Juergen Attard appointed GRDA CEO as Abigail Camilleri becomes first female Chairperson

Juergen Attard has been appointed CEO of the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA), while former MP Abigail Camilleri has been named Chairperson, becoming the first woman to hold the role.

Mr Attard succeeds outgoing CEO Ivan Falzon and Ms Camilleri is taking over from outgoing Chairperson Michael Grech.

Announcing the transition, the GRDA thanked Mr Falzon and Mr Grech for their “leadership, dedication and contribution” to the authority and to Gozo.

The authority said the new leadership will oversee its continued work towards supporting the “sustainable and resilient development of Gozo and its communities”.

Mr Attard is an economist with experience in regional development, public policy and economic analysis.

Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as Senior Manager for Research and Policy at the GRDA, where his responsibilities included leading research and policy analysis focused on regional and sustainable development.

Before joining the authority, Mr Attard worked as a Senior Economist at the Central Bank of Malta. During his career, he has also contributed to studies, research and policy documents covering economic, fiscal and regional development matters.

He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Malta and a Master’s in Economics from the University of York in the UK.

Meanwhile, Ms Camilleri currently serves as Deputy Head at Sir Michelangelo Refalo Sixth Form in Gozo, where her work includes educational development, the coordination of international projects and the management of educational initiatives.

She began her career as an Italian teacher in 2008 and has since developed experience in educational leadership.

Ms Camilleri also served as a Member of Parliament between 2022 and 2026.

Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Italian, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, a Master’s by Research in Italian and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Malta.

During her career in education, she has coordinated a number of Erasmus+ projects and international partnerships aimed at providing learning, cultural exchange and professional development opportunities for students and educators.

The GRDA is tasked with supporting and facilitating regional development in Gozo, with its work spanning research, policy and initiatives concerning the island’s economic, social and sustainable development.