Who We Are

Board of Administrators

HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca’

Chairperson
Former President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca served in politics for 45 years and was a Member of Parliament for 16 years. She was the very first elected female General Secretary of one of the two main political parties in Malta. Coleiro Preca also served at the Council of Europe. As Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, she initiated numerous social reforms. The Maltese Parliament unanimously elected Ms Coleiro Preca as President of Malta in 2014.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was President of Malta between 2014 and 2019.

Coleiro Preca founded and chairs The Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, The Malta Trust Foundation, The Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation Malta, and Fondazzjoni Nazareth.

President Emeritus Coleiro Preca is President of Eurochild and the Mediterranean Children’s Movement.

Mr Carmel Briffa

Treasurer

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Organization

Administration

Julia Spiteri

Accounts and HR Officer

Lianne Cassar

Projects Coordinator Gozo

Dr Fransina Abela

Fransina Abela is currently an independent law practitioner and a visiting part time law lecturer and mentor at the UOM. She graduated as Doctor of Laws in 2008 and her professional legal experience spanning over the years covers Judiciary Assistance at the Family Court, Defender of the Bond for the Maltese Curia, an associate at RMA Legal in charge of litigation, Compliance, and Corporate Governance and having served on the board of directors of a number of private companies. She presently also holds directorships on boards of charitable and philanthropic entities.

Prior to branching into the legal field, Fransina had obtained diplomas in music, specializing in piano teaching, and also a bachelor’s degree in Music and Psychology.

Subsequently she set up her own Music School and introduced successful innovative teaching techniques as a result of which the School attained a high standard of piano proficiency.

Her involvement in the music field saw her setting up EPTA (MALTA) in conjunction with the late Professor Maestro Charles Camilleri and served as its President for 20 years during which a number of music events including piano recitals, National Piano Competitions and music teaching courses were organized for the benefit of Maltese teachers and students.

Fransina’s interests include reading, listening to music, and traveling.

Mr Carmel Briffa

Carmel Briffa joined the civil service on 14/12/1977 and was posted at the Inland Revenue Department up to 4/4/2014 with a short break at the customs department where he served as an Assistant Director. In 2011 he was appointed as Director of Capital Transfer Duty within the Inland Revenue Department.

In 2014 Carm was appointed Secretary to the Presidency of Malta. During the tenor of former President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, he was appointed on the boards of the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, The Emmanuelle Cancer Research Foundation and the Presidents Trust Foundation.

He retired from the civil service on 9th May 2022 in the grade of Director General

Mr Michael Bianchi

Michael joined the family business, Bianchi Group Limited, established over one hundred and fifty years ago. He was instrumental in driving diversification and founded a multitude of companies with multiple interests. Michael established companies in Malta and internationally and has been involved in Shipping and Logistics, Transportation and Ferry operations, Insurance, Property development, Hospitality and Leisure, Airports and Airport retailing, Online and Land based Gaming, Mobile telephony, internet related businesses, Finance and banking, Tech and IT, Education, Healthcare, amongst other activities.

Michael is a founder member of the Vodafone Foundation, a founder member on the board of the President’s Trust and a founder member of the board of Administrators of the Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation as well as a Board Member on the Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. He is Honorary Consul General for the Republic of Austria and was awarded by Austria the Medal of Honour in 2008 and the Grand Decoration of Honour in 2018. In 2018 Michael was conferred as a member of the National Order of Merit by Malta

Chairperson

THE Marie Louise Coleiro Preca

Former President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca served in politics for 45 years and was a Member of Parliament for 16 years. She was the very first elected female General Secretary of one of the two main political parties in Malta. Coleiro Preca also served at the Council of Europe. As Minister for Family and Social Solidarity, she initiated numerous social reforms. The Maltese Parliament unanimously elected Ms Coleiro Preca as President of Malta in 2014.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was President of Malta between 2014 and 2019.

Coleiro Preca founded and chairs The Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, The Malta Trust Foundation, The Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation Malta, and Fondazzjoni Nazareth.

President Emeritus Coleiro Preca is President of Eurochild, and the Mediterranean Children’s Movement.

She is also Member of the Council of World Women Leaders, and Member of the WPL Global Forum Advisory Board.

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree, in Legal and Humanistic Studies, and a Notary Public from the University of Malta. Ms Coleiro Preca is also an Honorary Professor of the University of Warwick, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Leicester (UK), and an Honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Malta.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca is deeply passionate and vociferous about improving the lives of the most vulnerable in society, continuing to be so throughout her life, Her Presidency, and beyond. She is a strong advocate, and an avid speaker on a number of social issues including social justice, equality and equity, children’s rights and gender equality.

Mr Charles Borg

Charles Borg is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (UK) and holds a banking degree and a Masters degree in financial legislation from the University of Malta. He retired from Bank of Valletta plc in December 2015 following a career of 34 years during which he occupied various senior management positions, including that of Chief Executive Officer between 2011 and 2015. He has occupied directorship positions of listed companies in Malta and was appointed Chairman of the Housing Authority during the period 2008 to 2011.

He also chaired the Audit Boards of the European Investment Fund, which is a subsidiary of the European Investment Bank. Mr Borg also served as a director on the World’s Savings Bank in Brussels and was also the President of the Institute of Financial Services and the President of the Malta Bankers Association.
Mr Borg is currently the CEO of PG p.l.c. and Executive Director at PG p.l.c. and sits on the board of a number of locally listed companies.

Professor Josanne Cutajar

JosAnn Cutajar is a lecturer in Gender and Sexualities Department at the University of Malta. She has over 20 years of professional experience as a gender and community development expert. She has worked as a consultant with various Maltese government entities.

From 2017-2020 she acted as the coordinator for the Consultative Council for Women’s Rights within the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance. Between 2012-2017 she helped set up the Cottonera Resource Centre within the University of Malta as a university outreach post in a socially deprived area.

This project won the 2016 EPALE award for community engagement. Her publications focus on community development and issues relating to gender and social justice. She has also been involved in a number of EU projects, namely GEPARD (Erasmus+), GenderAction (Horizon 2020) and reSEArch-EU (Horizon 2020).

Mr Alfred Fabri

Alfred Fabri read economics at the University of Malta and business administration at Queen’s University of Belfast. He worked with an international company and in management consulting with a leading firm.

He joined Corinthia Group in 1989 and is currently Group Director and Company Secretary of the parent company CPHCL.
He was formerly chairman of the Planning Authority, a member of the Public Service Reform Commission, and a director of the Malta Development Corporation.

Professor Alexiei Dingli

Professor Alexiei Dingli, is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert and academic. His work at the University of Malta has cemented his academic reputation, establishing him as a key educator and researcher in AI. Prof. Dingli’s career is marked by his pivotal role in aiding various companies to integrate and leverage AI technologies. Internationally recognized for his work, he has received prestigious awards from organizations, including the European Space Agency, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the United Nations to name a few. These honours are a testament to his dedication to AI research and its practical applications. In addition to his extensive peer-reviewed publications, he also contributes to national AI policies. As an integral member of the Malta.AI task force, he is working hard to position Malta as a key player in the global AI arena. Prof. Dingli’s impact extends well beyond his field of study. His ten-year tenure as the Mayor of Valletta is characterized by notable accomplishments, including the establishment of the Valletta Community Network, the creation of the city’s only Youth Centre, and the Valletta Soup Kitchen. He also supports the Malta Trust Foundation in addressing ICT-related challenges.

Ms Anne McKenna

Retired. Main local employment experiences following two London University degree qualifications included:
Lecturer in Economics at Malta University and De La Salle 6th Form.
Sales and Marketing Director for the Levi’s Jeans manufacturing company. Assisted with the survival of the company when Levi’s terminated the outsourcing of their manufacturing in Malta.

Director of MITTS (Malta Information Technology and Training Services). Participated in the setting up of FITA – the Foundation for IT Accessibility.

Employed by Malta Enterprise to attract FDI from UK and India to Malta.

During retirement – was involved in the drafting of the Minimum Standards for Care Homes for the Elderly. Have worked as a volunteer with the Mlata Red Cross, Hospice, the Richmond Foundation, the Foodbank and currently with TMTF and the Soup Kitchen.

Mr Kevin Valenzia

Kevin Valenzia is a chartered accountant, and retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in Malta on 31st December 2017, where he spent over thirty years as a partner, the last eight of which as managing partner. He has been instrumental in helping to develop Malta’s financial services industry and, amongst a number of other appointments, he is a past President of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners, past Chairman of the Financial Services Consultative Council, and one of the first Governors of Finance Malta. He has also been used by successive Governments for advice on the continued development of Malta’s financial services sector. Kevin currently sits on the board of a number of companies as a non-executive director.

Mr Winston Zahra

Winston V. Zahra was born in November of 1940. His primary education was at the Montessori from where he passed on to the Lyceum in Hamrun.

After successfully obtaining a number of O levels, Winston took up teaching as a career and started as an Emergency school teacher. He attended The St Michael’s Training College for Teachers to become a fully qualified teacher. After thirteen years in the teaching profession, he resigned from his teaching to go into business together with his brother Tony. Starting from scratch, the brothers grew the business into a group of Companies, including car hire, Travel, outgoing and incoming, Insurance, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Tour Operating Company in the UK and ultimately the development of the first Aparthotel on the Island.

In 1986, Winston retired from business and sold his portfolio to his brother. However soon after he started another Company, this time with the development of hotels.

These included the Bugibba Holiday Complex, the Coastline hotel, the Radisson Blue in St Julians and ultimately the Radisson Golden Sands. Winston was responsible for the planning and development of all four hotels. The Company, Island Hotels Group, also owned Island Caterers Ltd, a foremost Company in the catering industry. In 2015, Winston decided to retire and sold all his portfolio to the Corinthia Group.

Winston sat on a number of Company Boards and was Chairman of Volksbank for a number of years. He was also a Director of Caritas and a board member of The Malta Trust Foundation.

He was awarded the Order of Merit for his contribution to the Tourism Industry as well as the MHRA Lifetime Achievements award. Winston is the widower of Doris and has two sons Winston J. and Trevor.

Who We Are

HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca’

Mr Carmel Briffa

Dr Fransina Abela

Mr Michael Bianchi

Mr Charles Borg

Professor Josanne Cutajar

Professor Alexiei Dingli

Mr Alfred Fabri

Mr Winston V. Zahra

Empowering Futures

Organization

Administration

Julia Spiteri

Lianne Cassar

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