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THE HOUSING LANDSCAPE

How Are We
Shaping the Future?

Agenda
The Speakers

On Wednesday, 30th April 2025, the Housing Authority hosted a national conference, bringing together policymakers, urban planners, developers, NGOs, and academics to discuss the future of housing in Malta.

Presentations
Photos

Insights, Innovation & Inclusion

How do we shape Malta’s housing future? Malta’s fast evolving demographics, economic growth, and diverse market demands require fresh and innovative solutions to ensure housing remains affordable, sustainable, and inclusive. Join experts, policymakers, and industry leaders as we shape the path forward.

Agenda

Agenda

8:30

Registration & Welcome Coffee

9:00

Welcome Address

Hon. Roderick Galdes

Minister for Social and Affordable Housing

Matthew Zerafa

CEO, Housing Authority

9:20

Presentation

The Housing Authority at (almost) 50: Evolving Roles and Responsibilities

Dr Brian Micallef

Executive Head, Housing Authority

Beyond Walls - A Long-Term Perspective of Social Housing in Malta

Dr Dylan Cassar

University of Malta

9:45

Panel Discussion I

Exploring Alternative Housing Financing Models

Moderated by Karl Azzopardi, Malta Today

Mr John Mallia

President, Malta Cooperative Federation

Dr Roberta Lepre

Founder & Managing Director, Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta

Mr Joseph Darmanin

Chief Business Development Officer, Malta Development Bank

Dr Jake Azzopardi

CEO, Affordable Housing Foundation

Dr Jonathan Spiteri

University of Malta

10:45

Q&A

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

EU and Housing

Recorded Message

Mr Matthew Baldwin

Head of Housing Task Force, EU Commission

A Cross-Country Comparison in Social and Affordable Housing in Europe

Keynote Speaker

Ms Sorcha Edwards

Secretary General, Housing Europe

11:50

Panel Discussion II

Affordable Housing: What’s Next?

Moderated by Mark Lawrence Zammit, Times of Malta

Mr Johann Buttigieg

Executive Chairman, Planning Authority

Prof Alex Torpiano

Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta

Mr Matthew Zerafa

CEO, Housing Authority

Mr. Michael Stivala

President of the Malta Development Association

12:50

Q&A

13:00

Closing Remarks

Matthew Zerafa

CEO, Housing Authority

13:15

Networking Lunch

Conference Presentations

Dr Brian Micallef

The Housing Authority at (almost) 50: Evolving Roles and Responsibilities

Dr Dylan Cassar

Beyond Walls – A Long-Term Perspective of Social Housing in Malta

Ms Sorcha Edwards

A Cross-Country Comparison in Social and Affordable Housing in Europe

Photos

The Speakers

Sorcha Edwards

General Secretary, Housing Europe

Sorcha Edwards has served as the General Secretary of Housing Europe, the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing, since 2014. Housing Europe brings together public, cooperative, and social housing providers from across Europe.

The European Federation shares a vision of a Europe that provides access to decent and affordable housing for all communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable, where everyone is allowed to reach their full potential. The sector manages 25 million homes and delivers over 200,000 new homes and renovations annually. As General Secretary, Sorcha Edwards leads the team and coordinates the network to ensure maximum impact. Her work aims to advocate for better regulation, increased knowledge sharing, and better financing for housing within EU and International policy-making. Under her leadership, Housing Europe has become a recognised point of reference for sustainable housing systems in Europe and beyond.  

Edwards’ academic background laid the foundation for her role in European policy and housing. She studied business and languages at Dublin City University, the University of Salamanca, and the University of Ulster, followed by a Master’s degree in European Studies at the University of Leuven and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainability in the Built Environment from the University of East London.   

Hon. Roderick Galdes

Minister, Social and Affordable Accommodation

Hon. Roderick Galdes is the Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, a role he has held since 2017, overseeing the Social Housing Sector in Malta. He began his political career in local governance, being first elected as a local councillor for Qormi in 1994. He later went on to serve as Mayor of Qormi, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to local community development and public service.   

In 2004, Hon. Galdes transitioned to national politics, being elected to the Maltese Parliament, where he successfully retained his parliamentary seat in subsequent elections.  

Hon. Galdes holds a Master’s degree in Small Island States from the University of Malta, a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the same institution, and a Diploma in Planning Studies. ​   

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Matthew Zerafa

Chief Executive Officer, Malta Housing Authority

Matthew Zerafa is the CEO of the Malta Housing Authority, having previously served as the Head of Secretariat and Policy Advisor at the Ministry for Social and Affordable Accommodation. In these roles, he was actively involved in several key housing reforms and initiatives. 

During his current tenure, Mr Zerafa has focused on making the Housing Authority more accessible and efficient. He is overseeing a digitalisation project aimed at improving services and has encouraged better collaboration between government agencies, while also strengthening data-sharing in the housing sector. His approach prioritises public engagement, stakeholder management, affordability, and housing quality while also working to improve compliance matters and research efforts.  

Mr Zerafa holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Intelligence and Security, with a focus on enforcement within Maltese public entities. He has also studied Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Psychotherapy, which have helped shape his influence on housing policy and administration.  

Joseph Darmanin

Chief Business Development Officer, Malta Development Bank

Joseph Darmanin serves as the Chief Business Development Officer at the Malta Development Bank (MDB). He is responsible for the overall business strategy and the development of new financial products and business opportunities. 

He also leads the communications and public relations function of the bank, as well as research and European affairs. Prior to joining the MDB, Mr Darmanin was a senior economist in the Governor’s Office of the Central Bank of Malta. 

During the latter part of his stint at the Central Bank, he was actively involved in the preparatory work for the establishment of the Malta Development Bank which included a comprehensive study on market failures in Malta’s banking system and further research in preparation for the negotiations with the EU Commission for the setting up of a development bank in Malta. 

Johann Buttigieg

Executive Chairman, Planning Authority in Malta

Johann Buttigieg is the Executive Chairman of the Planning Authority in Malta, where he leads the strategic direction of the country’s land use planning framework with a focus on reform, operational efficiency, and balanced development. With extensive experience in public administration, Mr Buttigieg has played a key role in shaping national initiatives related to planning, tourism, and infrastructure. 

He previously served as CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that demanded resilience, innovation, and decisive action to support one of the country’s most vital industries. Throughout his career in public service, Mr Buttigieg has successfully navigated complex challenges and public scrutiny while remaining focused on delivering practical solutions and long-term impact. 

Mr Buttigieg has built a career at the intersection of public policy, planning, and project management, contributing to major national initiatives focused on land use, development control, and infrastructure. As Executive Chairman, he remains focused on enhancing operational efficiency, promoting transparency, and fostering inclusive stakeholder engagement in Malta’s planning processes. 

Prof. Alex Torpiano

Professor, University of Malta

Professor Alex Torpiano served as Dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment at the University of Malta from 2008 to 2024. Over the course of his academic career, he has held several key leadership roles within the University. He was Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design (2016-2020), and Department of Building and Civil Engineering (1988-1999, 2007-2011), and Department of Civil and Structural Engineering (2011-2016). He set up and served as Director of the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research between 1994–2009. He has served as Member of Senate, and served on the Council, of the University of Malta between 2009 and 2021.  

Beyond academia, Professor Torpiano played an influential role in the professional and heritage sectors in Malta. He served as President of the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers (Kamra tal–Periti) during two terms: 1994-1996 and 2017-2019. From 2019 to 2024, he held the position of Executive President of Din l-Art Ħelwa, a leading heritage NGO. 

Dr Brian Micallef

Executive Head for Digitalisation, Legal and Communications, Malta Housing Authority

Dr Brian Micallef is an Economist and the Executive Head responsible for Digitalisation, Legal and Communications at the Housing Authority. 

He holds two doctoral degrees—a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Bristol and a PhD in Economics from the University of Portsmouth—as well as additional degrees in economics from the University of Malta. His research interests include survey methodology, migration and the housing market. 

Dr Micallef is a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy of the University of Malta. Before joining the Housing Authority in 2023, Dr Micallef was the manager of the Economic Research office at the Central Bank of Malta. 

Dr Dylan Cassar

Senior Lecturer, University of Malta

Dr Dylan Cassar is an economic sociologist with a keen interest in economic life, particularly in the field of finance. He was awarded a PhD in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh, in which he examined the sociomaterial intersections between global financial markets and central banking. His doctorate was based on fieldwork in the financial centres of London, Edinburgh, Frankfurt and New York. During his time in Edinburgh, he was actively involved in teaching and guest lecturing both locally and internationally. Dr Cassar holds a Master’s degree in Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology, both from the University of Malta. 

Currently, his research focuses on the sociology of knowledge and economic expertise in technocratic governance, employing methods such as elite interviewing and archival methods. He is also engaged in housing-related research. 

Prior to taking up a permanent post in academia, Dr Cassar held various professional research roles in public institutions, including positions in the policy and research divisions of the National Agency for Economic and Social Development and the National Central Bank. 

Dr Jake Azzopardi

Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Affordable Housing

Dr Jake Azzopardi is the CEO of the Foundation for Affordable Housing, the pioneering social enterprise in the local property market using social and financial innovation to create affordable solutions for new home buyers and tenants in the local scenario. 

A lawyer by profession, Dr Azzopardi contributed to the introduction of the Private Residential Leases Act of 2020 and the reform of the old residential leases of 2021. Throughout his career in the public sector, Dr Azzopardi helped design a number of widely acclaimed affordable housing programmes that are still providing thousands of households with access to homeownership and the private rented sector. 

He is one of the authors of the study on the national living income for Malta entitled: A Proposal Towards the Definition and Estimates of the National Living Income (2022). Prior to leading the foundation, Dr Azzopardi worked as a policy advisor in the European Parliament and as a journalist in printed media, specifically covering the plight of homeless persons and broader social issues. 

John Mallia

Managing Director/Partner, Mediacoop

John Mallia is the Managing Director and partner at Mediacoop and currently serves as President of the Malta Cooperative Federation. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Malta and brings over 28 years of experience in media, marketing and communications, training, and organisational development.

In addition to his work at Mediacoop, he is actively involved in the promotion and establishment of cooperatives, with a particular focus on initiatives that respond to community needs – such as housing, social enterprise, and local service provision.

Through his leadership in the Federation, he supports the development of cooperative models across various sectors of the economy, advocating for ethical business practices, improved access to services, and democratic participation. He has represented the Maltese cooperative sector at international meetings and continues to contribute to initiatives that promote cooperative principles, fostering collaborative, community-led approaches to sustainable development. 

The Venue

Oracle Conference Centre, DoubleTree by Hilton, Qawra St Paul's Bay

Free Parking Available

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Throughout his political career, Galdes has held various ministerial positions:​ 

 

  • Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights (2013-2017): In this role, he oversaw significant reforms, including the modernization of the fisheries sector and the enactment of Malta’s first National Agricultural Policy. ​  
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Social Housing (2017-2020): Galdes initiated several housing schemes aimed at improving social housing infrastructure and accessibility. ​  
  • Minister for Social Accommodation (2020 – Present): He continued to focus on social housing projects, emphasizing the development of affordable and quality housing for Maltese citizens. ​ He has launched ambitious projects, such as a record of national social housing projects and the legal amendments of the pre 1995 rent law. 

Hon. Galdes is known for emphasizing the social aspect of politics, considering it his strongest trait. He has been instrumental in rent reform, marking it as one of his significant political achievements.  

Throughout his career, Hon. Roderick Galdes has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing social welfare and housing in Malta, focusing on policies that aim to improve the quality of life for all citizens. 

Minister Roderick Galdes has spearheaded the most ambitious and wide-reaching reforms in Malta’s social housing sector in recent history. Under his leadership, Malta has witnessed the largest-ever investment in social housing, resulting in the construction and allocation of hundreds of modern, social housing units across the country. His tenure ranged from introducing Malta’s first comprehensive rent reform to launching large-scale housing projects aimed at long-term social inclusion and economic security. His policies have redefined the national approach to affordable living and established a lasting framework for dignified housing.

His leadership saw the launch of the New Hope Scheme, which provides access to home loans for people with serious medical conditions or disabilities who are often excluded by commercial banks despite financial stability. 

Additionally, he expanded the Equity Sharing Scheme, a groundbreaking initiative that allows eligible individuals to become homeowners.  

Minister Roderick Galdes has redefined Malta’s approach to social accommodation by moving beyond traditional rental support and actively creating pathways for vulnerable individuals to become homeowners.