MALTA DRESSED IN HISTORY WELCOMES THE WORLD: SIGEF WOMEN SUMMIT 2025 HONOURS GLOBAL CHANGE-MAKERS
- PARLIAMENT NEWS
- 23 minutes ago
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Malta – June 18, 2025
Article by Rebeca Riofrio - Parliament News Magazine Press Office
Beneath the golden skies of Malta—a radiant island robed in over 6,000 years of history—the SIGEF Women Summit 2025 unfolded with masterful poise and purpose. Curated with exquisite care by Yonathan Parienti and the Horyou Foundation, this year’s summit was nothing short of extraordinary: a symphony of voices, visions, and victories for women from every corner of the world.
Hosted at the majestic Phoenicia Hotel, a location that whispers with the echoes of centuries past, the summit gathered an exceptional assembly of thought leaders, innovators, philanthropists, and policymakers. The event stands not merely as a conference but as a celebration of possibility, united under the guiding light of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
From the very first notes of the opening ceremony, it was evident that this was a summit where words met action. The Honourable Dr Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, opened the proceedings with a call to bold, inclusive leadership. Later in the morning, Dr Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Public Cleanliness, brought profound clarity to the summit’s commitment to sustainability and gender-forward policy.
The programme was a rich tapestry of sessions that danced from family office evolution to women’s wellness, from purposeful entrepreneurship to the pulsating heart of innovation and AI. Each session was a reflection of how modern womanhood is no longer confined to borders or binary thinking. It is a global force—elevated, interconnected, and unapologetically visionary.
An Unforgettable Line-Up of Luminaries
Among the summit’s many distinguished speakers were:
Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and celebrated artist;Rebeca Riofrio, Chair of the UK Parliamentary Society for Arts, Fashion, and Sports;Christianne Caruana, Director at Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism;Josianne Cutajar, former MEP and esteemed EU Policy Consultant;Holly Scarfone, philanthropist and digital empowerment advocate;as well as businesswomen, real estate magnates, wealth strategists, and artists such as Salwa Arfaoui, Monica Espinosa, Kimia Penton, Virginia Schmidt, and Melissa Gatt, all leaving a trace of inspiration through their presence and voices.
Noteworthy figures like Frederic Chesnais and Paul-Helie Magdelenat of AlphaVerse bridged the world of blockchain with ethical innovation, while Malta’s own Robyn Pratt, General Manager of the Phoenicia, welcomed the international guests with heartfelt Maltese hospitality.
Celebrating Excellence – SIGEF Women Awards 2025
In a moving ceremony bathed in twilight, the SIGEF Women Awards 2025 honoured six extraordinary women whose work echoes across continents and disciplines:
Christiane Caruana for her diplomatic excellence in global women’s causes.
Salwa Arfaoui for revolutionising inclusive real estate in the Middle East.
Mayara Marinov for empowering Latin American women-led startups.
Elizabeth de Moraes for elevating women’s voices in media and global visibility.
Kimia Penton for her unique synthesis of organisational psychology and musical artistry.
Shakira Fenech, Head of SOAR Services at the St Jeanne Antide Foundation, for her tireless advocacy supporting survivors of domestic violence.
Each award was presented not as a culmination, but as a powerful encouragement to continue lighting the path for others.
Special Guests and Global Alliances
The summit was further graced by diplomatic voices including Joanna Raley of the U.S. Embassy, Roja S. Rajan from the Indian High Commission, and Li Na representing China’s embassy—each reinforcing that gender equality is a universal dialogue, not a regional footnote.
Other special guests included Vibhuti Sharma, Aurelia Ferreira, Daisuke Shimakura, Michael Bonello, Elvis Plugis, Luke Navin, and Christiane Daumont, all bringing invaluable insight and international collaboration to the summit.
The Day Unfolded
June 17 Schedule Highlights
09:00–09:30: Opening Ceremony
09:30–10:45: Navigating Wealth and Legacy: The Modern Family Office Evolution
11:00–12:30: Wellness, Balance & Purpose: Redefining Success for Women
14:00–15:30: From Policy to Action: Empowering Women for Global Impact
15:30–16:30: Innovation, AI & the New Economy
16:30–17:00: Relaxation Garden – Energy Alignment Session
17:00–17:45: SIGEF Women Awards Ceremony
18:00: Closing Remarks
Between panels and keynotes, networking flourished. A shared ethos of respect, equality, and hope permeated every conversation—from discussions of art and entrepreneurship to the quiet grace of shared intentions.
A Grateful Acknowledgement
The summit’s triumph could not have been realised without the partnership of strategic sponsors and collaborators including:
Horyou,Horyou Foundation,Visit Malta,CBI / AlphaVerse,Kathryn Luxury Flowers,Grow & Glow,Jacquin & Associés,and Palazzo Bifora.
Media Partners such as us the Parliamentary News Magazine and ELLEDGY Magazine helped ensure the messages reached global audiences.
MALTA DRESSED IN HISTORY WELCOMES THE WORLD: SIGEF WOMEN SUMMIT 2025 HONOURS GLOBAL CHANGE-MAKERS
Looking Ahead
With over 80 countries represented since its inception, and a global media reach surpassing 100 million, SIGEF continues to be a lighthouse for ethical leadership, social innovation, and gender equality.
This 2025 edition, held in Malta—a land where history meets hope—was not simply a summit. It was a declaration. A testament that when women lead, the world listens.
🌍 For more, visit: www.sigefwomen.com📺 Replay the live stream: www.sigefwomen.com/live-streaming📩 Contact: Yonathan.parienti@gmail.com | ☎ +41 79 863 28 69
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