Mr Stephen Vella
Principal and CEO

Stephen Vella started his academic journey at Savio College and Stella Maris College, and continued his degree studies at the University of Malta and Falkirk College of Arts in Scotland. He also holds an MBA from the Henley School of Management.

His professional career commenced in 1993 at the Salvatore Dimech School for Craftsmen, where he taught Graphic Design and Photography. His passion for vocational education was quickly recognised, leading to his promotion in 2003 to Deputy Director of the institution. In this role, Stephen Vella was instrumental in enhancing the school’s curriculum, streamlining operations, and fostering a culture of innovation.

In 2008, he was appointed Director of the MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts. Under his guidance, the Institute experienced substantial growth, with a marked increase in student enrollment and the introduction of new higher diplomas and Degree courses in Fine Art, Interactive Media, Photography, and Media.

In 2015, Stephen Vella assumed the role of Head of the Technical College at MCAST, further expanding his influence within the institution. In March 2017, he was appointed General Manager at MCAST Gateway to Industry, the College’s commercial arm. He helped raise MCAST’s international profile, representing the institution at major global fairs and conventions.

In 2021, he was appointed Deputy Principal for Business Development and Communications. In this capacity, he continued to drive the institution’s growth by spearheading business development initiatives, managing infrastructural projects, and leading marketing strategies. In September 2024 he was appointed MCAST Principal and CEO.

stephen.vella@mcast.edu.mt

Ms Edel Cassar
Director MCAST Strategy Implementation Office

Ms Edel Cassar has been entrusted to run the Strategy Implementation Office. Ms Cassar is an educator by profession with an educational background in psychology, sociology, human resources and training. Her work experience started off as a teacher and proceeded towards specialisation in EU projects, in particular funding coordination in the public sector. Ms Cassar occupied the position of Chief Executive Officer within the Commission for Further and Higher Education, the entity responsible for recognition, validation and accreditation of further and higher education in Malta. Ms Cassar also headed the National Skills Council and the Scholarships Unit within the Ministry for Education and Employment. Ms Cassar is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and an assessor on the Erasmus + programme.

 edel.cassar@mcast.edu.mt

Dr Caroline Demarco
Director in the Office of the Principal Legal Affairs and Data Protection

Dr. Caroline Demarco is the Director Legal Affairs and Data Protection Officer in the Office of the Principal. She is a legal professional with a remarkable career spanning the realms of Information Technology and Law. Her journey of knowledge began with a passion for both management and IT, leading her to pursue a degree in Management in IT, where she honed her skills in the dynamic world of technology. For the subsequent decade, she played a pivotal role in the commercial department of a prominent telecommunications company, contributing to the growth and success of the organization. Eager to broaden her horizons, Caroline went on to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA e-Business), further strengthening her acumen in strategic decision-making and organizational management in the technology domain. This led Caroline to transition to the government IT agency, where she spent 13 years in the contracts and legal department. After embarking on a diverse academic path, where she obtained a Teacher’s Warrant empowering her to impart knowledge to different generations in the realms of Information Technology, her commitment to lifelong learning led her to delve into the world of law, culminating in the achievement of a diploma in Legal Procurator and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B), cementing her expertise in the legal domain by later pursuing a Masters in Advocacy. Over the past two years, Caroline has demonstrated her versatility and adaptability by serving as a legal advisor to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Ministry of Health’s Information Management Unit. In this capacity, with her substantial knowledge and astute skills in Information Technology and Law, she has provided invaluable legal counsel and proved to be an indispensable asset in handling data protection and contractual legal matters.

caroline.demarco@mcast.edu.mt

Ms Francesca Attard
(Deputy Director – Policy Analyst)

In May 2019, Francesca Attard was appointed Deputy Director – Policy Analysis becoming part of the MCAST Principal’s office team. Francesca is a graduate of the University of Malta, acquiring a Bachelor’s Degree in Management in 2006 and consequently a Master of Arts in European Studies in 2013. She continued her professional development by attending other specialised courses in leadership and management, communication skills and speech writing.

Her career in policy commenced at the Ministry of Education and Employment, as a Research Manager in EU and International areas related to Education, Employment, Youth and Sport. Before that, she gained work experience in the private sector in areas related to media, tourism, EU funding and also the pharmaceutical industry.

She also has a keen interest in photography. Her photography features people from all walks of life. Throughout the years, she has specialised in Maternity and Newborn Photography, an artistic niche which is very dear to her.

 francesca.attard@mcast.edu.mt