BIOGRAPHY OF THE PRESIDENT

HER EXCELLENCY DR. MYRIAM SPTERI DEBONO.

Notary Myriam Spiteri Debono is the eleventh President of the Republic of Malta, approved unanimously by the House of Representatives by virtue of a Parliamentary Resolution passed on the 27th of March 2024.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was born and lived her childhood on the island of Gozo, where up to secondary level she was educated at state schools. She attended the University of Malta, from where she graduated with Honours in English Literature and Linguistics and as a Notary Public. She was one of the very first female notaries on the islands.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was Chairperson of the Cooperatives Board, and she served as a member of the Gender Equality Commission when this commission was first set up. During her membership of this commission, she was especially active on the sub-committee dealing with complaints regarding discrimination and/or harassment.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was also Chairperson of the Press Ethics Commission, for the first three years of its existence. She was instrumental in drafting its first body of rules of procedure and bylaws.

She started participating in the political sphere when, as a student, she was a founder member of the Socialist Students Union. As a member of the Malta Labour Party; for 16 consecutive years, she was elected by the General Conference of the party as a member of the party's executive committee. She also served as Secretary General and President of the Labour Women's League for many years.

As President of the Labour Women's League and as Speaker, she participated in numerous conferences abroad and, various times, she was nominated by the participants to preside over the conference.

From 2009 to 2024, she was a member of the selection board entrusted with recommendations for the award of Republic Day Honours.

Myriam Spiteri Debono was a practising notary. She is married to Anthony Spiteri Debono, the mother of three children, Elena, George and Maria Kristina, and the grandmother of four grandchildren, Alexandra, Paul, Pippa and Beppe.