Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538544
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 AUGUST 2025 COMMERCIAL BOV is digitising its documentation BANK of Valletta has upped its investment in its scan and dig- itisation project by investing in a newly relocated Digital Oper- ations Unit. The Bank is gaining momentum in its project to scan and digitise documentation, with the main aim of improving data security while supporting the Bank's efforts in its transi- tion to a more environmentally friendly bank. Since November 2022, the Digital Operations Unit has scanned over 46 mil- lion pages of documents that were located in the Bank's ar- chives. Bank of Valletta Chairperson Dr Gordon Cordina, CEO Ken- neth Farrugia and Chief Op- erations Officer Ernest Agius recently paid an official visit to the newly relocated Digital Op- erations Unit responsible for the digitisation project. During this visit, the Executive Team had the opportunity to experi- ence the Bank's digitising pro- cess first-hand and meet the staff responsible for this trans- formation. Noel Vassallo, Head of Dig- ital Operations Unit, stated that "the electronic filing sys- tem not only facilitates the quick retrieval of documents; it also ensures full compliance with legal and regulatory obli- gations, where we only retain physical copies of documenta- tion that the Bank is legally re- quired to keep." BOV's Chief Operations Of- ficer, Ernest Agius, explained that this system is improving the Bank's operational pro- cesses, reducing the need for physical storage and enhancing the retrieval and management of documents. He added that "BOV is working tirelessly to make its entire documentation digital so that we can do away with paper. It is another step in the right direction in sup- port of sustainability, having already introduced digital sig- natures on bank applications and agreements. In the first six months of 2025, the Bank has saved over 44,600 sheets of pa- per. More benefits are expect- ed to be reaped as the initiative continues to gather speed. Bank of Valletta is positioning sustainability at the forefront of its business investment, with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices at the heart of the Bank's opera- tions. The Bank's ESG strategy is based on striving towards a net-zero impact and climate resilience in internal activi- ties, manifested in initiatives such as the digitisation of doc- umentation. Other initiatives include eco-efficient projects aimed at reducing both direct and indirect emissions, gener- ally referred to as Scope 1, 2 and 3. As part of the Bank's commit- ment to contribute to the re- duction of the country's carbon footprint, it also introduced the walk-to-print concept, elimi- nating printing devices in each office at BOV Centre. This has decreased printing consider- ably, saving €53,000 in paper and €20,000 in printing costs. This equates to a reduction of at least 6.7 million sheets of pa- per or 31 tonnes of CO2 less. THE St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation is pleased to an- nounce the appointment of Colonel Dr Mark Mallia as its new President, effective 1st Au- gust 2025. Ever since it was established in 2001 following an agree- ment between the Government and the Catholic Church in Malta, the St John's Co-Cathe- dral Foundation has been the guardian of unquestionably the greatest artistic treasures to be seen in the Maltese Islands. Its purpose is to ensure that this heritage is conserved to inter- nationally accepted standards while being accessible to the thousands of visitors who walk through the doors of St John's Co-Cathedral. Mallia's leadership comes at a pivotal moment in the Founda- tion's continued efforts to pre- serve and promote this national and sacred treasure. His experience and commit- ment will support the Founda- tion's mission to manage the Co-Cathedral and its Museum with integrity, maintaining its sacred character, enhancing its cultural and educational value, and securing the necessary re- sources for ongoing restoration and conservation. Welcoming his appointment, Mallia said, "It is a privilege to take on the role of President of the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation and to contribute to its ongoing work. The year ahead brings important projects that will continue to strengthen the Co-Cathedral's role as a sa- cred space and a national cul- tural landmark. I look forward to working with the Council and staff in the year ahead." Mallia is a distinguished mil- itary leader, with extensive ex- perience in the Armed Forces of Malta. He joined the Armed Forces of Malta in 1997 as an Officer Cadet and, after grad- uating from the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst (UK), was commissioned as an Of- ficer. He occupied various promi- nent positions of responsibility within the AFM, exhibiting re- markable leadership and strate- gic expertise. On 20 December 2013, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Mal- ta, as well as Head of the Hu- man Resources Management Branch. He also served as a Sen- ior Aide-de-Camp in the Office of the President of the Republic of Malta. He was subsequently appoint- ed as Chief Executive Officer of Identità in January 2022, followed by his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta in February 2024. In June 2024, he was ap- pointed Head of Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minis- ter. Mallia is a lawyer, and holds a Master of Advocacy, an Execu- tive Master in Business Admin- istration, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), and a Diploma in Management Studies, all from the University of Malta. Throughout the years, he also coordinated various national philanthropic initiatives, in- cluding L-Istrina, the Malta Community Chest Fund Foun- dation, and the President's Soli- darity Fun Run. New President Appointed to the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation for 2025/2026 Over 46 million pages of archived documents scanned Mark Mallia