Written by Dr Geraldine Spiteri Lucas has been appointed President of the Corporate Registers Forum, the global association of corporate registries, with over 70 corporate registries across the globe sharing best practices to raise standards within the sector.
This appointment was formally made during the organisation’s annual general meeting which was held in Tunisia earlier this week.
Dr. Spiteri Lucas expressed her gratitude and satisfaction with such an achievement, emphasising that it not only signifies a personal milestone but also carries a great responsibility. She highlighted the importance of showcasing the Maltese jurisdiction on a global stage, ensuring that Malta receives the recognition it truly deserves.
“I am delighted and honoured to have been named as President of the Corporate Registers Forum, the highest platform for business registry experts and professionals to exchange ideas, enhance international collaboration and best practices, globally. Such appointment resonates how Malta and the Malta Business Registry are highly regarded from international colleagues in view of the significant achievement over the past few years and as demonstrated when Malta hosted the Corporate Registers Forum Annual General Conference two years ago. I am looking forward to this role through which my aim is to ensure that the necessary knowledge is provided to bring all registers on par with the international standards sought after by international institutions, the encouragement of the exchange of experiences as well as ensuring to put Malta as a point of reference” said Dr Spiteri Lucas.
Prior to her appointment as President, Dr. Geraldine Spiteri Lucas served as a member of the CRF Executive Committee and as Chair of the Beneficial Ownership Working Group within the Corporate Registers Forum (CRF). Earlier this year, under her leadership, the CRF met in Malta and developed a set of criteria for members to meet in the field of beneficial ownership. Together with this initiative, Dr Spiteri Lucas also hosted the CRF global BO Working Group, bringing together multiple registries as well as EU legislators to discuss the importance of beneficial ownership in a global capacity. Dr Spiteri Lucas’ distinguished career in Corporate Law as well as being Malta’s leader on Beneficial Ownership, reflects her outstanding contributions to her field, she has demonstrated her commitment to both innovation and leadership in her respective sector. Her work has been instrumental in emphasising the significant importance of maintaining up-to-date, accurate registers across all jurisdictions, a key factor in ensuring transparency and trust in corporate governance. Dr Spiteri Lucas, a lawyer by profession is the Registrar of Companies and other legal persons and heads the Malta Business Registry.
Dr. Spiteri Lucas also expressed her gratitude to her predecessor, Ms. Louise Smyth, former CEO of UK Companies House, for her dedicated work and leadership in advancing the CRF’s mission.
As President, Dr. Spiteri Lucas will serve an initial two-year term, during which she will oversee the completion of the CRF’s ambitious five-year transformation program. She will also play a central role in ensuring the active participation of CRF members in the global Registry Insights initiative.
Announcing the news, General Secretary Martin Fidler Jones said “It is a great honour to welcome Dr Spiteri Lucas as President of our global association, having rapidly established herself as a trusted voice on international corporate registry matters, and demonstrating calm leadership”.
Dr. Geraldine Spiteri Lucas Eletta President tal-Forum tar-Reġistri tan-Negozji (CRF)
Dr. Geraldine Spiteri Lucas inħatret President tas-CRF, il-Forum tar-Reġistri tan-Negozji, li hija l-assoċjazzjoni globali għar-reġistri tan-negozji b’aktar minn 70 reġistru korporattiv minn madwar id-dinja u li jaqsmu bejniethom l-aħjar prattiċi biex dejjem jgħollu l-istandards fis-settur tan-negozju.
Din il-ħatra saret formalment waqt il-laqgħa ġenerali annwali tal-organizzazzjoni li saret fit-Tuneżija aktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa.
Dr. Spiteri Lucas esprimiet il-gratitudni u s-sodisfazzjon tagħha għal din il-ħatra prestiġġjuża, filwaqt li enfasizzat li din il-kariga mhux biss tfisser pass importanti personali għaliha, iżda hija wkoll kariga li ġġorr responsabbiltà kbira. Hija enfasizzat l-importanza li l-ġurisdizzjoni Maltija tiġi ppreżentata fuq ix-xena globali, biex jiġi żgurat li Malta tirċievi r-rikonoxximent li tassew jistħoqqilha.
“Ninsab kuntenta u onorata li ġejt nominata bħala President tal-Forum tar-Reġistri tan-Negozji , l-ogħla pjattaforma għall-esperti u l-professjonisti tar-reġistri tan-negozju fejn niskambjaw ideat u ntejbu l-kollaborazzjoni internazzjonali, u l-aħjar prattiċi, globalment. Ħatra bħal din tirrifletti kemm Malta u r-Reġistru tan-Negozju ta’ Malta huma apprezzati mill-kollegi internazzjonali fid-dawl tal-kisbiet sinifikanti matul l-aħħar ftit snin u kif intwera meta Malta ospitat il-Konferenza Ġenerali Annwali tal-Forum tar-Reġistri tan-Negozji sentejn ilu. Ninsab ħerqana għal dan ir-rwol li permezz tiegħu l-għan tiegħi huwa li niżgura li l-għarfien meħtieġ jiġi pprovdut biex ir-reġistri kollha jkunu fuq l-istess livell tal-istandards internazzjonali mfittxija mill-istituzzjonijiet internazzjonali, l-inkoraġġiment tal-iskambju ta’ esperjenzi kif ukoll li niżgura li Malta titqiegħed bħala punt ta’ referenza” qalet Dr Spiteri Lucas.
Qabel il-ħatra tagħha bħala President, Dr. Geraldine Spiteri Lucas serviet bħala membru tal-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tas-CRF u bħala President tal-Grupp ta’ Ħidma dwar is-Sjieda Benefiċjarja fi ħdan l-istess Forum tar-Reġistri tan- (CRF). Aktar kmieni din is-sena, taħt it-tmexxija tagħha, is-CRF iltaqa’ f’Malta u żviluppa sett ta’ kriterji li l-membri għandhom jissodisfaw fil-qasam tas-sjieda benefiċjarja. Flimkien ma’ din l-inizjattiva, Dr Spiteri Lucas ospitat ukoll il-grupp ta’ ħidma magħruf bħala l-BO Working Group, li ġabar flimkien diversi reġistri kif ukoll leġiżlaturi tal-Unjoni Ewropea fejn kienet diskussa l-importanza tas-sjieda benefiċjarja f’kapaċità globali. Il-karriera distinta ta’ Dr Spiteri Lucas fil-Liġi Korporattiva kif ukoll il-fatt li hija l-mexxejja ta’ Malta dwar is-Sjieda Benefiċjarja, tirrifletti l-kontribuzzjonijiet eċċellenti tagħha f’dan il-qasam fejn uriet l-impenn tagħha kemm għall-innovazzjoni kif ukoll għat-tmexxija fis-settur rispettiv. Il-ħidma tagħha kienet strumentali fejn ingħatat enfasi fuq l-importanza sinifikanti li jinżammu reġistri aġġornati u preċiżi fil-ġurisdizzjonijiet kollha, fattur ewlieni biex tiġi żgurata t-trasparenza u l-fiduċja fil-governanza korporattiva. Dr Spiteri Lucas, hija avukat fil-professjoni tagħha u hija r-Reġistratur tal-Kumpaniji u persuni ġuridiċi oħra u l-Kap Eżekuttiv tar-Reġistru tan-Negozju ta’ Malta.
Dr Spiteri Lucas esprimiet ukoll il-gratitudni tagħha lill-predeċessura tagħha, is-Sinjura Louise Smyth, eks CEO ta’ UK Companies House, għax-xogħol dedikat u t-tmexxija tagħha fl-avvanz tal-missjoni CRF.
Bħala President, Dr Spiteri Lucas se sservi mandat inizjali ta’ sentejn, li matulu se tkun qed tara li jitlesta l-programm ambizzjuż ta’ trasformazzjoni tas-CRF li hu mifrux fuq ħames snin. Hija se jkollha wkoll rwol ċentrali biex tiżgura l-parteċipazzjoni attiva tal-membri tas-CRF fl-inizjattiva globali Registry Insights.
Meta ħabbar din il-ħatra, is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Forum għar-Reġistri tan-Negozji Martin Fidler Jones qal: “Huwa unur kbir li nilqgħu lil Dr Spiteri Lucas bħala l-President tal-assoċjazzjoni globali tagħna. Dr Spiteri Lucas malajr stabbiliet ruħha fostna bħala vuċi ta’ fiduċja fejn jidħlu kwistjonijiet tar-reġistru tan-negozji fuq livell internazzjonali u wriet tmexxija tajba”.