The Mediterranean aha Forum, in Partnership with VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings
18 March 2026 — Malta Marriott Resort & Spa
Leaders from government, banking and finance, hospitality, tourism, business and advocacy gather to examine how accessibility is shaping the future of travel, employment and destination competitiveness.
The full programme for The Mediterranean aha Forum, in Partnership with VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings, is set out below.
Morning Programme
09.10 – 09.55
Registration and Welcome Refreshments
09.55 – 10.00
Introduction to the Day
Miriam Greenaway — HelmsBriscoe, Event MC
Leadership
10.00 – 10.10
Opening of the Forum
Dr Ian Borg — Deputy Prime Minister of Malta and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism
10.10 – 10.20
Welcome
Shawn Pisani — Vice President, HelmsBriscoe & Malta Lead, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
10.20 – 10.25
Keynote Address
Julia Farrugia — Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing, Government of Malta
10.25 – 10.50
Keynote Address
H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca — President Emeritus of Malta
Exploring accessibility as a defining factor in social inclusion, economic growth and national development
10.50 – 11.05
Keynote Address
Oliver Scicluna — CEO, Aġenzija Sapport
Opportunities for employers embracing people living with disability as colleagues
Destination Strategy
11.05 – 11.20
Tolene van der Merwe — Director UK & Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority
Building Malta’s accessibility blueprint so everyone can travel
Q&A
Lived Experience
11.20 – 11.30
Shelley Cowan — Associate Partner, BB Merchant Services
Sharing the journey from inaccessible to accessible hospitality
11.30 – 11.40
Table Reflection Discussions
11.40 – 11.55
Shared Reflections and Speaker Response
11.55 – 12.05
Open Q&A with Shelley
12.05 – 13.15
Lunch
Afternoon Programme
Lived Experience
13.15 – 13.25
Lived Experience Perspective
Angela Bettoni — Writer, Performer and Advocate
A personal perspective on accessibility and belonging
13.25 – 13.40
In Conversation with Robin Sheppard
Robin Sheppard — Chair, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
Interviewed by Piers Zangana — Director, Susa Comms
Don’t let paralysis from the neck down stop you building the UK’s largest independent hotel group
13.40 – 13.50
Table Reflection Discussions
13.50 – 14.05
Shared Reflections and Speaker Response
14.05 – 14.15
Open Q&A with Robin
Collective Discussion Roundtables
14.15 – 14.40
Roundtable discussions exploring how accessibility is shaping hospitality, tourism, design and employment across organisations and destinations.
14.40 – 14.55
Roundtable Leads Summaries
14.55 – 15.05
Roundtable Q&A
The Access Champions Collective
15.05 – 15.20
Denis Sheehan — Managing Director, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
Charlotte Evans — Group Partnerships Director, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
The Access Champions Collective: how a movement becomes a community
Open Q&A with Charlotte and Denis
Closing Address
15.20 – 15.30
Shawn Pisani
Performance
15.30 – 15.45
A live dance performance by Angela Bettoni and her dance partner Luke
Reception
15.45 – 17.15
Following Angela and Luke’s dance performance, drinks and canapés will be served in the adjoining foyer.