MFSA Chairman Calls On Industry To Rethink Regulation At GRC Week

Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) are not a box-ticking exercise but the bedrock of a resilient and internationally competitive financial system. That was the clear message from Jesmond Gatt, the Chairman of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), during his speech at GRC Week Malta 2026.

The event, jointly hosted by the MFSA and the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) brought together industry leaders, regulators, policymakers, and academics.

Gatt used his address to reframe how the industry should think about regulation. “Good governance, sound risk management, and strong compliance cultures are the bedrock of Malta's financial system,” he said. “At the MFSA, we see GRC not as a regulatory obligation, but as a strategic enabler of resilience, trust, and long-term sectoral growth,” Gatt added.

Reflecting on the Authority's supervisory progress, Gatt pointed to investment in supervisory capacity, a risk-based approach, and a focus on elevating standards across the industry as evidence of the MFSA's commitment to building a financial ecosystem that is robust, transparent, and internationally competitive.

This year's programme explored the evolving regulatory landscape across a broad range of themes, including ESG integration, operational resilience, financial crime compliance, sustainable finance, data-driven oversight, and the risks and opportunities presented by digital innovation and artificial intelligence.

The collaboration between the MFSA and the MSE at the event reaffirmed both institutions' shared commitment to a future-ready financial services sector, as Malta continues aligning with EU regulatory developments across capital markets, operational resilience, and digital transformation.