Hon. Lorna Smith, OBE is a distinguished public servant and business leader with decades of experience in government, financial services and the private sector in the British Virgin Islands.

She played a key role in establishing BVI Finance and led the BVI International Finance Centre, promoting the BVI’s financial services industry internationally. Prior to becoming Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade in 2023, she held senior roles in the private sector and served as a director of several BVI businesses.

Hon. Smith has been instrumental in strengthening the BVI’s global reputation as a leading financial centre and tourist destination and played an important role in the territory’s recovery following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contribution to public service in the BVI and is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

Mc Claude Emmanuel serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of Saint Lucia, providing strategic leadership for the administration and continued development of the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme.

With more than a decade of executive leadership experience across the public and private sectors, Mr. Emmanuel has built expertise in organizational transformation, strategic planning, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Management from the University of the West Indies and an MBA in Marketing from King Graduate School. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Business Professional in Marketing.

Throughout his career, Mr. Emmanuel has held senior leadership roles in telecommunications, media, marketing, and human resource development. His previous positions include Human Resources Project Officer at LUCELEC, General Manager of Radio St. Lucia Company Ltd. and McDowell Broadcasting Ltd., and senior marketing and mobile leadership roles at Cable & Wireless (St. Lucia).

As CEO of the CIU, Mr. Emmanuel oversees the Unit’s strategic direction, operations, governance, and service delivery, leading a multidisciplinary team of approximately forty professionals. He is focused on strengthening compliance, transparency, due diligence, risk management, digital transformation, and operational efficiency.

Through collaboration, innovation, accountability, and strong international partnerships, Mr. Emmanuel is committed to positioning Saint Lucia as a trusted destination for reputable global investors while ensuring that the Citizenship by Investment Programme delivers sustainable, long-term value to the people of Saint Lucia.

Kurt Farrugia is Chief Executive Officer of Residency Malta, the government agency responsible for administering Malta’s residency-by-investment and temporary residence programmes, including the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), the Nomad Residence Permit and the Malta Startup Residence Programme. With an accomplished career spanning public administration, strategic communications and executive leadership, Kurt brings extensive experience in governance, stakeholder engagement and organisational transformation across the public sector. Throughout his career, he has held a number of senior leadership positions, leading multidisciplinary teams and driving initiatives that have strengthened institutional performance, enhanced public service delivery and fostered collaboration between the public and private sectors. He has served as Head of Government Communications and spokesperson to the Prime Minister, Chief Executive Officer of Malta Enterprise, where he led the agency to major investments, building the start-ups ecosystem as well as assisting local businesses through various initiatives, and most recently Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta. As CEO of Residency Malta, Kurt is focused on building on the Agency’s strong foundations while steering it towards its next phase of growth and excellence.

Lorna Smith, OBE, has several decades of experience at the highest levels of public service in the British Virgin Islands and has spent the last decade supporting Caribbean governments, corporations, and individuals in various commercial ventures. She played a pivotal role in establishing BVI Finance, a public-private partnership devoted to business development and the promotion of the financial services industry. Prior to being elected to the House of Assembly in 2023 and serving as Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Labour and Trade for seventeen months, she served as a Director of several BVI businesses.

Over the course of her senior-level public service, Lorna has developed extensive relationships with leaders from the business community, international NGOs, and government leaders from around the world. She has been one of the key “engineers” behind the BVI’s rise from relative obscurity to its present position as a top-flight tourist destination and one of the premier centres for global finance. Her unique experience and expertise in facilitating collaboration between the public, private, and non-profit sectors, both within the BVI and across different nations, gives her special insights into the challenges and opportunities facing organizations seeking to operate in the BVI and across the Caribbean.

In 2002, Lorna took the helm of the BVI International Finance Centre, which is charged with promoting the BVI’s financial services. She worked closely with the private sector, mounting promotional events in London, New York, Miami, Zurich, Geneva, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Lorna was also pivotal in helping restore the financial services industry in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, through her leadership and communications skills. She also played a vital role within Government, particularly on the interim Recovery Board, as well as through the Rotary Club of Tortola, where she raised significant sums to aid recovery efforts and support those in need.

Lorna was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to public service in the British Virgin Islands. She is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her contributions to Rotary.

• BA Hons
• Post-graduate diploma in International Insolvency Law Society of Trustees and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Diploma

Carlos Moura, 56, is Coordinating Director of AICEP Portugal Global in the United States and Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Portugal in Washington, D.C., a position he has held since September 2024.

With more than 30 years of experience in internationalization, investment, and economic diplomacy, he has held senior AICEP/ICEP positions across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil, the Nordic markets, and the United States. His career has focused on promoting Portuguese businesses internationally, attracting investment, and strengthening bilateral economic relations.

He has also served on the boards of several international business associations, including EuroCham Singapore, the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo.

Carlos holds a degree in Public Management and Administration from the University of Lisbon, postgraduate qualifications in Diplomatic Studies and Management and Organizational Innovation, and a certificate in International Development from University College Dublin. He is fluent in English and Italian, with good knowledge of Spanish and French.