Following its Annual General Meeting, the Malta Society of Arts (MSA) Committee has confirmed its new leadership for the 2026–2027 term, with the structure formally approved during a committee meeting.

The newly appointed committee will serve from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027.

At the helm is Joe Borg, who has been appointed President. He is joined by Joan Abela as Vice President, alongside Dorothy Meli as Honorary Treasurer and Adrian Mamo as Honorary Secretary.

The wider committee is composed of Margaret Farrugia, Wilbert Tabone, Lara Boffa, Joseph J. Mifsud and Emmanuel Montebello. Beverly Saliba will serve as Government Representative, while Doris Mangion takes on the role of Manager.

Dr Borg brings extensive experience in law, academia and public service. A graduate in Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 1975 and holder of a Master of Laws from Wales, he has held academic posts since 1979 specialising in company and industrial law. He was the principal drafter of the Malta Companies Act in 1995 and served on the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Malta between 1992 and 1995.

His political career includes election to Malta’s House of Representatives in 1995, followed by roles as Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1999 and 2004. During this period, he led Malta’s negotiations for accession to the European Union. He subsequently served as European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs between 2004 and 2010, before returning to academia.

Joan Abela / Facebook 

Dr Abela, appointed Vice President, is known for her work in safeguarding Malta’s notarial heritage. A historian by profession, she has led efforts to restore and preserve historic manuscripts, particularly through her role as President of the Notarial Archives Foundation. Her work has contributed to raising national awareness of the importance of archival preservation and cultural heritage.