The Prevention of Money Laundering & Financial Crime 2026

Tuesday 26 May 2026

09:00 | Introduction

Antonio Ghirlando

09:15 | EU AML Package: A Regulatory Perspective

Maria Callus

This session will unpack the EU AML Package and what it means in practice, covering the AML Regulation, AMLD6, and the establishment of AMLA. It will highlight the shift towards harmonised rules and centralised supervision, while exploring key changes, supervisory implications, and the practical challenges ahead for both regulators and industry.

10:15 | EU AML Package: A New Challenge

Antonio Ghirlando

The new EU Anti-Money Laundering package is a major milestone in the EUs efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. It represents the most notable change from when the first Anti-Money Laundering Directive was adopted in 1990. The new legislative provisions have already entered into force and will apply from the 10th July 2027.

Although the package is structured into four key components, which include three Regulations and a Directive, there are numerous standards and guidelines that are being issued as part of the Single Rulebook. As such, the regulatory landscape is becoming increasingly comprehensive and complex.

To step up to this new challenge it is essential that Subject Persons take proactive steps to prepare for the transition. This will ensure that they position themselves to meet the upcoming requirements with confidence and minimise compliance risks.

Besides outlining the context, the paper will highlight the main changes brought about by the new package and set out practical steps that could be taken in the change process.

11:15 | Break

11:30 | Sanctions: The Revised Legislative Framework

Sanctions Monitoring Board

The Sanctions Monitoring Board will deliver a one‑hour online session on Malta’s revised sanctions legislative framework focusing on the main changes introduced through the updated National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act. The session will also set out the Board’s expectations in practice for both Subject Persons and Non‑Subject Persons.

12:30 | Sanctions: Moving Forward

Ray Bartolo

In the last few years geopolitical tensions have fundamentally transformed the management of sanctions risk. This session looks into the local sanctions obligations of subject persons in Malta, highlighting key changes from the November 2025 update to the National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act.

We will also look at some key red flags associated with sanctions circumvention and proliferation financing which are becoming a key focus of EU regulations as a result of evolving global threats.

13:30 | End of First Session

Friday 29 May 2026

09:00 | Introduction

Antonio Ghirlando.

09:15 | AI & New Technologies: Transforming Financial Crime Compliance

Dr. Gianluca Busuttil.

This session will examine how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are increasingly being exploited to facilitate financial crime. It will explore how tools such as generative AI, deepfakes, automated bots, and advanced data analytics are enabling more sophisticated fraud schemes, identity theft, social engineering attacks, and money laundering techniques at scale.

Participants will gain insight into evolving threat typologies, real-world examples of technology-enabled financial crime, and the ways criminal networks are leveraging innovation faster than traditional risk frameworks can adapt. The session will also consider the implications for financial institutions, including emerging vulnerabilities, risk exposure, and the need to rethink detection and prevention strategies in an increasingly tech-driven threat landscape.

10:15 | Financial Crime: Making an Impact Through Partnerships and Collaboration

Ariane Azzopardi

Financial crime continues to evolve in complexity, scale, and cross‑border reach, no single institution can tackle it alone. This session explores how meaningful impact is achieved when regulators, industry players, technology providers, and compliance professionals work collaboratively rather than in silos. Drawing on practical examples and emerging trends, the presentation highlights how intelligence‑sharing, coordinated supervision, joint investigations, and public–private partnerships strengthen collective resilience. Participants will gain insight into why collaboration is now a regulatory expectation, how partnerships reduce systemic blind spots, and what organisations can do to embed cooperative frameworks that materially improve detection, prevention, and response capabilities.

11:15 | Break.

11:30 | Fraud – Trends, Red-flags, and Prevention

Edith O' Conner

This session provides an overview of emerging fraud and scam trends affecting financial institutions and customers, and common red flags to help individuals avoid falling victim to fraud. It explores how fraud is evolving, the methods and techniques commonly used by fraudsters, and the impact of fraud on victims. The session will also include selected case studies to illustrate real‑life scenarios and key learnings.

12:30 | Crypto: Navigating Evolving Compliance Challenges

Sofia Maria Cucciniello

The session will explore the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape surrounding crypto-assets, with a focus on how firms can effectively navigate increasing compliance expectations across jurisdictions. It will address key challenges arising from the implementation of frameworks such as MiCA and other global regulatory developments, including licensing requirements, AML/CFT obligations, sanctions compliance and the Travel Rule.

The discussion will provide a practical perspective on how regulatory expectations are converging internationally, while still reflecting local supervisory approaches. Particular attention will be given to governance models, risk-based compliance strategies and the integration of regulatory requirements into business operations and product development.

Drawing on cross-jurisdictional experience, the session will highlight common pitfalls, supervisory trends and best practices for building resilient compliance frameworks in the digital assets space.

13:30 | End of Conference

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The Speakers

Antonio Ghirlando is a seasoned compliance specialist with a specific focus on financial crime compliance, including the prevention of money laundering, countering the funding of terrorism, combatting proliferation finance, sanctions, anti-bribery & corruption, and fraud. He is also well versed in other regulatory compliance obligations.

Antonio is actively involved in the provision of real-time operational support, specialist advice, intuitive guidance and training to several businesses seeking to ensure ongoing compliance with their regulatory obligations. He also assists Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and Compliance Officers with their day-to-day tasks and oversight.

During his career he has worked with various licensed entities in both the financial and non-financial sectors, having served as the Head of Compliance, Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO). He also headed the Compliance and Legal & International Sections of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) and served as the Secretary General of the Malta Bankers’ Association (MBA).

Antonio has been involved in several local and international committees, and has also presented numerous papers at various workshops, seminars, conferences and training events. Antonio is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Maria Callus is an Assistant Manager within the Financial Crime Compliance Function at the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), where she has over seven years of regulatory experience. In her role, she is primarily responsible for conducting risk-based AML/CFT supervisory examinations of MFSA-licensed entities, contributing to regulatory and policy developments, representing the Authority in EU-level fora, and supporting national training and outreach initiatives.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta, as well as a master’s degree in forensic accounting from the University of Portsmouth. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS), hold the International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering from the University of Manchester, and is also certified as an Advanced Cryptocurrency Investigator (CCI).

Raymond Bartolo is the Head of Sanctions, Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Tax Transparency at HSBC Bank Malta plc, a position held since October 2018. In his role Ray is responsible for ensuring compliance with International Trade and Economic Sanctions and to maintain a robust financial crime framework covering Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Tax Transparency. He is a senior banking professional with over 37 years’ experience in the banking industry. Through these years Ray has held a number of leadership roles particularly in relation to Risk Management and Financial Crime and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Malta Joint Economic & Financial Sanctions Implementation Task Force. Ray is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds ICA qualifications in Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Compliance as well as qualification in Operational Risk Management with the Professional Risk Managers International Association (PRMIA).

Gianluca Busuttil is a senior manager within the Tax team at Deloitte Malta, specialising in regulatory compliance and developing areas of regulation in fields including artificial intelligence and digital services. Gianluca has followed the development of artificial intelligence regulation since the commencement of their discussion at an EU level and has experience in the practical perspective of AI regulation.

Edith O’Connor is Head of Fraud Risk Management, responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Bank’s Anti-fraud strategy and control framework. She has extensive experience in financial crime risk, fraud risk governance and collaboration across all lines of defence to strengthen organisational resilience against financial crime. She holds an MSc in Economic Crime from the University of Portsmouth, as well as the ICA International Diploma in AntiMoney Laundering.

Ariane Azzopardi is a Director within the Quality and Risk Management function. She has over fifteen years’ experience in this field, and is the delegate of the Risk Management Partner at KPMG in Malta. She is involved in the implementation and monitoring compliance with quality and risk management policies and procedures in KPMG in Malta also handling compliance and risk management queries, including those related to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (PMLFT) and ethics and independence. She delivers sessions on PMLFT at the KPMG roundtable and also at various other seminars and conferences.

Ariane is the chair of the PMLFT sub-committee at the Malta Institute of Accountants and a committee member of the PMLFT sub-committee at the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners.

Sofia Maria Cucciniello is a senior legal and regulatory expert with over 15 years of international experience across fintech, digital assets and financial services. She has operated across multiple jurisdictions, advising on regulatory frameworks spanning the EU, UK, US and Singapore.

She specialises in crypto regulation, financial crime compliance and governance, with direct involvement in licensing regimes including MiCA, VFA, EMI and payment services, as well as regulatory engagement under VARA.

Sofia brings a strong cross-border perspective to regulatory strategy, supporting firms in aligning governance, risk and compliance within complex global operating models. She serves as Board Member of ACAMS Malta and Deputy Chairperson of FIMA, contributing to industry dialogue on financial crime and digital assets.