Ganado Meets, Malta’s first law-based podcast reflects Ganado Advocates’ longstanding commitment to sharing knowledge and engaging topics and industries through accessible discussions around the legal, business and commercial developments shaping Malta.
On 21st May 2021, Ganado Advocates launched the first episode of Ganado Meets with a discussion between IP/TMT partner Paul Micallef Grimaud and Malta’s Information and Data Protection Commissioner Ian Deguara, marking the third anniversary of the GDPR’s entry into force. What began as a conversation on data protection and emerging technology has since evolved into a long-running podcast series exploring the industries, ideas and strategic developments shaping Malta’s economic and regulatory landscape.
Five years on, Ganado Meets has grown into a platform spanning technology, transport, maritime, finance, corporate law, employment, intellectual property, sustainability and strategic leadership. Across more than 50 episodes, the series has brought together legal practitioners, regulators, academics, business leaders and industry pioneers to discuss both current developments and the longer-term trends influencing Malta’s future.
Starting the conversation early
From its earliest episodes, Ganado Meets focused on developments that would later become central to international business and regulatory discussions.
In July 2021, Paul Micallef Grimaud met with Prof. Alexei Dingli for one of Malta’s early in-depth podcast discussions on artificial intelligence. At a time when AI was still far from the mainstream public conversation it is today, the episode explored machine learning, algorithmic bias, automated decision-making, privacy and the future regulation of AI systems.
The discussion anticipated many of the themes now central to the global debate on artificial intelligence and reflected the series’ broader commitment to engaging with emerging developments early.
The technology-focused discussions continued with episodes on distributed ledger technology and blockchain, featuring Dr Joshua Ellul and Dr Max Ganado, examining how innovative technologies could reshape industries and regulatory frameworks in Malta and beyond.
Exploring Malta’s strategic sectors
As the podcast evolved, Ganado Meets expanded into Malta’s core economic sectors, particularly transport, maritime and financial services.
The Ganado Meets Transport and Ganado Meets Maritime series explored the development of Malta’s aviation and shipping industries through conversations with leading figures including Captain Charles Pace, Michael Sillato, Ivan Sammut and Riccardo Landini. These episodes examined the growth of the Malta aircraft and ship registries, Malta’s competitiveness as an international jurisdiction and the future of the transport industry.
One particularly distinctive discussion focused on Malta’s emerging space sector. In a 2021 episode with Prof. Kristian Zarb Adami, the podcast explored Malta’s developing space strategy, the regulatory frameworks required to support the sector and the country’s ambitions in areas such as satellite technology and space-related investment. The episode reflected the series’ willingness to engage with unconventional but increasingly relevant industries and highlighted the role legal frameworks can play in supporting innovation and foreign investment.
Conversations beyond regulation
Over time, Ganado Meets also broadened its focus beyond technical legal and industry discussions to address leadership, workplace culture and societal developments.
In one of the podcast’s most listened to finance episodes, Stephanie Farrugia met with Paulianne Nwoko to discuss women’s representation in the finance industry. The discussion explored gender diversity in leadership, mentorship, workplace flexibility and the importance of creating opportunities for women to progress into senior roles.
The podcast later expanded into topics such as workplace wellbeing, sustainable finance and climate-related initiatives, reflecting changing priorities within Malta’s business community. Discussions with Perit David Xuereb, Steve Ellul and Abigail Cutajar examined Malta’s transition towards a greener economy and the growing importance of sustainability within business and finance.
Preserving institutional memory
One of the most distinctive developments within Ganado Meets was the launch of the Strategic Leaders series, led by Max Ganado.
These episodes sought to preserve the institutional memory behind Malta’s development as an international business and financial centre through conversations with individuals who played a direct role in shaping key industries and institutions over the past decades.
Discussions with figures such as Dr David Fabri, Lino Vassallo, Prof. Joe Bannister, Anthony Curmi and Frederick Mifsud Bonnici revisited the origins and evolution of Malta’s financial services, maritime and regulatory sectors, providing valuable insight into the strategic decisions that contributed to Malta’s economic growth and international reputation.
The strong audience engagement with these episodes demonstrated a growing interest in understanding the historical context behind Malta’s modern business landscape.
A platform for meaningful discussion
Over the past five years, Ganado Meets has become more than a podcast series. It has become a platform for informed and forward-looking conversations, bringing together voices from across industries to explore both present challenges and future opportunities.
From early discussions on artificial intelligence and digital innovation, to conversations on sustainability, corporate governance, strategic industries and institutional development, the series has consistently reflected Ganado Advocates’ commitment to contributing to Malta’s evolving legal and business landscape.
Much of the success of Ganado Meets has been made possible by the generosity of its guests and interviewers, whose time, expertise and willingness to share their experiences have helped create a valuable record of the conversations shaping Malta’s industries and institutions.
As Ganado Meets enters its sixth year, the series continues to build on that mission: fostering discussion, sharing expertise and engaging with the developments shaping the future of Malta’s industries and economy.
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