Keep abreast of the latest sustainability regulations affecting capital markets, ensuring compliance and competitive advantage. Acquire practical skills and best practices for implementing and managing sustainability reporting and due diligence processes. Understand the strategic implications of sustainability regulations for corporate governance, risk management, and investment decisions. Access resources, such as guidelines and templates to support effective implementation of sustainability initiatives within your organisation

Target Audience

-Accountants and Auditors: Professionals responsible for financial reporting, sustainability reporting, and compliance.

-Corporate Executives and Board Members: Individuals overseeing governance, risk management, and strategic planning.

-Compliance Officers: Ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.

-Sustainability officers: Professionals managing corporate sustainability initiatives and reporting.

SPEAKER'S PROFILE

Oriana Abela is a Partner at Grant Thornton engaged in the Transaction Advisory Services (TAS), a department specialising in corporate finance. She holds an honours degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta and is also ACCA qualified. In 2013, Oriana graduated from the University of Wales with distinction obtaining a Master in Finance, specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Oriana specialises in the capital markets division, whereby she assists clients with the raising of debt (traditional and green) and equity finance through the local capital market. She has listed clients on the main market, Prospects MTF as well as the Institutional FInancial Securities Market. Oriana also heads the local and cross-border vendor and buy-side due diligence assignments for clients operating in various sectors such as retail, manufacturing, banking, aviation, pharmaceutical and real estate. She has an accumulated wealth of experience assisting both local and international clients operating across various industries through the delivery of valuations, mergers and acquisitions, due diligences, business plans, restructuring, financial projections and pension provision.
Prior to joining Grant Thornton in 2015, Oriana worked at two leading Big 4 companies in Malta, whereby she was involved in a variety of corporate finance engagements, servicing clients mainly in the real estate, telecommunications, utility, retail, gaming, insurance and beverage industry, both in the private and public sector in relation to a number of different assignments including but not limited to buy-side and vendor cross-border due diligence assignments, purchase price allocation assignments, raising of finance on the stock market, feasibility studies/financial projections, debt restructuring, strategic review, valuations of business and equity share capital, impairment review of investment properties and review of the pension provision and assistance with any necessary settlement offers.

Francesca Vella is a Senior Manager at Grant Thornton, specialising in economic advisory and sustainability services. With nine years of experience at the firm, including a two-year placement in the Dublin office, her expertise spans a wide range of sustainability and economic research areas. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Economics and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. Francesca is also a PRINCE2 Practitioner and a fellow of the Royal Statistical Societ,y. Her credentials include certifications from the International Capital Markets Association in Green, Social, and Sustainable Bonds, demonstrating her deep commitment to sustainable finance. As a Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Practitioner since 2021, Francesca's proficiency covers sustainability reporting, GRI Standards, Reporting on Human Rights, and the integration of the United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals into sustainability reporting. Her recent achievements include completing the "Unlocking the ESRS for GRI reporters" certification, which enhances her expertise in navigating the European Sustainability Reporting Standards, and earning a certificate in “CSRD and ESRS for Corporates” from Greenomy. Throughout her career, Francesca has delivered comprehensive economic research and sustainability advisory services to a diverse client base, including government bodies and various industries. Her work encompasses market and policy analysis, cost-benefit and feasibility studies, impact assessments, advocacy reporting, evaluations, strategy and policy development, and non-financial reporting. Francesca’s team were privileged to verify Malta's First Green Bond, ensuring its alignment with the EU Taxonomy, ICMA Green Bond Framework, and Malta Stock Exchange Bye-Laws, among other standards. With Grant Thornton being the only accredited Green Bond verifier for the Malta Stock Exchange. Currently, her focus is on assisting clients with preparing for CSRD reporting requirements, supporting them in navigating the fast-changing regulatory landscape and setting up internal processes which provide transparency and accountability, enhancing stakeholder confidence

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