Meet our Experts
Maria Schembri | Director
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Maria Schembri
Since 2002, Maria Schembri's professional experience has been focused on assisting public and private organisations tap into EU funding programmes as well as in managing large and small-scale EU funded projects. Between 2008 and 2011, Ms Schembri spearheaded the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee's (MEUSAC) EU funding unit which provides support and assistance to local councils and NGOs in identifying EU funding opportunities and assistance in drawing up funding applications. Under the headship of Ms Schembri, this unit managed to successfully secure over Eur15 million in EU funds over a span of 30 months.
Between 2007 and 2008, Ms Schembri was self-employed as a consultant with the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology where she was responsible for the implementation and launch of four projects under the National ICT Strategy 2004-2006 and 2008-2010. Ms Schembri was also successful in obtaining over Eur1 million in EU funds in relation to ICT in education. She also formed part of the Strategy Execution Office with the Malta Information Technology Agency.
Ms Schembri graduated with honours in philosophy and also holds a Master's degree in Creativity and Innovation, both from the University of Malta. Maria Schembri is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and lectures Project Management at the Department of International Relations.
Alan Joseph Buhagiar | Senior Manager
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Alan Joseph Buhagiar
Mr Buhagiar has been in the funding field for over ten years. From January 2012 and June 2016, Alan Joseph held the position of Projects Executive at MEUSAC, where he assisted over 80 organisations and managed to secure over Eur4 million in EU funds. During this period, he also delivered seminars and presentations that were organised for specific target groups and the general public. For three consecutive years, Mr Buhagiar was responsible for the EU corner during Science in the City festival. He was also a regular spokesperson on EU funds at a national radio programme.
In 2012, the Zabbar Civic Council honoured Mr Buhagiar with the Zabbar Youth Award for his involvement and leadership roles in a number of voluntary organisations in Zabbar. In fact, Mr Buhagiar had voluntarily managed two EU funded programmes for youths under the Youth in Action programme and two other national funded programmes for three local organisations.
Mr Buhagiar graduated with honours in Public Policy (Bachelors of Commerce) and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Malta.
Antoinette Borg | Business Development Manager
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Antoinette borg
Over the past decade Ms Borg has gathered a vast experience in marketing and product life-cycle management with a special focus on online marketing. Aside from being part of a project management team, Antoinette has also led numerous marketing campaigns and projects to launch or revamp a wide range of products or services through various media including online platforms, social media, television, radio, fairs and printed material.
Ms Borg graduated with honours in Computer Networks (Bachelor of Science Degree) and holds a Master’s Degree in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship at the University of Malta, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Information Systems Management at the University of Middlesex. The latter program focused extensively on project management including Prince2 certifications. With this technical background Antoinette has a flair for online technologies and is always well informed with recent technological advancements especially those impacting the marketing industry.
Tamara Gauci | Project Executive
Tamara Gauci
Boasting more than ten years of diverse marketing experience, Ms. Gauci has orchestrated influential marketing campaigns for various industries, including Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and finance. She is a performance-oriented professional with a knack for conceptualizing marketing strategies, spearheading successful product introductions, promotions, and growth initiatives. Her extensive expertise extends to proficient media management and event planning.
Ms. Gauci holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications with Italian from the University of Malta. She further honed her strategic communication skills with a Master's degree in Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management from the University of Stirling in Scotland.
Maria Montagno | Fund Executive
Maria Montagno
Ms Montagno has a solid background in project management and client-focused service delivery. She began her career in the software industry, managing projects for government, private sector, and international clients, delivering innovative business solutions. Her experience also includes television production, where she coordinated complex projects under tight deadlines, sharpening her organisational and communication skills. Throughout her career, Ms Montagno has applied these strengths in the education sector, leading classrooms, collaborating with diverse teams, and building strong stakeholder relationships.
Ms Montagno holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Malta and a PRINCE2 certification in Project Management.