Speakers

Carm Cachia

Chief Administrator eSkills Malta Foundation

Carm Cachia stands as a distinguished figure in information technology, boasting a rich career history marked by unparalleled proficiency in systems and management. His leadership in pivotal national endeavours underscores his adeptness in navigating complex projects with finesse. With a diverse portfolio spanning various facets of the digital domain, including software engineering, infrastructure development, design, information security, project management, and executive oversight, Carm has spearheaded numerous noteworthy initiatives across various industries, from travel and banking to manufacturing and government.

Currently at the helm of the eSkills Malta Foundation and serving as Chair of the BCS Malta Section, Carm continues to drive forward-thinking initiatives that shape the future of IT education and practice. His past roles as a Council member at the University of Malta and ongoing position as a board member of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies underscore his commitment to academic and technological advancement.
With an unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge and skills in information technology, Carm Cachia remains a guiding force in shaping and influencing digital transformation.

Diana Filip

Deputy CEO & Chief Development Officer

Diana, with her extensive experience in multi-stakeholder partnerships across education, entrepreneurship, and policy realms, has been an integral part of JA since June 2004. Currently serving as the Deputy CEO & Chief Development Officer at JA Europe, she is responsible for strategic development of the organisation, policy liaison, funding and financing, advocacy and corporate communications issues. Diana started her career as an entrepreneur, running her own company in Romania, then moved to Brussels where she served as President of the European Students Forum, as well as consulting in Public Affairs. She holds a certificate in Entrepreneurship and in Business Sustainability from Harvard University and a MBA from the Vlerick School of Management, Leuven. Diana sits on the Board of the Women in Entrepreneurship Platform.

Associate Professor within the Faculty of ICT at the University of Malta

Christian Colombo is an associate professor within the Faculty of ICT with his lecturing portfolio focusing on core mathematical concepts and how these can improve software reliability. He is actively involved in promoting computational thinking through unplugged computer science activities, summer bootcamps on digital technologies, and bringing the international Bebras competition to Malta.

Director for Curriculum Entitlement at the Secretariat for Catholic Education (SFCE)

Angela Charles is the Director for Curriculum Entitlement at the Secretariat for Catholic Education (SFCE), where she oversees a team of Heads of Department and support teachers serving Catholic Church schools in Malta and Gozo. The SfCE provides guidance to 55 schools that, while autonomous in leadership, adhere to national policies and curricular guidelines.

With a background in Science and Technology and extensive teaching experience across various educational sectors, Angela has dedicated her career to Church schools, progressing from Head of Department to Manager for Curriculum Services, and now Director. She has a keen interest in teachers’ self-efficacy in engaging disengaged students and is passionate about exploring transformative approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment. Angela is deeply invested in reimagining the future of education to ensure its relevance for both current and future generations.

Head of Talent Acquisition, Ascent

Robert Gonzi has been involved in the Digital Industry for over 30 years. He studied, Computing , Finance and Commercial Law and started his journey as a Junior Software Engineer. For the first 20 years, he focused on the technical aspects of several software projects, mainly in retail, health, telecoms and aviation. The last ten years have seen a shift in focus towards people. Robert is currently the Global Head of Talent Acquisition and has been Operations Manager and Director of HR for Ascent. Ascent is a Global Digital Transformation Company with just over 500 employees out of 11 offices around Europe. Robert has also been very much involved in the volunteering sector, having been a leader in the scouts movement for over 30 years having also occupied the role of National Secretary General for Malta. For the last 15 years he has been a Training Advisor and Trainer for Scouts Adult Leaders.

Senior Lecturer Department of Artificial Intelligence, University of Malta

Dr. Vanessa Camilleri is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Artificial Intelligence, specializing in AI in Education, Intelligent Interfaces and Human-Machine Interaction, Game-based Learning, Extended Reality for Education & Training, and Ethics in AI. She has published extensively in these areas. Dr. Camilleri actively contributes to the Faculty of ICT, currently serving as the Chair of the Outreach Committee. She is also dedicated to promoting education beyond academia, participating in various school outreach programs.Throughout her career, Dr. Camilleri has been involved in numerous EU-funded projects, including EuroMed Heritage, Interreg, and Framework Programmes 6 and 7, as well as several ErasmusPlus Projects. Currently, she is a key partner in the ErasmusPlus Project ‘ThinkGame’ and the SEA-EU Enabled Project ‘ENABLE.’ She has also recently secured funding as Principal Investigator for two projects from the National Xjenza Agency in Malta, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the field of artificial intelligence in its diverse applications.

Director, Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills Directorate

Neil embarked on his professional journey in marketing and brand building within the private sector. As his career progressed, he discovered a profound interest in people management, which fueled his growing involvement in this field.

Presently, Neil holds a leadership position as the Director of the Directorate of Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills within MEYR. With a keen focus on emerging EdTech technologies and learning tools, he, together with his team, remains at the forefront of innovative educational advancements.

Anamaria Magri Pantea

Anamaria Magri Pantea is the founder and Managing Consultant of Ascend Consulting. An economist with specialisation in finance and holder of a Master in Business Administration, she has 20+ years of experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable socio-economic development, including through skills and mind-set development. Anamaria is also the Malta Node coordinator of the Women Web-entrepreneurs Hubs (WeHubs) European Network, and member of Silicon Valletta, Business & Professional Women (BPW) Malta and the Consultative Council on Women’s Rights to the Maltese Ministry responsible for Equality. She has been involved in or led the implementation in Malta of a number of women empowerment, digital skills and careers development projects, including part of Erasmus+, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, eSkills Malta Foundation, Malta Communications Authority and SmartCity Malta initiatives.

Paul Pulis

Paul Pulis is the Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at MCAST’s Institute of Information and Communication Technology, overseeing full-time programmes. With over two decades of experience as an educator and an early volunteer for EU CodeWeek, Paul specializes in machine learning, natural language processing, and software development, holding multiple industry certifications. He is actively involved in initiatives for young learners, both locally through events and hackathons and internationally through projects and collaborations. Recently, he contributed to projects aimed at teaching young learners, one focused on the gamification of programming and another on introducing AI concepts through programming. Paul has played a pivotal role in fostering partnerships with foreign institutions, delivering workshops in his areas of specialization for educators and students, and providing double-degree opportunities for current IICT students. He is committed to integrating cutting-edge technological trends into the learning experiences of students.

Colin Micallef

Colin’s specialisation in AI and e-learning has enabled him to merge technology with education, leading projects that impose learning innovations, facilitate distance learning, and develop intelligent tutoring systems. His commitment to enhancing educational experiences through technology reflects a broader understanding of how teaching and learning can evolve in the age of AI. Colin holds a Bachelors in Science degree from the University of Hertfordshire, a Master in Science degree from the British Computer Society, and a Master of Arts degree from the Middlesex University. Colin has been teaching computing at the St. Michael Foundation for the last 23 years.