Mr Duncan Vella
Director

Duncan Vella graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Mathematics from the University of Malta in 2011 and later obtained a Master in Education with specialisation in Mathematics Education and E-learning from The Open University in 2017. He spent eight years as a lecturer at MCAST, teaching Mathematics and Science across a range of academic levels and institutes, while also contributing to industry-related training. During this time, he also served as Mathematics Subject Coordinator, supporting curriculum development, and assessment practices. In May 2019, Duncan was appointed Deputy Director of Curriculum, where he led the Centre for Learning and Employability, overseeing the Awards programmes, support services, and the

overall coordination of key skills units embedded across MCAST programmes. He has been actively involved in the management of several ERASMUS+ projects, particularly in the areas of Basic Skills, Transversal Skills, Enterprise Skills, STEAM education, digital pedagogy, and inclusive practices. He has also participated on various boards and committees. An all-round education professional, Duncan brings together expertise in teaching and learning, curriculum design, project management, and policy engagement.

 +356 23987800

Mr Malcolm. B. Borg
Deputy Director

Mr Malcolm Borg graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) from the University of Malta in 2009, a PGC in Sustainable Agriculture in 2016 and an M.A. (Agribusiness Management) in 2017. He attended various CPD courses in Sensory Perception, Postharvest Management, Floristry, Vegetable Grafting, Precision Agriculture, Greenhouse Production, and Olive Oil Tasting amongst others. Mr Borg joined MCAST as a full-time lecturer in January 2011 and became deputy director for the Centre of Agriculture, Aquatics & Animal Sciences in 2015. He is the creator and coordinator of FOWARIM- a Horizon 2020 project that sought to increase the research capacity of MCAST in the use of water in agriculture. He is also chairperson and external verifier for agribusiness vocational units being delivered in secondary schools.  Malcolm Borg is the internal auditor of the GlobalG.A.P (international) certification for potatoes cultivated in Malta for eventual export

Founder and coordinator of Ghaqda Bdiewa Attivi– an organization for farmers that lobbies for and represent farmers in matters related to policy, market, EU funding, etc. He used to be the Chairman of the Fish Husbandry Trade Testing Board till 2015, he coordinates courses for farmers for the Directorate of Agriculture till 2015, and is co-author of various scientific papers related to water use in agriculture. His interests include reading, lobbying, gastronomy, food production and processing.

 +356 23987340
 malcolm.b.borg@mcast.edu.mt

Mr Karl Montebello
Deputy Director 

Mr Karl Montebello obtained a B.Sc. (Honours) in Applied Biomedical Science in 2014 and an M.Sc. in Food Science and Environmental Health in 2016, both from the University of Malta. He started off his career as Dairy Technologist with Malta Dairy Products Ltd. in 2014, and was later appointed as Assistant Production Manager and Product Leader with the same company. He was also a part-time lecturer at the MCAST Institute of Applied Sciences and a casual lecturer at the Department of Food Studies and Nutrition within the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Malta.

In 2020 he moved to the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) as a Policy and Strategy Executive. In this capacity, he had a key role in supporting and contributing towards the drafting and implementing of various national research and innovation strategies and policies. He notably acted as Chair of the National Open Science Technical Working Group, and Secretariat of the National Open Access Committee responsible for the development and implementation of the National Open Access Policy 2021. He was also appointed as the institutional Open Access champion within MCST.

During his time at MCST he was entrusted with providing policy advice to Government in the areas of research, innovation, and space, and coordinating MCST’s response on EU R&I policy initiatives, EU Space Council dossiers, COREPER and Competitiveness Council (research and space). He represented Government as Maltese delegate on various EU and international forums and European Commission expert groups and committees related to research, innovation, Open Science, and space.

 +356 23987823
 karl.montebello@mcast.edu.mt