INAUGURAL MALTA FINANCIAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME OPENS FOR REGISTRATION

New two-day professional development initiative brings international and Maltese expertise together to advance financial reporting and public understanding of Malta’s financial ecosystem

Financial journalists, business reporters, editors and communications professionals are being invited to take part in the inaugural Malta Financial Journalism Excellence Programme, a new professional development initiative designed to enhance the quality, depth and impact of financial reporting in Malta.

Taking place on 27 and 28 August 2026 at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, the programme has been developed by Petra Ellul Mercer, founder of CapableMind, and Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE, FRSA, Principal of international strategy and communications consultancy Market Accents.

The programme will be hosted at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, with the involvement of the Department of Insurance and Risk Management, and is supported by PR and media communications firm Corporate ID Group.

Sponsors include the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), Bank of Valletta, APS Bank and VisitMalta, with WealthBriefing also supporting the initiative.

As financial products, markets, regulation and economic decisions become increasingly complex, communicating financial information clearly and responsibly is increasingly a public-interest issue. From company results and budgets to pensions, investment, financial crime and consumer protection, journalists play an important role in helping people understand the issues that affect their businesses, finances and everyday lives.

The programme brings together international financial journalism experience with Maltese financial services, regulatory, financial intelligence and academic expertise.

Leading the editorial programme will be Tom Burroughes, Group Editor of WealthBriefing and a former Reuters correspondent, who brings extensive international newsroom experience and specialist expertise in financial journalism.

Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE, whose background spans journalism, strategic communications, international payments and financial services, will lead the programme’s work on digital journalism, audience engagement and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence. Before establishing Market Accents, she held international roles with global financial organisations. Maltese-born, she is also a Director of the Malta Business Network and was awarded an MBE in 2025 for services to women in international trade and entrepreneurship.

Petra Ellul Mercer, a behavioural economist, financial educator and financial capability specialist, will bring her expertise in behavioural decision-making, financial literacy and public engagement, with a particular focus on how financial information can be communicated clearly and effectively.

Guest contributors will include Professor Simon Grima of the University of Malta and representatives from the MFSA and FIAU, bringing Maltese academic, regulatory and financial intelligence perspectives to the discussions.

Unlike a traditional seminar, the programme has been designed around a “Newsroom – Not Classroom” approach. Across the two mornings, participants will learn through executive masterclasses, editorial discussions, real-world examples, collaborative team exercises and practical newsroom challenges.

Topics will include:
• reading financial statements and finding the story behind the numbers;
• reporting budgets, economic developments and markets;
• financial regulation, financial crime and public trust;
• investigative financial journalism and source verification;
• personal finance and consumer journalism;
• digital journalism, social media and audience engagement;
• the responsible use of AI in journalism; and
• editorial judgement and responsible financial reporting.

“Financial journalism plays a critical role in helping citizens, businesses and stakeholders understand developments within Malta’s economy and financial services sector. This programme is designed to provide journalists and media professionals with the expertise and confidence needed to report on these issues with greater accuracy, insight and impact,” said Petra Ellul Mercer.

“Journalists don’t need to be accountants or economists, but they do need the confidence to question the numbers, understand the regulatory and economic context and identify the story that matters. By bringing international editorial experience together with expertise from Malta’s financial services ecosystem, we want to give participants practical knowledge and skills they can take straight back into their work,” said Noreen Burroughes Cesareo.

The programme is open to journalists, editors, business and current affairs reporters, communications and PR professionals, content creators and those working in financial services communications and public affairs. Participants completing the two-day programme will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Those wishing to participate are encouraged to register early at bit.ly/fjep.

Through the support of its sponsors and contributors, the Malta Financial Journalism Excellence Programme aims to raise the standard of financial reporting, improve financial literacy and contribute to more informed public debate in Malta.

#NEWSROOM: Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Announces 2024 Executive Committee Members

Partner News: Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Announces 2024 Executive Committee Members

[Washington D.C., January 22, 2024] — The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), the leading global organization supporting women in business, professional development & education, networking, and entrepreneurship, is pleased to announce the members of its 2024 Executive Committee who assumed their roles as of January 1. This group of elected women and men will serve for the 2024 period.

OWIT president Hulya Kurt, of Geneva, Switzerland, is a career coach-educator, workshop facilitator, inspirational speaker, and author with more than 30 years of corporate experience. She brings to her new office a passion for empowering individuals and organizations to discover their values, strengths, and goals and an extensive record of helping them promote themselves by leveraging professional networks.

Kurt has a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, received her coaching diploma from Noble Manhattan Coaching, Ltd, and is an educator at the Swiss School of Business and Management. She is the founder of InnKick, a Geneva-based career coaching firm. Prior to assuming her role as OWIT president, she served as the organization’s executive vice-president. She also served as president of OWIT Lake Geneva between (add the dates).

The comprehensive list of members of the new OWIT Executive Committee is as follows:

President – Hulya Kurt, Geneva, Switzerland
Executive Vice President – Noreen Burroughes Cesareo, London, United Kingdom
Treasurer – Torrey Chambliss, Tampa Bay, USA
Assistant Treasurer – Rhoda Mbugua, Kenya
Vice President, Marketing – Niki Jones, New York, USA
Vice President, Secretary – Joyce Bitutu, Kenya
Co-Vice President, Partnerships – Sanaz Farahzadi, Geneva, Switzerland
Co-Vice President, Partnerships – Alexandra Prempeh, Ghana
Vice President, Conferences & Meetings – Dimakatso Malwela, South Africa
Vice President, Membership – Joyce Mavangira, Zimbabwe
Co-Vice President, Chapter Development – Susan Baka, Toronto, Canada
Co-Vice President, Chapter Development – Tshengi Ndolvu, Zimbabwe
Chapter Support – Shaquana Teasley, Atlanta, USA
Chapter Support – Tamuna Gabilaia, Washington, DC, USA
IT – Pearl Nobuntu, Zimbabwe
IT – Dorice Malle, Tanzania
Programming – Blessings Irabor-Oza, Nigeria
Programming – Angela Hofmann, Virginia, United States
Sponsorships – Buhlebenkosi Ncube, Zimbabwe
Sponsorships – Camelia Mazard, Washington, DC, USA
General Counsel – Karen Bland, Washington, DC, USA
Immediate Past President – Frida Owinga, Nairobi, Kenya

Noreen Burroughes Cesareo, Founding President of OWIT UK and incoming Executive Vice President said, “I am delighted to be able to serve on the global executive, supporting the President Hulya Kurt. The programme we are running in the UK, focussing on the three pillars of trade finance, digitalisation and facilitation/capacity building, is a key driver in ensuring we are forging ahead with easier access to international markets for women traders. By also serving on the international executive board, we can achieve so much more, nationally and internationally.”

OWIT is a global organization with locally-operated chapters established in regions of Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Chapters engage in programmes and host events that facilitate trade, educate members and foster the creation of new international and domestic connections.

The organization defines its mission as follows: “United around the globe, OWIT’s goal is to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business. Our growing network continues to provide a collective forum to support education, to facilitate information exchange and to promote networking. In pursuing these goals, OWIT strives to provide a rewarding volunteer environment, to stay at the forefront of trade and technological developments, and to build partnerships and alliances with peer organizations and associations.”

As this year’s elected board, the Executive will continue to deliver on OWIT’s mission through its global programmes and relationships with governments, Organisations and private industry. Apart from the supportive nature of its global membership, the organization occupies a central role in ensuring that the voices of its members are heard and considered at all levels, from putting forward recommendations for policy to joining international trade visits, leading debates and acting as a springboard to facilitate that vital access to international networks and markets.  OWIT executives, chapter presidents and members regularly participate in global and national high-level meetings, consultations, conferences, and market events and activities that revolve around trade and entrepreneurship.

The Organization of Women in International Trade (‘OWIT’) is the leading organization that promotes and supports women in trade, business, networking, and professional development.  Joining a chapter is easy! Visit the organization’s membership page (https://owit.org/register-membership/) to find a local chapter near you, or use OWIT’s virtual chapter finder (available at https://owit.org/virtual-chapter/) to join an online chapter. This is also a useful resource for those who do not have a chapter in their area. After registering with a chapter, individuals are added as members of the global network.

For more information on OWIT, visit https://owit.org and www.owituk.org

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