Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/916779
47 Events maltatoday SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2017 NOMINATIONS for EY Malta's Entrepreneur of the Year Award will open in early January. This prestigious award is open to Mal- tese and Malta based entrepre- neurs with the winner participat- ing in EY's World Entrepreneur of the Year Award, one of the world's most prestigious awards for entre- preneurs. The nominations for the Malta award will remain open for one month, until early February 2018, with the winner to be announced in March. The EY World Entre- preneur of the Year Award will then take place in Monaco in June, bringing together National win- ners from more than 70 countries selected from more than 5,000 nominees. In addition to the Malta Entrepreneur of the Year Award, EY Malta is also opening nomina- tions for the Rising Star Award. The winner of this latter award will also attend the June World Entrepreneur event. The Malta Entrepreneur of the Year and Rising Star awards were launched in 2017. Alfred Pisani, Chairman of Corinthia Group, and David Vella, co-founder and CEO, Altaro Software, were the respec- tive winners. In Monaco last June, they joined an elite group of busi- ness leaders including the even- tual 2017 World Entrepreneur of the Year winner, Murad Al-Katib. Al-Katib founded the Canadian firm AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. in 2003 and it has since grown into the world's largest vertically integrated supply chain for len- tils, chickpeas and peas. The busi- ness went public in 2007 and has revenues of US$1.49billion, with more than 2,000 employees on five continents. He joins a list of il- lustrious winners of the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award which includes Jeff Bezos, Eddie Jordan, Michael Dell, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Moreover, more than half of the top 100 companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange are run by previous award win- ners. Ronald Attard, Managing Part- ner at EY Malta, said, "The first edition of the Malta Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2017 was a great success. The calibre of the nominees; their entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, the impact they have had both in Malta and internationally, their integrity, and of course their commercial success, was truly impressive. We're very confident that there are many more entrepreneurs in Malta who have all these qualities, and we look forward to receiving their nominations in January. The opportunity which the Malta win- ners have to network with some of the world's greatest business peo- ple is unique so I would definitely encourage any entrepreneur who is active in Malta to consider par- ticipating." The Malta Entrepreneur of the Year award is judged by an inde- pendent panel made up of key figures from the business commu- nity. The 2018 judging panel will include; Joseph A Gasan, Chair- man, Gasan Group, Bernie Mizzi, Director Chiswick House School and St Martin's College, Andy Beane, CEO HSBC Bank Malta plc, Frank Farrugia, President Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and Paul Abela, President GRTU. To be eligible, nominees must either be Maltese or have been op- erating a company based in Malta for at least two years. Anyone can nominate an entrepreneur as long as consent has been given for the nomination to be made. Further information can be ob- tained by sending an email to: theo.dix@mt.ey.com Maltese national drives EY's success in 22 countries EY's Transaction Advisory Services wins three Mergermarket M&A Awards EY'S Transaction Advisory Ser- vices (TAS) practice has been awarded the CEE Financial Ad- viser of the Year 2017 by Merger- market, an independent merg- ers and acquisitions intelligence and data provider, at a ceremony in London. The Mergermarket M&A Awards are the most cov- eted accolades in the deal indus- try across Europe; EY previously won the award in 2016. EY's TAS practice was also named the Accountancy Firm of the Year in Europe for the seventh time in eight years. EY previously won the Accountancy Firm of the Year award in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010. For the first time at the awards, EY's Transaction Advisory Ser- vices also won the European Mid-Market M&A Adviser of the Year Award. TAS is recognised for develop- ing trusted relationships with executives by delivering high- quality and exceptional client service at all times – driven by EY's purpose to build a better working world. In the year under review, TAS ranked a clear first in the number of deals and a very close second in term of deal val- ues. EY TAS is represented in 22 countries across Central and Southeastern Europe with 590 TAS professionals and is led by Ronald Attard from Malta. The award recognises EY's preemi- nence in Europe and it also caps an outstanding 2017 for EY TAS in CSE. Ronald Attard, who is also EY Malta's Managing Partner, said that the outstanding perfor- mance was a cumulative output of a legacy of driving success for businesses in the mid-market. "We are with our mid-market and family business clients from beginning to end, bringing tai- lored solutions across their en- tire journeys," he said. "This is enabled by our world class teams, commitment to entre- preneurialism and investment in innovative tools to support the midmarket, including Growing Beyond Borders™ and EY Growth Navigator™. This recognition of our success continues to drive all of us to keep aiming higher. Fi- nally, as a Maltese national lead- ing this success in 22 countries across Central and Southeastern Europe, I am particularly proud to spread such a positive message about our country." Vodafone Malta scoops family- friendly measures award in Worker of the Year Awards VODAFONE Malta has won the award for being the best company to offer family-friendly meas- ures during this year's edition of the Worker of the Year National Awards. Organised by the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, the awards celebrate best prac- tice and the improvement of the worker's personal and pro- fessional development on the workplace. The award for best family-friendly measures was introduced in this year's edition, and aims to recognise companies which support their employees by giving them the peace of mind to raise their families and by help- ing them find a healthy work-life balance. Equality Minister Hele- na Dalli praised those companies who were helping more people to keep on working whilst rais- ing children or caring for elderly parents. Vodafone Malta's Head of Hu- man Resources Dollsy Darmanin said that Vodafone recognised the importance of supporting its employees and their families to cope with their personal and family responsibilities, minimise stress levels and burnout, and to consequently maximise work performance. "We have pioneered f lexible working and mobile working, al- lowing employees to alter their start and finish times as well as to work from home or anywhere with internet access," Darmanin said. "Vodafone has also revolution- ised maternity leave by offering 17 weeks of fully paid leave to new mothers – an extra three weeks over and above the statu- tory entitlement. Upon return from maternity, female employ- ees benefit from six months on reduced hours of 30 hours per week whilst maintaining full sal- ary and benefits applicable for 40 hours. This allows the mother to really maximise the time spent with her newborn until the child reaches one year of age. "In addition, through the 'Mummy Roster', mothers with children under the age of eight who work in departments which operate on shifts are exempted from working the evening shifts. This initiative was very well- received by employees who work shifts as they can cope better with their children's school hours and extracurricular activities." PKF Annual global gathering in Munich COMPANY officials from PKF Malta recently joined a record number of delegates to discuss new opportunities and industry challenges at the global gathering in Munich. During this gathering the delegates had the opportunity to discuss the future challenges and opportunities of the accounting profes- sion, including practical steps on topics such as AI, blockchain, digitalisation and generational changes. During the introductory meet- ing those present welcomed the sixteen new members from across the globe. The International Board also endorsed the new brand book which highlights the firm's policy to enrich the lives of PKF employ- ees and clients through our entre- preneurial and innovative global brand. The underly- ing policy is that the power of the global brand can only be maximised if all members adopt and leverage the val- ues, messaging and visuali- sations. The highlight of the meet- ing were the business ses- sions presented by Franziska Krauskopf, Head of Centre of Excellence Consulting, enti- tled 'What does the future hold?.' The event came to an end at a grand finale gala dinner, which was hosted at the BMW museum, showcasing amazing classical and futuristic automobiles. EY launches Malta Entrepreneur of Year 2018 Award Alfred Pisani Winner of EY Malta Entrepreneur of the Year 2017