MFHEA Board Members

Edward Woods (LL. D.) is the Chairman of the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority. During his career, Dr Woods specialised in Civil and Commercial Law, with a focus on Marine Disputes, Business Partnerships, and Property Law. Through his legal experience, Dr Woods has gained a wealth of knowledge which he has channeled during his various appointments, serving on a number of boards and working on several projects, including the Valletta Cruise Liner Terminal Project.

Dr Francis Abela has been working within the educational field for about 40 years. He was a teacher for 20 years and the rest in school administration. He had obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Education with specialisation in Biology and a Diploma in Education Administration & Management from the University of Malta. He has also a Dottorato in Scienze Biologiche from the University of Pisa. He has also the Licence from the President of Malta to act as an Assistant Apothecary with respect to certification issued by the Pharmacy Board. He was a part-time lecturer for three years at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Malta. On a voluntary basis he is currently actively involved with several NGOs, namely ‘ERRC’ (Emergency Response Rescue Corp ) – Vice President; ‘English Speaking Union – Gozo Branch’ – Vice Chair and President of ‘Gozo Life’ – an NGO in the educational sector for schools in Gozo. In 2020 he was nominated for the ‘Premju Nazzjonali tal-Volontarjat 2020’.

Anatole Baldacchino is a Certified Public Accountant, with a professional experience spanning 30 years, covering management consultancy and audits. His main area of academic interest is inclusive education.

Anatole has several years of Board experience. He served as Deputy Chairman for the National Commission for Further & Higher Education in 2020. He founded his private consultancy firm in 1998 and is involved in a number of research and consultancy assignments. He is currently the Chairperson of the Independent Community living Appeals Board.

Desiree Cassar graduated with a Doctorate in Law from the University of Malta in 2003 and was admitted to the Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta in 2004. She advises clients across different sectors. Desiree has delivered lectures and seminars on specialist subjects for a number of years. She is a member of the Chamber of Advocates and the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners. She was a member of the Board of the National Commission for Further and Higher Education before this was statutorily established as The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority.

Dr Kenneth Vella attended Marsa Primary State School, Junior Lyceum Liceo Vassalli tal-Handaq, Gian Frangisk Abela Upper Lyceum and the University of Malta. In 1996, Vella graduated with a Bachelor of Education Honours degree from the University of Malta. In 2005, obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Administration and Management and in 2008 a Masters in Educational Leadership, both from the University of Malta. Vella continued with his studies at the University of Lincoln in England from where he obtained a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Research and Development in 2015. In July 2019, Vella was appointed Chairman of the Quality Assurance Committee within the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority. In January 2021, Dr Kenneth Vella was elected Vice President for the European Region of the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA). Presently he is also the Principal of Mater Boni Consilii St Joseph School Paola and the Non-Resident Ambassador Malta to Estonia and Finland

Dr Alicia Agius Gatt graduated with a Doctorate in Law from the University of Malta in 2008, and in the same year she obtained her Warrant to practice in the Notarial Profession in Malta. Dr Agius Gatt has her own notarial practice and advises clients on succession, property law and other related legal advise. She was a Director of Bank of Valletta from December 2014 till December 2015. She was then appointed Director of Tigne Mall plc from June 2016 till September 2020.