MY LIFE: DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR LIFELONG INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT PLANS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Born in 1986 with Spina Bifida, Oliver Scicluna is a lifelong advocate for disability inclusion and social reform. He is the current Chief Executive Officer of Aġenzija Sapport, Malta’s State disability service provider.

Oliver holds degrees in Informatics, Youth Studies, and Public Administration from the University of Malta and the University of Chester. He co-founded Breaking Limits, Malta’s first cross-disability self-advocacy NGO, and has led several voluntary organisations promoting equal opportunities and inclusion.

He served as Chairperson and later as the first Commissioner of the reformed Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), where he was instrumental in strengthening legislative frameworks and launching innovative initiatives such as the Malta Business Disability Forum, a platform bringing together the business community, disability organisations, local councils, and mental health representatives for constructive dialogue.

In 2021, Oliver was appointed Member of Parliament, where he continued championing the rights of persons with disability and broader social inclusion. As current CEO of Aġenzija Sapport, he is implementing a national deinstitutionalisation policy, introducing personal assistance and personal budget reforms, and expanding community inclusion programmes.

Katie McVey is the Chief Operating Officer at Enable and is principally responsible for delivering the strategy, development and resourcing priorities across the Group.

Katie joined Enable in 2012. Over the last five years in particular, Katie has been pivotal in growing the organisation’s revenues from £30m to over £70m, which has enabled the operating pillars of the charity – Enable Care, Enable Works and Enable Communities – to extend their reach and impact, supporting more people to live independent lives as active citizens within their local communities.

Katie holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Strathclyde University, having been supported by Enable to access the qualification through part-time study. She has a specialist interest in the development of business functions which support high quality human rights driven social care for all.

Prof Alexiei Dingli is an AI expert and Professor at the University of Malta. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he has helped numerous companies successfully implement AI solutions. His work has been recognised as world-class by international experts, and he has received numerous awards from organisations such as the European Space Agency, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the United Nations.

In addition to his considerable peer-reviewed publications, he is also a member of the Malta.ai task force, working to position Malta as a global leader in AI. He is also the founder of Digital Brain, an AI company specialising in training, consultancy, and developing innovative AI-driven solutions.

Estelle Houtart is a Junior Policy Officer at the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), where she leads EASPD work on inclusive housing and contributes to other policy areas such as independent living, early childhood intervention, inclusive education, employment, supported decision-making and legal capacity.

Estelle Houtart holds a Master’s degree in Law with a professional focus on State and Europe from UCLouvain, Belgium. Her academic background includes a strong emphasis on public law, European integration, and human rights. She also completed an Erasmus+ exchange in Global Governance Law at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Her professional experience includes a traineeship at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), where she contributed to legal and policy analysis and stakeholder engagement. She was strongly involved in projects related to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), including the political participation of persons with disabilities.

Estelle has a longstanding commitment to disability rights, demonstrated through her volunteer work with two student-led initiatives promoting inclusion and support for people with disabilities.

Glenda Curmi is a Services Director at Aġenzija Sapport. A Social Worker by profession with an MSc in Management, Glenda brings together frontline expertise and strategic leadership to advance inclusive and person-centred disability services. Glenda played a pivotal role in establishing the Agency’s Intake, Family Support Unit, Youth Work, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing services, strengthening the organisation’s outreach and responsiveness.

Glenda also oversees a diverse portfolio of professional services, including Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Personal Budget Assistance, Family Assistance, Access to Communication & Technology Unit, Sonia Tanti Independent Living Centre, and Sign Language Interpretation, fostering collaboration and celebrating team achievements. Guided by the values of deinstitutionalisation, autonomy, and supported decision-making, Glenda is committed to empowering people with disabilities to lead self-directed lives and participate fully in their communities.

Dr. Jimmy Farrugia is a Consultant Paediatrician with over thirty years of experience in early childhood neurodevelopment, working primarily within the Child Development Assessment Unit, CDAU at St. Luke’s Hospital. He has a special interest in the early identification of autism, autism-like, and other neurodevelopmental presentations in childhood.

Dr. Farrugia believes that every child is unique, and that the focus should be on understanding each child’s functional needs rather than fitting them into rigid diagnostic categories. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to supporting families with timely, holistic care that brings together medical, educational, and social perspectives, while consistently advocating for inclusion and the rights of children with developmental differences.

Ritienne Borg Saliba currently serves as Director General of Educational Services. A teacher by profession, she has extensive experience in both secondary and post-secondary education. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles, including Deputy Head of School and Head of School in both primary and secondary education.

Following specialised training, Ms. Borg Saliba worked in the career guidance sector, with a particular focus on supporting young people in higher education. She later transitioned to the Quality Assurance Department as an Education Officer, where she was responsible for conducting external reviews across a broad spectrum of educational settings, ranging from pre-compulsory (childcare) to compulsory education.

Ms. Borg Saliba also served as Head of College Network for San Gorg Preca College before being appointed Director General Education Strategy and Quality Assurance. She later assumed her current role as Director General of Educational Services.

In addition to her leadership positions, Ms. Borg Saliba chaired the Task Force for the National Education Strategy 2024–2030 and represents the Ministry for Education on several professional bodies, including a number of inter-ministerial committees, the MATSEC Board, the Faculty of Education Board, and University of Malta Senate.

Karen Buttigieg is an educator and parent advocate dedicated to building more inclusive systems in Malta. She currently serves as President of the National Parents’ Society for Persons with Disabilities (NPSPD), where she works with families, professionals, and policymakers to strengthen supports for persons with disabilities and their families.

Professionally, Karen has over twenty years’ experience in education. She lectures in biology and inclusive education and contributes to the professional development of future educators, particularly in the areas of neurodiversity, equity, and student wellbeing. Her advocacy is deeply shaped by her lived experience as the mother of a teenage son with a neuromuscular disorder and autism. Through this journey, she has witnessed both the challenges and the resilience that emerge when families and systems work together with empathy and respect. Karen continues to use her voice to promote collaborative partnerships believing that inclusion begins not with policy, but with human relationships built on listening and dignity.

Jisimni Nevice Grech, għandi 43 sena u noqgħod in-Naxxar. Inħobb ħafna l-isports, speċjalment il-futbol u nżomm mal-Manchester United u Valletta City. Jiena atleta ta’ Special Olympics Malta u ilni nilgħab il-Boċċe għal ħames snin. Irrappreżentajt lil Malta f’Berlin fl-2023 u rbaħt l-award ta’ Special Olympics Woman Athlete of the Year 2023. Barra l-isports, inħobb inpinġi, il-mużika u l-festi.