On 5 May 2026, the Gozo Business Chamber, through Europe Direct Gozo, organised the webinar Women on Boards: Advancing Gender Balance in Leadership in collaboration with Bank of Valletta, Business & Professional Women (Valletta) Malta, and European Women on Boards.
The webinar focused on the implementation of the Women on Boards Directive in Malta and the broader implications that evolving governance expectations are expected to have on leadership structures and board practices.
Throughout the discussion, speakers highlighted that the debate is no longer centred on whether women are qualified for leadership positions, but rather on how pathways to leadership are structured, how candidates are identified, and the extent to which traditional networks continue to influence appointments.
Participants also discussed how developments taking place at European level are likely to influence governance expectations beyond publicly listed companies. Although the Directive specifically applies to large listed companies, speakers noted that expectations surrounding transparency, accountability, and board composition are increasingly shaping the wider business environment, including among SMEs and family businesses.
The webinar emphasised that gender balance at leadership level is not solely about legal compliance or meeting regulatory obligations. Rather, speakers underlined that more balanced leadership structures contribute to stronger governance, improved oversight, broader perspectives in decision-making, enhanced innovation, and better long-term organisational performance.
During her intervention, Mariella Camilleri from BPW Europe and BPW (Valletta) Malta highlighted the measurable business benefits associated with diverse leadership structures, including stronger financial performance, reduced risk exposure, improved governance quality, and more sustainable growth.
Hedwige Nuyens, Chair of European Women on Boards, outlined the principal aspects of the Directive and Malta’s implementation framework, including the targets applicable to listed companies by June 2026, reporting obligations, and the role of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
Opening the session, Michael Galea, President of the Gozo Business Chamber, noted that while the measures are specifically targeted at listed companies, their implications extend much further across the wider business community, particularly within Malta and Gozo’s predominantly small and micro enterprise economy.
In his closing remarks, Daniel Borg, CEO of the Gozo Business Chamber, stressed that the discussion goes beyond merely abiding by laws or formal requirements. He underlined that more balanced leadership brings added richness to decision-making processes, introduces different perspectives, and leads to more informed and forward-looking outcomes.
The webinar also featured interventions by Dr Josianne Cutajar, Gozo Business Chamber Council Member and member of BPW (Valletta) Malta, who moderated the Q&A session, and Jeanelle Aquilina, President of BPW (Valletta) Malta.
Several participants from both Malta and abroad contributed actively during the Q&A session, exchanging views on the practical implications of evolving governance standards and leadership practices.
The full webinar discussion may be viewed through the following link:
👉 View Webinar
The full agenda may be downloaded here:
👉 Agenda – Women on Boards – 2026
The interventions delivered by Michael Galea and Daniel Borg may also be downloaded below:
👉 Michael Galea Intervention
👉 Daniel Borg Intervention
