National Property Conference 2026

Hon. Dr. Robert Abela took office as the 14th Prime Minister of Malta on 13 January 2020. He graduated as a lawyer from the University of Malta in 2002. Dr. Abela worked in the family law firm, specialising in industrial and labour law, and has acted as legal representative of various entities such as the Planning Authority and Airmalta. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in June 2017 and was appointed as legal adviser to the Prime Minister by Dr. Joseph Muscat.

Hon. Dr. Jonathan Attard serves as Malta’s Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment, following his tenure as Minister for Justice and Reform of the Construction Sector. A lawyer and former senior journalist, he has extensive experience in governance, public administration, and legislative reform. He has been actively involved in major administrative, legislative, and constitutional reforms, with particular focus on justice, the construction sector, and occupational health and safety, while also serving in a number of parliamentary and public sector roles.

Sandro Chetcuti is a respected, influential Maltese entrepreneur and business leader who has dedicated much of his career representing the Maltese Property & Construction industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Property Malta Foundation.

Dr. Brian Micallef is an economist and Executive Head responsible for Policy, Strategy and Communications at the Housing Authority. He holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Bristol and a PhD in Economics from the University of Portsmouth, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Malta. His main areas of research include housing markets, migration and survey methodology. He has published extensively in local and international peer-reviewed journals and, in 2025, edited Beyond Walls, a Housing Authority publication exploring the history of social housing in Malta. Dr. Micallef is also a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy at the University of Malta, where he teaches Advanced Macroeconomics. Before joining the Housing Authority in 2023, he served as Manager of the Economic Research Office at the Central Bank of Malta.

Jonathan is Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Malta. He co-leads the Corporate Accounting Advisory Services (CAAS) practice and leads both the KPMG Learning Academy and the firm’s ESG Reporting service line in Malta. He has over 22 years of experience in the accountancy profession, complemented by 18 years of lecturing experience. He is an elected member of the Council of the Malta Institute of Accountants and currently serves as its President.

Kurt Sansone, 51, is an award-winning journalist with close to 30 years experience in the field. He is currently executive editor at MaltaToday. He occupied the post of vice president and secretary general of the Institute of Maltese Journalists for almost five years and was a member of the Committee of Experts nominated to propose reforms in the media landscape. He loves politics, warts and all, and takes a keen interest in the economy, social issues and the environment. He is a husband and father of two.

Professor Alex Torpiano served as Dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, between 2008 and 2024; and at various stages, was Head of the Department of Building and Civil Engineering, of Civil and Structural Engineering, and of Architecture and Urban Design. He served as President of the Kamra tal-Periti, and as Executive President of Din l-Art Helwa between 2019 and 2024.

Perit Christopher Borg is a Maltese architect and senior planning professional serving as Director of Planning at the Planning Authority, a position he has held since June 2004. He is responsible for the Planning Directorate, overseeing strategic, local and subsidiary planning policy, EU and multilateral affairs, and locality funding initiatives. His professional experience includes serving on the Development Control Commission and the Planning Appeals Board, as well as working as a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta. He was a member of the National World Heritage Technical Committee from 2021 to 2024 and has served on the Sustainable Use of Resources for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Board since June 2022.

Michael Stivala is President of the Malta Development Association and CEO of Stivala Group, with extensive experience in property development, hospitality and investment. He advocates for responsible development, practical reforms and policies that support Malta’s economy and quality of life.

Kurt Sansone, 51, is an award-winning journalist with close to 30 years experience in the field. He is currently executive editor at MaltaToday. He occupied the post of vice president and secretary general of the Institute of Maltese Journalists for almost five years and was a member of the Committee of Experts nominated to propose reforms in the media landscape. He loves politics, warts and all, and takes a keen interest in the economy, social issues and the environment. He is a husband and father of two.

Malcolm Bray is Head of Economics at Bank of Valletta, where he leads economic research, scenario analysis, stress testing, and strategic assessments of the Maltese economy. He provides economic insights and forecasting support for senior management, executive committees, and the Board.

Hon. Owen Bonnici is Malta’s Minister for Accommodation and Lands. He was first elected to Parliament in 2008 and has held a number of ministerial portfolios, including Justice, Culture and Local Government, Education and Employment, and National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government. Responsibility for Lands was added to his portfolio in 2022, and following the 2026 general election, he was appointed Minister for Accommodation and Lands. He is currently serving his fifth consecutive term in Parliament.

Erskine Vella is co-founder and director of Best Deal Properties, which he established 15 years ago after 12 years as an estate agent. He later helped form Best Deal Properties Holding p.l.c., whose bonds are listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, and the group is known for quality, sustainable developments with strong EPC ratings. He was recently appointed to the council of the Malta Developers Association.