Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1486069
10 COMMERCIAL 1.12.2022 OVER the past months, the Malta Bank- ers' Association has been reaching to various stakeholders, with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of cur- rent issues these face with local banks. At these meetings, the MBA is repre- sented by its Chair Marcel Cassar, Dep- uty Chairman Henry Schmeltzer and Secretary General Karol Gabarretta. Meetings have so far been held with the Institute of Financial Services Prac- titioners (IFSP); Consumers Association - Malta; National Association of Pen- sioners; Malta Chamber; Malta Cham- ber of SMEs; Malta Competition & Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA); National Council of Women; Associa- tion for Consumer Rights and the Regis- trar of Companies at the Malta Business Registry. ese meetings are held in a very cor- dial setting and provide an opportunity to the participants to engage in fruitful exchange of views and opinions. Each stakeholder was represented at the highest level by the respective Chair/ President as well as CEO, Director and other senior officers. e entities ap- preciated the opportunity of airing, in a frank and open manner, various matters of concern that many times resonate the feedback received from their members and the public in general. MBA Chairman Marcel Cassar com- mented: "ese meetings help the MBA and its member banks understand bet- ter the issues faced by the different co- horts of society, from pensioners to the professions to the business community, and the consumer at large, when making use of banking products and services. Although we cannot force decisions or solutions on our members, we are cer- tainly using this outreach programme to receive, and pass on, messages to the banks and are pleased to be making this a regular dialogue with the various stakeholders". Malta Bankers' Association holding out- reach meetings with various stakeholders One of the meetings which the MBA held with the Malta Chamber of SMEs Annalisa Schembri elected to JCI International Board of Directors DURING the 2022 JCI World Congress held in Hong Kong, at the beginning of November, JCI Malta senator and mem- ber, Annalisa Schembri was elected to the 2023 JCI International Board of Di- rectors as JCI Vice President. Ms Schembri's new role sees her as- signed to Europe with a special focus to assist and support JCI local and national organisations in Bulgaria, Turkey, Croa- tia, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Mol- dova. JCI is an international leadership or- ganisation for people aged 18-40 who want to develop their personal and pro- fessional skills within a local and inter- national community. JCI explains this view clearly in its mission: to provide leadership development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change. Based on this mindset and mantra, Ms Schembri, a full-time freelance pro- fessional in the arts, shared her views on leadership: "Leadership requires us to have a Head, a Heart and a Hand: A Head that gives us clarity of vision; A Heart that, with compassion, taps be- yond the vision to make it concrete and sustainable; A Hand that allows us, to give it forward, to serve others." "We must align our passion, ideas and strengths to find an anchor in purpose, as this drives us to serve with the best version of ourselves. And this is what I bring to serve in this one year to lead po- sition in 2023: the best version of myself - with a focused head, a resilient, caring heart and experienced hands to sow the right seeds in the right places," she states. "is, paired with the passion I have for JCI and the experience I have as a global networker, a seasoned JCI member and a creative professional in the arts, gives me the tools and the strength to lead and give back." Ms Schembri has been involved in JCI since 2009 starting off as a JCI Malta member within JCI La Valette and play- ing a vital role in the planning and exe- cution of the 2014 JCI European Con- ference that was hosted by JCI Malta. In 2014, she was awarded the prestig- ious role of JCI Senator – given to those members who have shown dedication to the organization and gone over and be- yond their call of duty. She was elected as JCI Malta National President in 2015 and was a hands-on advisor for the 2020 European Conference in Dublin, Ireland, that turned out to be the first ever fully digital conference for JCI as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. "I know first-hand and will forever be a testimony of the radical, positive trans- formation that this organisation can bring to one's life. One member at a time, one conversation at a time, one project at a time ¬– this is how we re-imagine JCI to ensure that it is here for generations to come." JCI Malta is supported by its Corporate Partners: Chitzo, Content for Success, JA Malta, JPA, UP Your Level Performance Coaching, Veonio, Zaar, and Zampa De- battista. Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malta provides young people with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.