta’s advisory team is proud to present you with the first of a series of bitpod podcasts concerning Malta’s social and economic realities. In this episode we provide you with the basic definitions, moving on to an analysis of the current status quo of Malta’s public finances. In addition, we take a look at how our public finances are fairing in terms of projections and challenges that lie ahead, particularly in the context of post-Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Hello大家好，我是马耳他PKF公司的亚洲商务代表，借此机会代表马耳他PKF 公司祝大家在新的一年身体健康，万事如意，也谢谢大家这些年来一如既往的支持和信任。

2020年11月20号马耳他官方正式发布的2020年第437号法律公告，《杰出者投资入籍政策》此项政策将取代2014年推出的《马耳他个人投资者计划》在新的政策下，还是有几点变化，今天就跟大家分享一下几点主要的变化：

1. 设立新的办理审核机构(Community Malta Agency) | 负责管理和处理所有马耳他公民身份相关事宜。新机构将会对申请人进行严格的尽职调查，授予其公民身份以及在得到公民身份后的5年中对其行进监察。

2. 放宽子女年龄上的限制，经济上依赖于主申请人呢或者配偶的未婚子女，年龄上限调整为29岁，旧政策下年龄限制为27岁。

3. 增加居住要求，并提供2种选择方案，标准申请通道和快速申请通道

1): 标准申请通道要求在马耳他居住满3年并向政府捐资60万欧，即可申请入籍

2): 快速申请通道要求在马耳他居住满1年并向政府捐资75万欧，即可申请入籍

4． 提高购买或租赁房产的金额

新政策下还是要求在马耳他租赁或者购买房产， 只是在金额上有所变化

1): 购买房产——要求在马耳他当地购买一套价值最低70万欧的房产（是旧政策下购买房产金额的2倍）

2): 租赁房产——要求在马耳他当地租赁一套年租金最低1.6万欧并持租5年（与旧政策相同）

5. 增加公益捐款:

主申请人需承诺在入籍证书签发之前，向注册的慈善、文化、体育、科学、动物福利或艺术等非政府组织或社会捐赠至少1万欧。

6. 取消国债投资要求：

旧政策下要求投资15万欧元并持有5年。 新政策中取消了对于国债投资上的要求。

7申请名额的限制：

新政策下每年通过杰出者投资入籍项目获得公民身份的配额不得超过400，并且所有成功申请的累积总数不得超过1500个家庭。

从最新的政策变化可以看出，马耳他投资入籍比之前更难了，每一条变化都切中要害，增加居住要求，提升投资金额，限制和缩小入籍名额以及更严格的尽职调查都在暗示获取马耳他的护照更加艰难，护照中的爱马仕也不是随便所说而已。面向全球的名额也就1500个，每年限制400个，先到先得，想要获得马耳他护照现在就是最好时机。

以上就是今天跟大家分享的主要内容，感谢大家的宝贵时间，如有更多的细节以及其他更关注的问题，欢迎跟我们联系，再次祝大家2021年牛气冲天，牛运亨通，心想事成，谢谢！

What does it take to rise to the top? Find out how a Maltese visionary & entrepreneur Anthony Micallef, 40 years ago,  defied all odds and managed to build his empire from scratch, the Office Group was born. Now, a journey of corporate success continues with his legacy.

Anthony Micallef is the Chairman and Founder of Office Group. Through his extensive academic background in Malta, Switzerland, the UK and Germany, Anthony acquired an in-depth knowledge of Mechanical Engineering. Anthony went on to establish Office Electronics Ltd. in 1980 and the export-oriented Office Technology Ltd. in 1986. Subsequently, all operations were consolidated under Office Group Ltd. in 2006.

During his distinguished entrepreneurial career, Anthony was able to garner extensive expertise in key areas such as marketing, project management, business development and contractual services.

In 2002, Anthony became an honorary member of Who’s Who of Professionals in the USA. He is also the former president of the Libyan Malta Chamber of Commerce and currently occupies the position of president of the Malta Japan Chamber of Commerce.

#legacy #officegroup #officeeletronics #marketing #projectmanagement #businessdevelopment #contractualservices #typewriters #pkfmalta #bitpod

Compliance Expert Osvaldo Miguel Sosa, takes us on a journey to discover the new software ComplyRadar, were together with Computime Software, they set out to build a Real-Time transaction monitoring solution. This was purposely built to address all Anti Money Laundering, Fraud and Responsible Gambling requirements in real-time, using different complex technics, such as behavioural analytics, machine learning and threshold rules. Computime Software is probably the oldest IT company on the island boasting a vast wealth of experience in technology and integration projects.

Osvaldo is passionate about everything regarding AML and fraud investigations, with 12 years’ experience in the gaming industry; having worked with some of the biggest organisations, such as PokerStars, PaddyPower Betfair and Betsson Group, where he acquired a vast amount of experience and knowledge in process and procedures, as well as different technics in data mining, case investigations and reporting.

#compliance #complyradar #computime #realtime #aml #fraudinvestigations #gambling #IT #malta #datamining #pkfmalta #bitpod

Just as our country had eased into the so-called “new normal”, the second wave of covid19 infections spread across the island following a single case reported in late July. In our latest Bitpod episode, our economist Miriam Sultana provides a snapshot of recent events concerning the pandemic in Malta, including the latest health mitigation measures.

This is followed by an economic round up of the latest economic developments in terms of GDP, inflation, unemployment and the country’s credit rating, and the extent of success of Governments’ fiscal injections. In this episode, we also discuss the Government’s plans to restore the economy following the partial lockdown.

Moderated and lead by Collette Mangion, Creative Director at PKF Malta.

#recovery #fiscalinjections #GDP #inflation #unemployment #creditRating #malta #secondwave #economy #covid #pandemic #pkfmalta #bitpod

Covid-19 has proven to be detrimental to the hotel industry in Malta. Our Special Guest Speaker, Economist Claudia Dalli discusses the latest findings from PKF Malta’s study on the hotel industry & the impact caused by the pandemic. 

Claudia is an Economist, who throughout her career has been involved in various projects of different nature. Some of the assignments that Claudia was involved in include a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) for the establishment of a permanent connection between the Marsamxett Ferry Landing site and the Valletta City Centre and a CBA for the establishment of a park and ride in Gozo. Furthermore, she was also involved in the compilation of an Action Plan for tourism SMEs in Gozo, in the compilation of the Maltese Property market report and the Female participation report.

Claudia holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours degree in Economics, after having studied Economics and Banking & Finance at an undergraduate level for three consecutive years. She then attained her Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Malta.

As with most advanced economies, Malta is highly dependent on tourism so the implications brought by Covid-19 were quite substantial. Despite the efforts made by the government, more needs to be done especially to overcome the uncertainty as to how the situation will materialise once the furlough scheme and vouchers cease. The past few months have highlighted the importance of focusing more on quality over quantity when it comes to tourism as this can help generate a stronger economy in the face of such occurrences. 

PKF Malta, as a company is committed to giving back to society by carrying out research on various topics to educate society on a vast spectrum of topics as part of its corporate social responsibility. 

Presented by our very own Head of Advisory Miriam Sultana at PKF Malta.
#pkfStudy #economist #tourism #vouchers #furlough #hotel #malta #economy #hotels #pandemic #covid19 #csr #pkfmalta #bitpod

Experience Turkey through the eyes and knowledge of our Expert Speaker, Ms ŞİLAN ÖZ. Turkish Citizenship by Investment program offers an attractive package to those looking to acquire a second passport. Turkey is centrally positioned between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, making it a convenient location for many.

The Eurasian country is well-known for its hospitable and welcoming manner to foreigners. Offering spectacular landscapes, sandy beaches, ancient ruins, and abundantly rich culture, Turkey offers a wealth of attractions and opportunities for whatever your personal preference may be.

She is an International Marketing Manager in Dev Project Marketing company in Turkey. She also studied real estate management and finance at Istanbul Aydin University. She has 10 years experience in the real estate sector, she is working with overseas real estate agents and she provides property consultancy to foreign investors for the last 10 years.

Presented by Dr Marilyn Formosa - bitpod co-founder

#immigration #citizenship #goldenvisa #eb5visa #eu #turkishcitizenshipByInvestment #citizenshipByInvestment #EUcitizenshipByInvestment #InvestmentImmigration #pkfmalta #bitpod

UGlobal organised a virtual conference which was held last week of April. Find out what our team had to say about this virtual conference. The advantages & disadvantages of the virtual conference. Lead by our Presenter Dr Elysia Rezki - Legal Assistant at PKF Malta, and our attendees on this session, Ms Miranda Ma - Asian Business Executive at PKF Malta & Dr Michela Mifsud - Legal Associate at PKF Malta. 

OHSA CEO Dr Mark Gauci gives us a bird's eye view of current health and safety standards & statistics, he enlightens us on the current covid 19 situation and how employers are duty bound to take necessary action to ensure safety of their employees, not only from a physical aspect but also a mental well- being approach.

Dr Mark Gauci graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Malta and later continued with his postgraduate studies in Occupational Health at the University of London. He played a key role in setting up the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, of which he has been the CEO since it was established. He initiated the full-time Diploma course in occupational health and safety at the University of Malta and was the main lecturer and coordinator of the first two courses. He is currently a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

Dr Gauci is also very active abroad, being a member of the European Union’s Senior Labour Inspectors Committee and the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health. He has been chairing or participating as a member in various subcommittees, including the Working Groups Enforcement and Strategic Management, and various Technical Progress Committees; he was also chosen to be an evaluator of the health and safety inspectorates in a number of Member States.

Recently he was invited by the International Labour Organisation to form part of an Expert Group tasked to review the ILO Recommendation on Labour Inspection.

#OccupationalHealthandSafety #OHS #OHSA #covid #statistics #wellbeing #bitpod

Join us as we take a bird's eye view of the Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment Program, honing in on the relevant detail and bringing to the fore all the advantages that the offering is adorned with. Bulgaria, the new kid on the block but one that promises to be a formidable competitor.

Introducing this session's Expert Guest Speaker, Ms Nevena Bekyarova, Senior Associate at New Balkans Law Office, Sofia. This session was led by our co-founder host Dr. Marilyn Formosa, Head of Legal at PKF Malta.

Nevena has participated in a number of international events in the area of immigration and nationality law (such as a Speaker to the Biennial International Bar Association Immigration Law conference in 2019) and is a member of the Investment Migration Council, the worldwide association for investor immigration and citizenship by investment. Among her main practice areas are Immigration and Private Clients. As head of NBLO’s Private Client department, Nevena is involved in advising clients, public policy issues, and in the context of immigration and nationality is versed in the investor application process in Bulgaria. She is fluent in Bulgarian and English and is a frequent writer and contributor on the topic of investment migration.

#immigration #citizenship #goldenvisa #eb5visa #eu #turkishcitizenshipByInvestment #citizenshipByInvestment #EUcitizenshipByInvestment #InvestmentImmigration #pkfmalta #bitpod

Join us as our latest guest, the cosmopolitan savvy Immigration Expert, Ms. Nadia Themis, takes us on a global tour to discover the Super-Rich & their families, as they seek second citizenship, not only as a gateway to Europe but also as a peace of mind, to find more safety from new emerging markets such as South Africa & Asia.

Nadia Themis has 20+ years of experience as a Wealth Planner where she advised many global companies to set their tax planning & corporate structure. In the last few years, she is working closely more with HNW planning their wealth and immigration matters. She is trusted by global businesses, governments to design & deliver business growth, the most efficient corporate planning, interactive keynotes to inspire change, accelerate personal&professional growth under her expertise as a performance coach, and a wealth planner.

Nadia Themis is a graduate holder of a BSc in Business Management (U.K), MBA in Corporate Law, Corporate Finance, member since 2012 of STEP (Society & Estate Practitioners U.K.), a journalist, Certified Performance/Communication Coach, nominated as best coach by EMCC in 2015 and an approved Trainer.

#immigration #citizenship #goldenvisa #eb5 #eu #eb5visa #turkishcitizenshipByInvestment #citizenshipByInvestment #EUcitizenshipByInvestment #InvestmentImmigration #pkfmalta #bitpod

As the courts were forced to shut down, a barrage of legal notices followed, coupled with people who have remained stranded with expiring IDs & awaiting work permits. In our latest bitpod, Dr. Edward Camilleri and host Dr. Marilyn Formosa delve into how the legal framework has been impacted by the pandemic & how Identity Malta announced huge changes and closed its doors in order to introduce a new & more efficient online application system.

What does the future hold and what did we learn from this? Will we become more reliant on the internet and effectively meet our lawyers only online? Find out more about this in our latest episode.

S01Ep09 - Teleworking during a pandemic: Tax implications
As a significant amount of companies have shifted their operations remotely through teleworking, this episode seeks to highlight the tax repercussions arising from teleworking. Workers who are remote working for their safety in states or countries that they do not normally work from can expose companies and workers to additional income and employment tax obligations.

Leo Parmegiani is a tax partner in New York having over 30 years of experience in public accounting with a specialisation in international tax. Specifically, Leo has expertise in a broad range of tax specialty areas including the hospitality and real estate industries. He heads the firm’s international tax practice and acts as a liaison partner for all tax matters for North America and PKF International.

Additionally, Leo is an adjunct professor at Wagner College where he teaches advanced tax concepts at a graduate level and is the editorial adviser of a local magazine entitled “The Tax Adviser” concerning tax matters.

S01Ep08 - Age of Triage the Battle of Surviving Economies
As we go through a global health crisis, there is no doubt that industries within the world economies, big and small are battling it out for survival. Which economies will adapt to rapid change and conquer and which will be left behind, struggling to stay afloat?

PKF Malta Head of Advisory Miriam Sultana and Junior Legal Associate Dr Elysia Retzki dive deep into our current situation in Malta and countries around us looking to how different key industries are faring. #covid19 #triage #economy #economies #pkfmalta

When news broke that the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 as a pandemic, citizens across the world were in shock and disbelief. In economics, a pandemic is an exogenous shock that generated mayhem and a sudden shift in consumer behaviour. In this podcast our guest speaker; Economist Miriam Sultana will delve into the impacts generated by the pandemic and the possible way forward. Moderated and lead by Dr. Elysia Rezki, a Junior Legal Assistant at PKF Malta.

This episode, our BitPodcast host is joined by none other than 3x TEDx speaker and CNN Featured Technology Futurist, Ian Khan!

Forbes contributor and Featured Technology Futurist on CNN, Ian Khan is a highly sought after emerging technology expert. A three times TEDx Speaker & Author, Ian has impacted over 5000 organizations in his career of 20 years to help organizations understand emerging technology and the steps they can take to create limitless value.

An advocate of emerging technologies, Ian helps organizations gain a competitive advantage in today’s era of disruption and rapid change. His core speaking topics include technology trends, industry future outlook and the role of IoT, AI & Blockchain in shaping our future.

Ian is also the author of over 8 books. Some of these include Cloud Wars, The Internet of Things (IoT) A Concise Introduction, The Internet of Things & the Future of Innovation, Make Me Like You, 21 Steps & Get Ahead and Meaningful Conversations.

A highly sought after expert, Ian has dedicated the last 20 years evangelizing technologies such as Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, and emerging tech. Though his career he Ian has worked with Information Technology startups, SAP EBS Partner Companies and key Microsoft partner ecosystem providers. Through his two decades of working in the industry, he also gained a complete understanding of where organizations face maximum challenge as his roles included Sales, Business Development, Management, to managing global marketing teams.

Ian is also an active speaker and spends more than 200 days per year on the road speaking at industry conferences. He is also a frequent contributor to industry publications and his work has appeared in McGraw Hill Education, Huffington Post, & Techvibes.

This episode we have two special guests, Zoe and Nikolai, who are the founders of Zink. 

Zink are developing a mobile app that can bring prints, of any sort, to life. From flyers, to posters that can move, to characters that can jump out of books, to magazines that can talk, and models in them that can walk out of the pages. Their app allows users to view their printed memories come alive through simple point and view functions. Users may also experience every single detail behind each captured moment, through an immersive 360° video.

They are currently taking part in the 16-week MITA YouStartIT Accelerator Programme.

Computime is joining us for the third time, however on a different topic with a different speaker. This time, Osvaldo is joining us, an AML specialist with 13 years’ experience in the local iGaming industry. He will be speaking about the different aspects of gaming- mostly delving into Responsible Gaming- a rather new aspect of iGaming.

This episode we are happy to welcome Matthew Caruana to the show. Matthew is a Manager at Zaar, a donation/reward-based crowdfunding platform that offers an alternative to raise finance for projects and business ideas in order to get them funded.

The ZAAR platform has been established to promote entrepreneurship. This was the first initiative by the Foundation for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (FPEI) which was set up by the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) and the University of Malta (UoM).