Prof. Marie Therese Camilleri Podesta (left)
Prof. Marie Therese Camilleri Podesta, born in 1946 in Hamrun, Malta, is a renowned figure in Maltese medical academia and public service. Growing up as the daughter of a pioneering anesthetist and a Montessori teacher, she developed a strong dedication to both science and education. Her childhood aspiration to be a doctor foreshadowed an exceptional career spanning over five decades.
She began her studies at the University of Malta in 1962, overcoming significant challenges due to her lack of prior biology and chemistry education. Despite this, she graduated as a medical doctor in 1969. After two years as a house officer at St. Luke’s Hospital, she joined the Department of Anatomy as a research fellow in 1972. There, she undertook both teaching and research duties and earned an M.Phil. from the University of Malta in 1975.
Seeking advanced training, she earned a British Council scholarship to complete her Ph.D. at London University in 1979, conducting research at Guy’s Hospital. Upon her return to Malta, she resumed teaching and research in the Anatomy Department. Rapidly rising through the ranks, she became the first woman full professor at the University of Malta in 1981 and served as Head of Department and Deputy Dean in later years. She was the sole female professor for almost 20 years.
Her teaching contributions include educating nearly all doctors trained at Mater Dei Hospital, dental students, and health sciences students. She also played a significant role in supervising postgraduate research and collaborated internationally on projects examining natural substances’ effects on cancer cells.
Beyond academia, Prof. Camilleri Podesta has contributed significantly to university administration and public health governance. She chaired the Faculty Admissions Committee, served on the Research Ethics Committee, led the Mental Health Commission, and was a key member of the Human Rights Platform. Deeply committed to gender equality, she chaired the Gender Issues Committee, serving as a beacon for women in academia.
In forensic pathology, she established herself as a foremost expert, participating in major criminal and civil cases from the 1980s until her retirement from autopsies in 2020. High-profile cases include the Egypt Air hijacking in 1985, the Um El Faroud explosion in 1995, the murder investigation of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and the exhumation of St. Gorg Preca during his beatification process.
Prof. Camilleri Podesta married Joseph in 1979 and successfully balanced family life with an illustrious career, raising three accomplished children in law, medicine, and pharmacy. She credits much of her success to the unwavering support of her family during times when childcare resources were scarce.
Now beyond retirement age, she continues to enrich the University of Malta through teaching and committee work, embodying resilience, leadership, and dedication in her enduring commitment to medicine, education, and public service.
Samantha Pace Gasan (right)
Samantha Pace Gasan was appointed Commissioner on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence in July 2023. Prior to this role, Ms Pace Gasan had the role of Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability. She was also a Director on the Jobsplus board and a member of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.
Ms Pace Gasan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Social Policy in 2016, where she explored the experiences of young women in political organisations. She was later awarded a Master in Creativity and Innovation in 2020. Throughout her Master programme, Samantha focused her studies on social innovation within Maltese SMEs.
Samantha promotes the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to policy, ensuring that the needs of different social groups are met and that initiatives undertaken are accessible to all. She strongly believes in the importance of collaboration and creativity and innovation to address longstanding societal issues.
Ms Pace Gasan became an activist in her teenage years. She was a member of the Malta Girl Guides, where she enjoyed various roles, including as a leader in the community, as part of the Stop the Violence project and the National Board. She was also part of the National Youth Council, where she worked on policy proposals regarding sexual health. Pace Gasan was the president of the student organisation Studenti Ħarsien Soċjali and a co-founder of the Network of Young Women Leaders. She has also worked with Servizzi Ewropej Malta and the University of Malta, where she worked on social research projects and developed proposals for EU-funded projects.
Samantha is 32 years old, she is a person with disability and a foster parent.
(Photo Credit: Therese Debono)
