Ms Cynthia Caruana first graduated as a Biology teacher and taught Biology for10 years at a state secondary school. Following a Master’s degree in Islands and Small States Studies (M.A –University of Malta) and later in Intercultural and Environmental Management in Schools (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice Italy), she went into the field of Education for Sustainable Development in 2010. This is her 14th year as an EkoSkola teacher whereby she offers support to schools who wish to work on having a sustainable school, all the time empowering the students and the school community. Throughout these 14 years she has gained numerous experience in the applied field of Education for Sustainable Development. Cynthia has also acted as Project Coordinator for an EU 3-year DEAR Project called Nieklu b’Responsabilta’ – We Eat Responsibly (2015 – 2018) whereby the theme of responsible food production and consumption was launched in Eco-Schools. At the moment she is also working on a pilot project on Sustainable Mobility and is currently reading for a PhD with the Centre for Environmental Education and Research (CEER) at the University of Malta about growing your own food.
Ms Mariosa Caruana is a dedicated educator and active citizen with years of experience in science education at various levels. She holds a Master's degree in Education for Sustainable Development from CEER, focusing on environmental and social injustices. Her dissertation highlighted the transformative potential of intergroup dialogue in community development, demonstrated through participatory action research involving individuals with and without experiences of homelessness.
Her commitment to volunteerism began early and continues in her role as a board member for the NGO Right to Smile, where she represents the International Projects Department, liaising with international partners and ensuring the preparation of transformative experiences for volunteers participating in overseas projects.
Currently, she serves as the Awareness Raising, Outreach, and Reconciliation Coordinator at the NGO Jesuit Refugee Service. Here, she designs educational materials and conducts workshops that promote encounter and understanding in diverse communities and age groups. She also facilitates reconciliation and conflict sensitivity workshops for teachers and JRS staff locally and internationally, for example in London and Kenya. Moreover, she works directly with the community through outreach and walkabouts and also organizes intergroup dialogue sessions in local communities to break down stereotypes and foster just relationships between migrants and non-migrants.
She believes in the power of ESD and the strength of community to catalyze positive change. She envisions a world where individuals inspire and are inspired, empower and are empowered through community connections that transcend boundaries.
Dr Vincent Caruana’s mission in life is to inspire people to take action for a better self and a better world. He was born on the 10 April 1967. In 1991 he obtained an Honours degree in Education from the University of Malta, specialising in Physics and Mathematics. Three years later he obtained a Diploma in Political Studies from the same University. Subsequently between 1995 and 1998 he studied Environmental and Development Education, obtaining a M.Sc. through London South Bank University. In 2014, he obtained his PhD, focusing on education for sustainability and the social economy. Vince is currently a full-time lecturer and researcher at CEER - Malta's University Centre for Environmental Education and Research. He is an established mentor and trainer of various Civil Society Organisations and is also experienced in project management and monitoring and evaluation. Other research interests include Social Enterprises, Agroecology, Permaculture and Peer Mentoring.
Mr Clinton Cassar is an environmental educator by profession. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and a Master's in Education for Sustainable Development, his academic credentials attest to his dedication to advancing sustainability concerns across various educational settings, spanning from primary to adult education. His endeavour to broaden the scope of Education for Sustainable Development has motivated him to pursue a Ph.D. in this field, currently undertaken with the Centre for Environmental Education and Research at the University of Malta. His commitment to academia is paralleled by practical contributions; he has published research in reputable local and international journals, delving into the fields of education, sustainability, and governance. Additionally, he has authored a number of books, ranging from textbooks to guided sustainability walks tailored specifically for Maltese families. Beyond academia, his expertise extends into consultancy, mentoring, and training; roles in which he can channel his knowledge to empower individuals and entities across both public and private sectors.
Ms Katrina Lee Deidun is currently in her final year of Masters in Teaching and Learning in Science specialising in biology after having previously graduated from a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Science for Education and Communication with specialisation in Biology in 2022. She is interested in incorporating ESD into her practice considering it is one of the cross-curricular themes, Ms Deidun has been involved as a mentor in the Girls4STEM Project. One of her main roles involved empowering young girls to embrace their digital and entrepreneurial potential.
Ms Alana Fenech, B.A (Hons) English, PGCE (English), brings fourteen years of dedication to secondary education, specializing in English language and literature. With an additional eight years teaching English as a foreign language, Alana intertwines environmental themes into her lessons, emphasizing sustainability and conservation. Through her involvement in the BluSchoolsMED Erasmus+ project, she innovatively incorporates digital resources to raise environmental consciousness among her students. Alana believes in the transformative power of travel, making Erasmus+ experiences vital for engaging students in global perspectives. She sees her subject as a versatile tool for promoting environmental awareness, empowering students to address environmental concerns.
Mr Victor Friggieri is an Officer at the Energy & Water Agency, tasked with making enterprise more sustainable. His previous engagement was with a leading financial institution where for several years he was Manager of Facilities, Engineering & Sustainability. During this time, Victor introduced numerous changes, substantially reducing the institution’s impact on the environment. A significant achievement was the successful approval of €515k of global funds to replace the institution’s car fleet to EVs and install PV panels across the estate. Victor was a founding director of the ‘HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund’ which facilitated various environmental projects. A lifetime experience was volunteering on an Earthwatch project in Costa Rica aimed at protecting the threatened leatherback turtles. In 2012, Victor was awarded the ‘National Worker of the Year Award’ mainly in recognition for his environmental work. Victor has a MSc in Environmental Design from the University of Malta. In 2023 he furthered his studies achieving a Certificate in Environmental Education from the Centre for Environmental Education & Research at the University of Malta.
Mr Mark Gauci, Head of Land Management at BirdLife Malta, was keen on birds and nature from a very young age. Following in the footsteps of his father who was the managing warden at Ghadira nature reserve, Mark recently switched a career in banking to move full time with BirdLife Malta overseeing the management of the nature reserves. These sites are small but important gems where nature thrives and where people can disconnect and feel at peace. His banking background and passion for nature turned out to be a unique blend which helped successful funding applications for various projects at the nature reserves. The Certificate in Environmental Education and Interpretation was the perfect fit to continue personal development whilst learning practical lessons which can be applied in his working environment.
Ms Sarah Lanzon is a dedicated educator and sustainability advocate, currently serving as the Sustainability Lead and an Outdoor Learning Coordinator (Early Years) at Chiswick House School. With a passion for environmental stewardship and social justice, she works to inspire countless students and staff to develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and the importance of sustainable living. She leads by example, championing sustainable practices within the school environment and empowering others to make positive changes towards a more eco-conscious future. Her school week is full of Eko-skola groups, gardening club, weekly classes and she champions a variety of initiatives throughout the year including Waste Reduction Week and Global Action Days.
Before transitioning into primary education, Sarah founded and ran Plethora Dance (2012) where she aimed to make dance accessible and inclusive to people of all ages (3-99) and abilities. Sarah is a Northern Ballet School (Manchester) graduate and recently completed a Certificate in Environmental Education and interpretation with CEER.
Sarah embodies curiosity, constantly seeking new knowledge and opportunities for learning to enhance her teaching and deepen her understanding of the world around her.
Ms Ramona Mercieca read for a Bachelor of Education specialising in Geography at the University of Malta graduating with distinction. She has been working in various schools as a full-time Geography teacher since 2001, teaching geography at Ordinary, Intermediate and Advanced levels, and is currently teaching at the Gozo College Middle School, Victoria. She has been coordinating the Eco-Schools, YRE, and LEAF programmes at the school she teaches in since 2008. This voluntary role involves the running of the programmes as a whole school approach and involves linking the programmestogether, with the various sustainability themes the school is working on, with a number of other projects, the SDGs, and various subjects across the curriculum, mainly STEAM subjects. Ramona is the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Deputy Country Coordinator for Malta. This role requires her to coordinate the GLOBE programme in all state, church and private schools on the Maltese islands, liaising and training Heads of Schools, providing professional development sessions, STEM subject teachers, and EcoSchools link persons in the implementation of the programme in schools. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta where she promotes GLOBE as a teaching resource to future teachers. Ramona is promoting the GLOBE programme nationally as an international science and education programme, encouraging students and citizen scientists to become active data collectors. Ramona is also an active member of the GLOBE Europe and Eurasia Board, the Environment and Sustainability Group of the Diocese of Gozo, and a volunteer and licenced Wildlife Rescuer with Nature Trust-FEE Malta. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters in Education for Sustainable Development at the University of Malta.
Prof. Mark Mifsud is a Chartered Biologist, a Chartered Environmental Scientist, a Chartered Science Teacher, a Certified Wildlife Photographer, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a Prince II Certified Practitioner with a wide range of experience in Environmental Science, Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability. Mark is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Centre for Environmental Education and Research (CEER) at the University of Malta. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the sector and he designed and currently co-ordinates both the Master in Education for Sustainable Development (MESD) and the Certificate in Environmental Education and Interpretation (CEEI). Mark held academic posts at the University of Ca Foscari Venice, Italy, at Southern New Hampshire University, North Central University and James Madison University in the US and at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon. He was a visiting Professor at Gdansk University, Poland in 2023. In the last years Mark has published more than 50 peer reviewed publications, four books, edited two volumes of the World Sustainability Series by Springer, and co-edited the 17 volume SDG book series by Emerald. Mark was Convener of the 1st World Symposium on Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development, (2017) and of the 1st National Symposium of Education for Sustainable Development and Global Education (2022). In addition to reviewing papers for a number of academic journals in the field, Mark is the current Deputy Editor of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE), and Guest Editor for special journal editions of Sustainability. His current research interests focus on pro-environmental behavior modelling and policy, effective environmental education, climate change education and on the sustainable development goals.
Ms Naomi Mifsud Scicluna is currently pursuing a Masters in Education for Sustainable Development with CEER at the University of Malta. At the moment, she works as a Compliance and Enforcement Officer with the Environment Resources Authority, with a focus on aquaculture. Prior to the MSc with CEER she followed a BSc in Earth Systems with the University of Malta (from 2017 to 2019), following her graduation she followed a Higher National Diploma in tour guiding with the Institute of Tourism Studies (from 2019-2021). In addition to her full time work, she works as a freelance tour guide. Her interests are amalgamating conserving cultural heritage, with the help of effective ESD strategies.
Prof. Paul Pace has been active in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as founder and former director of the Centre for Environmental Education & Research; chairperson of Malta’s National Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development; founder of the Malta Association of Environmental Educators; and as a researcher at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta where he is a full-time professor in ESD and science education. Appointed Eco-Schools National Co-ordinator for Nature Trust FEE Malta and the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Programme Country Co-ordinator, he is the vice-chairperson of the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment of the Maltese Archdiocese. He was involved in several local and foreign projects aimed at the development of curriculum material for ESD and science. He works actively with teachers in the implementation of sustainability policies in schools. A former biology teacher, he was involved in several science examination boards and served on the National Curriculum Framework Review committee and the National Science Strategy committee.
Ms Marika Tabone is a B.Com Hons. Management graduate from the University of Malta and holds a Diploma in Insurance from the CII. She currently works as a Manager in the Financial Sector. She has experience in different fields namely Insurance, Accounts, HR and Project Management. Marika has recently finalised a Masters in Education for Sustainable Development. For the last thirteen years she has developed a passion for sustainable practices. She started her sustainability journey by making small changes in her day to day life and throughout the years she strived to influence positive behaviour towards sustainable development among her circle of friends, relatives and colleagues. Further to the completion of a Masters degree her next aspiration is to inspire and support SMEs to build sustainable business models, through the adoption of Education for Sustainable Development.
Ms Nicole Thake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography (Hons), a Master of Science in Applied Oceanography and recently completed a Certificate in Environmental Education and Interpretation with CEER.
With eight years of teaching experience, Nicole’s work is marked by a commitment to fostering sustainable practices in both pedagogy and environmental stewardship. She does this through her lessons of Geography where she incorporates critical thinking by utilizing real-life examples and encourages collaboration between students. By employing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in her teaching practices, she ensures an accessible, inclusive and quality education for all. Last year, she introduced the Prince's Trust International (PTI) to her school, a student-led personal development program, providing students with learning difficulties an opportunity to improve skills for their future and reach their potential.
Her leadership extends to overseeing a maquis habitat on the school grounds, where she focuses on creating an accessible space for outdoor learning, aligning with sustainable practices. Over the past year, Nicole has actively championed environmental education through various initiatives, including the Maquis Explorers, Gardening Club, and GLOBE. These programs aim to engage students in practical learning experiences and instill a sense of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Ms Fiona Vella Ciangura,B.Ed (Hons) Geography, M.ESD (Melit) is an experienced educator specialising in geography and sustainability, she shares her journey spanning over 20 years in education, emphasizing her dedication to environmental education and sustainability. She has served in various roles, including as a secondary school geography teacher, EcoSchool link teacher, part-time geography lecturer, and sustainability counsellor on EU projects. Fiona's involvement in Erasmus+ school exchange projects and her recent participation in the BluSchoolsMED Erasmus+ project highlight her commitment to fostering global perspectives and innovative approaches to sustainability education. Her academic pursuits, including obtaining a Masters in Education for Sustainable Development (MESD), have deepened her understanding of nature appreciation, environmental protection, and geographical insights. Fiona's dissertation focuses on cultivating students' love for nature through out-of-class activities, aiming to empower them to take an active role in environmental stewardship. She believes in emotionally engaging students for sustainable change, fostering responsible global citizens through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). By sharing her experiences and advocating for emotionally engaging teaching methods, Fiona emphasizes the importance of awareness, empowerment, and commitment to positive change in creating a more sustainable world.
Ms. Maureen Vella has been a dedicated educator and Chemistry teacher since 2011, currently teaching at Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School. As an educator, she solidified her commitment to advancing sustainability within educational frameworks by pursuing a Master's degree in Education for Sustainable Development, which she successfully obtained in 2024. Her primary interest lies in the intersection of sustainable development and animal rights, where she advocates for veganism as a fundamental aspect of sustainable living. Maureen is deeply passionate about empowering individuals, particularly young adults, to embrace behavioural changes conducive to sustainable lifestyles. She firmly believes in the pivotal role of education in nurturing 21st-century skills and enabling individuals to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. Beyond her professional pursuits, Maureen is an avid enthusiast of art and music, recognising their potential to inspire creativity and foster profound connections with sustainability themes.
Ms Amanda Zahra is a Policy Officer (Education) with the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) within Malta’s Ministry for Energy, Environment and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour. In this role, she leads the development of educational tools under the LIFE IP Project for the Għajn: National Water Conservation Awareness Cente in Rabat, Malta and coordinates the educational activities undertaken at the Centre. Amanda Zahra works closely with a number of international and regional entities and initiatives. Amanda was part of the team for winning the EU Sustainability Award 2019 for Għajn National Water Conservation Awareness Centre.The EU Sustainability Award is an award given to creative and inspiring projects of European people, businesses and organisations who work towards contributing to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on its three main dimensions: environmental, economic and social. At present Ms. Zahra is an educator at the Għajn Centre with specific specialisation on Education for Sustainable Development. She teaches both Primary and Secondary school students on water management, water and energy conservation. She also coordinates a sustainability training courses developed and offered free of charge to the corporate sector by the Energy and Water Agency, namely Energy, Water & Sustainable Solutions: Supporting Malta’s Corporate Sector. Complimenting these courses Ms. Zahra also organises a yearly sustainability networking conference as part of the awareness campaign of sustainability on the workplace.
Ms Shirley Zammit, a seasoned professional in Marketing & Communications, currently works within the private sector, where she formulates and manages communication strategies for diverse clients. With a profound passion for communications, Shirley has extensively collaborated with international partners on various EU projects. Her role includes coordinating stakeholder involvement, overseeing media activities, and crafting and reviewing content, showcasing her comprehensive expertise in diverse communication requirements.Throughout her journey, Shirley has cultivated a deep-seated interest in environmental issues and sustainable development. Currently pursuing a Masters in Education for Sustainable Development, she channels her dedication towards researching the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within organizational communication strategies. Shirley's academic pursuits align seamlessly with her commitment to fostering sustainable practices and promoting environmental awareness.
