Program
IV FORUM ISLAS DEL MAR
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS
"Being a Woman on an Island:
Identity, Challenges & Leadership"
Valletta Local Council, 33–36 Triq it-Teżorerija | 09:00 – 13:30
PROGRAMME
09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
Participant welcome and registration.
09:30 – 09:45 | Opening Session
Moderator: Ms Kylie Vella — Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Spazju
Kreattiv; former Government spokesperson
Presentation of the mission of the Islas del Mar – United Women of the Islands initiative.
Objective: to strengthen island communities and promote cooperation among European
islands.
Main Speakers
• Mr Olaf McKay — Mayor of Valletta (Malta), representing the local authorities
(City of Valletta; Local Councils’ Association – LCA)
• Ms Ylenia Montfort — Minority Leader, Valletta Local Council
• Ms Anna Maria Muscat Fenech Adami — Ambassador of Malta to Bulgaria; Islas
del Mar Project Representative in Malta
• Ms Isabel Vera — Founder and President of EURINSULA (international insular
organisation); Founder of the Islas del Mar Project; Ambassador for the Islands
Network
Key themes:
• Presentation of the project’s vision and mission
• Women’s empowerment across island communities
• Introduction to the forum’s guiding theme and roundtables
PANEL I | Women, Leadership and Change
10:00 – 10:45
A discussion on women’s roles in politics, institutions and international entrepreneurship,
with contributions from different island realities.
Moderator: Ms Kylie Vella
Speakers:
• Dr Marthese Portelli — CEO, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise & Industry;
former Member of Parliament
• H. E. Marlene Mizzi — former Member of the European Parliament; Maltese Ambassador
• Dr Alessia Psaila Savona — lawyer; former Mayor and local councillor
• Ms Sarah Bajada — TV presenter and author
• Ms Neus Serra — Secretary General, Federation of Local Entities of the Balearic Islands
(FELIB), Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)
PANEL II | Culture, Identity and Intercultural Dialogue
10:45 – 11:30
A conversation on culture, identity, sustainability and insular communities, with
contributions from other islands.
Speakers:
• Dr Audrey Testaferrata de Noto — architect; public officer (Transport Malta /
Infrastructure Malta)
• Ms Kylie Vella — Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Spazju Kreattiv
• Dr Jessica Galea — lawyer; former Armed Forces of Malta official
• Prof. Maria Cordina — Professor of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of
Malta
• Ms Angela Scarpa — Councillor for Social and Youth Policies, Municipality of Iglesias
(Sardinia, Italy)
• Dr Giusi Gradoli — international archaeologist and geologist (Sardinia, Italy)
11:30 – 11:45 | COFFEE BREAK
PANEL III | Women’s Empowerment, Innovation and the Future
11:45 – 12:30
A discussion on entrepreneurship, education, social innovation and international
networks, with contributions from different islands.
Speakers:
• Marygrace Pisani — fashion designer; founder, Cessani
• H. E. Dr Maria Cardona — lawyer and diplomat; non-resident Ambassador
of Malta
• H. E. Dr Julianne Scerri Ferrante — diplomat; member, UN Committee on
the Rights of the Child
• Dr Josianne Cutajar — lawyer; former Member of the European Parliament
• Ms Lili Kankaya — Senior Executive and Horizon Europe NCP, Xjenza
Malta
• Ms Marcella Onida — CEO, Green Social Bench (Sardinia, Italy)
12:30 – 13:00 | AUDIENCE DISCUSSION & Q&A
Questions and interventions from the audience.
13:00 – 13:30 | CLOSING REMARKS
Symbolic moment and official photos.