Jesmond Friggieri is the Director and Principal of Malta Leadership Institute. He is also a counsellor, business consultant, coach and mentor. Jesmond earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, a Sacred Theology qualification from Institut Catholique de Toulouse, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Malta. He is also in possession of a Diploma in Systemic Practice from the Tavistock Clinic, UK and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling (University of Malta). Jesmond is currently following a Master’s degree course in Counselling at the University of East London. Jesmond was a team leader at SEDQA and a customer service leader at the Social Policy Information Centre (SPIC) (specialising in Social Security issues). He was also a team member at the Directorate for Educational Services’ Customer Care and Staff Support department. Jesmond lectures at various public and private institutions. He specialises in management and leadership, customer care, organisational behaviour and human resources.

Keith Dimech is an experienced administrative and quality management professional with a strong background in leadership, operations, and process improvement. Currently serving as Administration Manager at the Malta Leadership Institute. Mr. Dimech also lectures within the business sector, sharing practical knowledge and industry insights with students. He had also previously taught ECDL courses, supporting learners in developing essential digital skills.

Prior to this, he spent nearly two decades at De La Rue, progressing into a Process Quality Expert role where he led teams, managed quality systems, and ensured operational excellence through data-driven decision-making. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Quality Assurance and a First-Class Honours degree in Business Leadership.

Mr. Dimech is fully committed to continuous improvement, effective communication, and fostering collaborative environments. Ultimately, he is passionate about supporting learning and development through real-world application.

David Farrugia is a Lecturer in Education, teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas including educational philosophy, inclusive and global education, and academic literacy. He has also supervised a substantial number of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
He is actively involved in institutional quality assurance as an Internal Quality Assurance Verifier (IQV) and Chair of the Internal Quality Assurance Committee, where he leads assessment verification processes, sampling, and contributions to programme redesign in line with MFHEA standards. His academic contributions also include the development of accredited modules and participation as an adjudicator for national digital literacy awards within the Ministry for Education.
His scholarly work includes conference presentations at international level and ongoing research publications, with a focus on inclusive education, mental health and wellbeing in education, and interdisciplinary perspectives on technology and human development.

An experienced educator with over 12 years in the field, Stephen Farrugia has been lecturing 

with MLI since 2024 and has been a member of its core group for a significant period. Farrugia is currently a member of the Programme Design and Review Committee (PDRC) at MLI. He also served as a dissertation tutor, providing guidance through the research and writing process at the undergraduate level. He holds a recognised postgraduate teaching qualification, as well as  a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Malta, reflecting a strong academic and professional background.His interests include collaboration and teamwork in educational settings, as well as the arts,  music, and the humanities as tools for meaningful learning. Farrugia has extensive experience in the music performance sector and in research related to Maltese heritage, including sacred music. He is also interested in cognitive and behavioural understanding, particularly in how  children learn, engage, and respond in different contexts. He values inclusive classroom practices and promotes participation, creativity, and critical thinking.

Simon Farrugia is a Maltese lecturer, researcher, and author whose work sits at the intersection of education and ethnomusicology. He lectures within the School for Educational Studies at the Malta Leadership Institute, where he teaches education-focused study-units and serves as Chairperson of the Research and Research Ethics Committee. His role also includes dissertation supervision, research governance, ethics, quality assurance, and wider academic development.

He holds qualifications in musicology, education, and ethnomusicology, and is currently pursuing doctoral research at the University of Malta. His publications reflect his work across both fields, with interests that include student behaviour and belonging, inclusion, creativity, music education, and Maltese wind band culture. He is the author of The Maltese Wind Band: A Musical Tradition and Its Practice Today (McFarland, 2023), and his forthcoming work turns to the transitions people experience across the life course, and to the ways education, identity, and society shape human development.

Farrugia supervises and examines dissertations at both Bachelor’s and Master’s level, and a number of the projects under his guidance have achieved distinction-level results. Beyond his academic writing, he is also active in broadcasting, documentary filmmaking, and ethnographic film. His creative work includes directing and producing the television documentary series Vjaġġ Mużikali (2011), the documentary film From a Rural Haven to a Tourist Paradise (2011), and the ethnographic film Sounds of Weeping: Funeral Marches in Maltese Society and Culture (2025), which was screened at the ICTMD World Conference in New Zealand. His documentary work has also received international awards and festival recognition. He is a member of the Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale (RILM) Malta National Committee.

Maria Antoinette Debono is a Registered General Nurse with over 24 years of clinical experience in emergency care, with the past 10 years dedicated specifically to Paediatric Emergency Medicine. She currently serves as the Charge Nurse of the Paediatric Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta, a role she has held since 2015. She holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management in Health Sciences and is registered with the Maltese Nursing Council.

Maria Antoinette has developed extensive expertise in Paediatric Emergency Care, clinical leadership, triage, and patient safety within high-acuity environments. She is actively involved in staff education and mentoring, supporting the development of nurses in emergency skills, clinical decision-making, and the management of critically ill children. She also leads the Paediatric Major Incident Team within her department, focusing on preparedness, coordination, and response to paediatric emergencies and surge situations.

Maria Antoinette is also a member of the Paediatric Emergency Care Committee within the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) in the United States, contributing to international discussions and collaboration aimed at advancing paediatric emergency care practices.

Jacqueline Abela De Giovanni resides in Australia and serves as Head of Regional Services at The Centre for Positive Behaviour Support (CPBS), overseeing operations across South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Sydney, and Western Australia. With 30 years of experience in the disability sector, she brings extensive clinical expertise alongside strong strategic leadership.

Jacqueline holds a Diploma in Education (Malta), a Master’s in Early Childhood Education (University of Sheffield, UK), a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (University of Kent, UK), a Master’s in Applied Behaviour Analysis (Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Strategy (Australia). She is also a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA).She has taught students in the areas of disability, applied behaviour analysis, and trauma-informed practice, and supported Master’s students as a dissertation supervisor with Queen’s University Belfast. Jacqueline has also presented at several conferences within the disability field and the science of applied behaviour analysis, sharing her expertise and advancing best practice

Mark Farrugia is a Lecturer at the Malta Leadership Institute and a warranted educator with a strong interest in the transformative potential of creative expression for promoting social inclusion. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Musicology and a Master’s in Music Teaching and Learning, both from the University of Malta. He is also an Associate of the London College of Music (A.L.C.M.) in Piano Performance and a member of the Programme Design and Review Committee (P.R.D.C.) within MLI.

Mark’s research and professional interests centre on the belief that music is one of the most effective tools for inclusive education. He is particularly interested in how music supports learners with autism, ADHD, and speech difficulties, and how it can be used as a pedagogical strategy to support inclusive learning environments. He also explores the role of music in behaviour management, therapy, emotional regulation, and smooth classroom transitions.

Chryso Patsalidou is a Clinical Dietitian–Nutritionist registered with the HCPC (UK) and the Cyprus Dietetic and Nutrition Association. She holds a BSc in Dietetics and Nutrition from the Mediterranean University of Greece and an MSc in Clinical Dietetics. Chryso specializes in eating disorders, chronic pain nutrition, and clinical dietetics. She is a certified Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity (BPS & NCFED).

Her professional experience spans clinical practice, research, and academia across Europe, including roles within the NHS (UK), The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and European research initiatives such as the EFSA EU MENU and iFamily projects. She has also completed advanced training in complementary therapies for chronic illness (University of Athens) and specialized training in Algology with the Greek Society of Algology.

Since 2021, she has been a Visiting Lecturer at the Malta Leadership Institute, contributing to the MSc in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics. She currently practices at the Cyprus Pain Clinic in Nicosia, integrating evidence-based nutrition into the management of chronic pain and complex clinical conditions.

Joseph Galea is a highly experienced nursing professional with an extensive background in both general and mental health nursing. He qualified as a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1985 and later specialised in psychiatric nursing, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health Nursing in 2008 and registering as a Registered Mental Nurse (RMN). In 2013, he further advanced his expertise by completing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Malta. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, awarded in 2010.

Joseph began his clinical career at St. Luke’s Hospital, gaining valuable experience in paediatric and general medical wards. His professional journey, however, has been primarily shaped by his long-standing work within substance misuse services. Through his extensive service with Sedqa, he developed deep expertise in detoxification and rehabilitation, working closely with individuals experiencing complex clinical and psychosocial needs.

Over the years, Joseph has held several senior clinical and managerial roles within mental health services, including serving as Charge Nurse in a dual diagnosis unit. He currently occupies the role of Senior Nursing Manager, where he contributes to the strategic development, leadership, and delivery of community mental health services.

Maria-Gabriele Doublesin, Adjunct Lecturer at the Malta Leadership Institute, teaches on Intersectionality, managing Culture, Equality and Diversity in workplaces and classrooms, as well as Academic Reading and Writing for international cohorts. She is an award-winning consultant, educator and warranted Community Counsellor.
She holds a First Class M.A. in Counselling from the University of Malta and an M.A. in Counselling Psychology and Personnel Education from the University of Maryland, where her academic achievements earned her a place in the Honours League. Her master’s research on skills mismatch was supported by a European Union scholarship.
Maria-Gabriele Doublesin serves as President and Chair of Projects & Research at NWAMI International Malta and is the owner of Intercultural Consultancy & Training, specialising in
intercultural competence, diversity and organisational development. She has presented her work internationally, including at the UK House of Commons, the Welsh Senedd, and the Rotary International Peace Conference 2025 in Istanbul.

Jacques Hendieh is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at INSEEC Grande Ecole in Paris and an adjunct at the Malta Leadership Institute (MLI). With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, he has held academic and leadership roles in several international institutions. He previously served as Head of the Faculty of Business at Arab Open University in Lebanon and later as Assistant Professor of Accounting at Graceland University in the United States. He holds a doctorate in accounting and conducts research on corporate governance, Budgeting, financial reporting, and auditing. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international academic conferences. Beyond academia, he has over a decade of experience as a consultant and certified trainer in accounting and finance, delivering professional training and advisory services across multiple countries. This dual academic–professional background enables him to bridge theory and practice in accounting and finance education.  

Krissie Allison Gouder is a 39‑year‑old educator and academic whose career is rooted in a lifelong commitment to inclusive learning and student well‑being. With over fifteen years of experience, she brings together a strong foundation in psychology and pedagogy, holding an Honours Degree in Psychology (2007), a Master’s Degree in Inclusion and Access to Education (2017), and a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning (2025).

Her professional journey has been diverse and deeply people‑centred. Krissie began her career as an Assistant Psychologist, later moving into social work, and eventually becoming an LSE when she welcomed her son. These roles shaped her holistic, empathetic approach to education—perspectives she has carried into her decade‑long career as a Primary Teacher. She specialises in inclusive education and Social, Emotional, and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD), supporting learners through the complexities of challenging behaviour with compassion, structure, and evidence‑based strategies.

Beyond the classroom, Krissie is dedicated to developing the next generation of educators. She has been lecturing with the Malta Leadership Institute for four years and has served as a dissertation tutor for six, guiding students through academic research with rigour and care. She also works part‑time with the University of Malta as an LSE examiner and tutor, ensuring that inclusive practice remains central to contemporary educational standards.

Krissie’s work is driven by a belief that every learner deserves to feel understood, supported, and empowered—and she continues to champion this vision across every role she holds.

Josette Bezzina is an Education Officer for the Early Years. Her role covers the ages from birth till the second year of compulsory schooling. She is responsible for guiding,
monitoring, and supporting the quality of education in the early years across State, Church, and Independent schools by providing guidance on teaching, learning, and
assessment methods tailored to young children (ages 3–7). She also supports Childcare Centres by providing training in pedagogy for young children. Her role is to
ensure compliance with national standards, mentor teachers in charge of early years children, oversee the implementation of early years curricula, and promote, develop,
and deliver professional development for educators. She is a part-time lecturer with MLI. Previously she was Head of Department of Literacy. She holds a first degree in
Education from the University of Malta (B. Ed Hons) and a Master’s Degree in Early Yearsfrom the University of Sheffield.

Stephanie Vassallo is a Dyslexia Specialist with over a decade of professional experience working with children with literacy and learning difficulties. She holds a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology with a specialisation in Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs). Her work focuses on evidence-based assessment and intervention informed by the Science of Reading and structured literacy approaches, including the Orton–Gillingham methodology.

In addition to her clinical and educational practice, Stephanie lectures in educational psychology and inclusive education, with a particular interest in supporting educators to translate research into effective classroom practice. She also leads Unlocking Literacy, a literacy intervention service in Malta that provides structured, multisensory support for students with reading and writing difficulties.

Marica Azzopardi is an operational risk professional in the banking sector, specialising in operational risk frameworks and strengthening risk management practices across the organisation. She also lectures in business and is a member of the Internal Quality Assurance Committee, contributing to monitoring and enhancing academic standards and quality assurance processes.

With over 15 years of experience delivering lectures in business and life skills, Marica adopts a practical and engaging approach to learning. Coaching and mentoring formed a key part of her early career, where she worked with vulnerable individuals, including those facing mental health challenges, substance abuse, domestic violence, and incarceration.

Marica holds a Master of Business Administration (Human Resources) and a First-Class Honours degree in Business Leadership, as well as several MQF Level 7 qualifications in risk, risk culture, and ESG. Her research focuses on Generation Z, business inertia, and professional decision-making, while previous work has examined human and AI coaching.

Dr Noella Borg Saliba is a fully qualified primary teacher with extensive classroom experience and a strong academic background in education. She recently earned a doctoral degree in Education and Inclusion from Keele University. Her expertise lies in inclusive education and the integration of educational technology to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes, recognised through the prestigious Embed Award. In addition to her teaching and lecturing roles, Dr Borg Saliba has mentored student teachers and LSEs, providing guidance and professional support, and has served as an examiner, assessing coursework and teaching practice. She is committed to fostering inclusive, student-centred learning environments where all students, regardless of their individual needs, can thrive and succeed.

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Adrian Xuereb Archer is a corporate trainer, management lecturer and warranted psychotherapist. He seeks to develop compassion and wellbeing in individuals and organisations through personal & organisational transformation. Adrian started his teaching at 21 and entered higher education in 2016. Since then, he had the honour of delivering Degree, Masters and practical training to over 1500 people. He has taught leadership, HR, operations & psychology subjects to people from diverse nations, backgrounds and seniority. His academic foundation is set in a Master of Business Administration and Master of Psychology in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Adrian’s practical experiences include leading teams, projects and departments within the education, IT and aviation sectors.

Daniel Brincat is a registered counsellor and warranted Personal and Social Development teacher, dedicated to supporting individuals and couples in their journey toward personal growth and psychological wellbeing. His clinical work spans diverse age groups, with a particular focus on the treatment of anxiety and depression, guided by an integrative and eclectic therapeutic approach tailored to each client’s unique needs.Alongside his practice, Daniel maintains a strong academic interest in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and contributes to higher education through postgraduate tutoring, supervising dissertations in psychology and education. His professional profile is complemented by a deep appreciation for fitness, literature, nature, and the creative arts, which continue to inform both his personal and professional perspectives.

Nadia Mercieca is a teacher by profession. She has been working in the field of education for 22 years. During such time, Nadia has worked with students with special educational needs in local Resource Centers and specialised settings for 12 years after which she started teaching English and PSCD in a mainstream school, where she currently works. She graduated in psychology with linguistics as a subsidiary area in 2003, thereafter obtaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Her professional path has also led her to graduate with a Master of Arts in Comparative Euro Mediterranean Education at the University of Malta. She is a part-time lecturer with the Malta Leadership Institute. Nadia is particularly interested in student-teacher relationships, disability and inclusion as well as pedagogy, among other areas in the field.

Dr Mark A. Farrugia is currently a Deputy Head at a Maltese school and a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta and other educational institutions specializing in Reflective Practices, Leadership and Professional Development. After his bachelor’s degree he furthered his studies to a Masters of Science in leadership and administration with Leicester University. During this period his main research areas focused on school culture, collaboration and professional learning communities. Subsequently, he has obtained his Doctorate with the Institute of Education at University College London. His research aimed at exploring what happens when professional learning and development is entrusted to teachers and applied in their everyday contexts. The PhD research studied teacher agency in self-directed learning as a means of professional development. He has also presented his studies in a number of conferences such as TEPE, ISNITE and IOE Doctoral Summer Conference.

Marica Gatt completed a B Ed (Hons) at the University of Malta in 1996, an accredited course in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in conjunction with the ACE Centre North and Manchester Metropolitan University in 2006, an MSc in Complex Learning Disabilities at the University of Manchester in 2007 and a PhD in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with Tizard Centre, University of Kent in 2021. Her PhD was about ‘Improving Augmentative and Alternative Communication Use between Mothers, Siblings and Children with Communication Disabilities’ supervised by Dr Jill Bradshaw, Professor Glynis Murphy and Dr Nicola Grove. She is the Head of the Primary Education Resource Centre in Malta and a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and the Malta Leadership Institute. She was instrumental in setting up ACTU (Access to Communication and Technology Unit) and has represented the Education Directorates in a number of funded projects including the development of the Maltese text to speech engine and the use of eye gaze technology. In 2016 she was awarded an advanced master class writing workshop at the Monash University Prato Centre, Italy as well as an emerging researcher award at the ISAAC International Conference in Toronto, Canada in August 2016. In 2018 she presented her research at the 5th International IASSIDD Europe Congress in Athens, Greece. Marica has also volunteered in the past with Special Olympics Malta helping in setting up the first edition of the Healthy Athletes program in 2012 and implement the Motor Activity training program (MATP) at her school.

Areas of Expertise
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC); Assistive Technology (AT); severe, complex, profound and multiple disabilities; sensory impairment; families; mothers and sibling interactions; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Inclusive Education, Special Education, Systematic Reviews, Disability Equality Training.

Frances Saliba Hersey began teaching Maltese to secondary students in a church school, after having graduated in B.A. Maltese (Hons) and P.G.C.E. (Maltese) in 2011. She then pursued Masters in Inclusive Schools and Communities, where her dissertation focused on Creative Drama as an inclusive tool in the classroom. This was then followed by achieving an ECHA Advanced Diploma in Gifted Education with Radboud University, Netherlands, where the final study focused on debates that encourage linguistic skills in gifted learners. As a further outcome of both researches, she has become a Bachelors’ Degree Dissertation Supervisor and a Practicum Supervisor for students reading a Bachelor’s degree in Inclusive Education. Apart from also being a Senior Lecturer at MCAST, she also teaches modules to students pursuing their MTL in Maltese.

Sharon Balzan graduated from the University of Birmingham with a ‘Masters in Education’ specialisation in “Severe Profound Multiple Learning Disabilities (Qualitative methodology)”. She specialised in Autism and Intellectual Impairment. She is also an Inclusive Education graduate from the University of Malta. Sharon is passionate about supporting students with Autism. She is an activity leader with the Autism Parents Association. She worked as a researcher at MCAST and as a Social Emotional Behavioural Difficulties specialist within the education department. Currently, she is finalising her PgDip in Research Methods, where she is focusing on Qualitative methodology. Presently, Sharon is working as a primary teacher. In the past, she has also worked as Learning Support Educator.

Sharon Borg Schembri currently works as a Senior Assistive Technology Practitioner (Occupational Therapist) with ACTU (Access to Communication and Technology Unit). She has a Master’s degree in Inclusive Education and Communities from the University of Malta. Since 2009, she has been working at ACTU where she gained a lot of experience in assessing access technologies for children with disabilities and in leading and managing assistive technology services. Her background in Occupational Therapy and interest in computer science and inclusion led her to further her professional development. Her research focuses on Assistive Technology (AT) and its role in facilitating participation in play activities, communication as well as literacy. She also researched Assistive Technology service delivery in Malta, access methods and the role of AAC systems in the participation of AAC users in different occupations. Sharon co-authored an article in Assistive Technology: Building Bridges as part of the AATE 2015 conference. She also co-authored two research presentations on the implementation of AAC systems with children with Autism for ISAAC and a poster presentation focusing on ACTU service delivery that was presented in ISAAC 2018. Sharon has an interest in specialist access solutions that enable individuals to participate in play, education, leisure and work.

Carmen Azzopardi is an Autism Spectrum Support Educator within the National School Support Services. She obtained a Diploma in Facilitating Education at the University of Malta, followed by a Master’s Degree in Inclusive Education at the University of the West of Scotland. Her areas of expertise and research interests encompass the inclusion of learners on the Autism Spectrum in mainstream schools.

Dr May Agius is a speech and language therapist with extensive experience in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) having played a significant role in the development of national AAC services in Malta. Dr Agius received her PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2019. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Malta. She is currently an appointed member of the World Health Organisation’s technical advisory group on assistive technology (AT) and is working as an Expert Consultant with UNICEF and UNESCO. She is the Malta representative of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe. Dr Agius also is a member of the AAC committee of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has been published in the Journal AAC on several occasions and serves as an Associate Editor for this journal and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Intellectual Disabilities. She has an interest in AAC for autistic individuals as well as the use of AI to support inclusion.