"I established Asteria Advisory to offer specialised legal and advisory services to public and private sector operators within the maritime, aviation and, more recently, space sectors,” Dr Spiteri explains. “These are highly regulated industries that require specialist expertise if operators are to fully benefit from Malta’s legal, fiscal and regulatory framework as a European jurisdiction.”

“Formal academic specialisation in air and space law remains relatively uncommon,” Dr Spiteri notes. “I have deliberately invested in developing expertise in this field because I believe it complements my background in maritime and aviation law and allows me to support both public and private stakeholders as these sectors increasingly converge.”

This expertise is especially valuable in new and emerging industries, where the regulatory framework is still developing, such as space.

“It is a very exciting time for the space industry,” Dr Spiteri states. “The legal framework is still developing, and I firmly believe that Malta is well placed to become an important player in the space sector, just as it has done in maritime and aviation.”

Dr Spiteri believes that Malta’s potential lies particularly in downstream space applications, such as broadband internet, data services, navigation and positioning, Earth observation, critical infrastructure, emergency services and national security. While Malta may not have launch facilities, it already has a strong company law framework, an established professional services ecosystem, and experience in developing licensing and registration regimes.

“As a jurisdiction, Malta has the advantage of EU membership, a robust legal framework, and legal documentation available in English,” she explains. “The aviation and maritime registers are prime examples of how Malta has successfully built internationally relevant regulatory structures.”

She also points out that Malta has a developing community of scientific and technical experts that can support the growth of space-related activity locally.

“There is no good reason why Malta cannot be active in the development of space law and space-related services. This will create demand for specialised advisory and support services as investors within the space industry turn their sights to Malta as an investment destination,” Dr Spiteri says.

Asteria Advisory was established to bridge legal expertise with practical commercial insight across the maritime, aviation and emerging space sectors.

“Each legal regime has its own particular features, but there are also important common principles,” Dr Spiteri explains. “Understanding both allows me to support public institutions in developing policy while helping private operators navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments.”

As a result of her experience and focus, Asteria Advisory is positioned to offer tailor-made advice to private sector operators within these industries.

“Regulation within the maritime, aviation and space sectors is constantly evolving,” Dr Spiteri explains. “Operators must navigate technical and legal compliance, documentation, digitalisation, cybersecurity, data protection, environmental requirements and sector-specific operational rules. These are not isolated issues; they interact with each other.”

She adds that while the cost of compliance can be high, it can also be strategic.

“There is a difficult balance to be achieved between compliance, quality, affordability and sustainability,” Dr Spiteri says. “The best way to achieve that balance is through in-depth knowledge of the relevant requirements, including the interdependencies and synergies between them. This is exactly where Asteria Advisory positions itself within the market."