The Minister
Dr
Owen Bonnici
Owen Bonnici is the Minister for Education and Employment.
He was born in Żejtun and is the youngest of two siblings. He believes
that his family has given him the values of commitment, hard work and the
meaning of what one can do to contribute towards a better society.
He achieved a Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2004 and
obtained a diploma in Canon Jurisprudence in 2005, from the Metropolitan
Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
He worked as a lawyer in a private practice and lectures at the Faculty of Law in the
University of Malta as a teaching associate.
Minister Bonnici moved forward gradually in the political spectrum. He
started as a Councillor and then Deputy Mayor on the ticket of Partit Laburista
in Marsascala. He was also elected various times as a member in the Party’s
Executive Council.
He was elected in Parliament for the first time in 2008 at the age of
27. During the voting day of this general election, he became a father to Ema.
Ema attended and still attends state schools and often offers advice to her
father on what needs to be done to further improve her school!
Between 2008 and 2013, Minister Bonnici served as Opposition
Spokesperson for Youth and Culture and subsequently Higher Education,
University, and Research. Upon re-election in 2013, he was given the role of
Parliamentary Secretary for Justice. He served as Minister for Justice, Culture
and Local Government from 2014 to 2017.
He was once again re-elected in the general election of 2017 and was
reconfirmed in the role of Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government,
until he was appointed as Minister for Education and Employment in
2020.
Owen Bonnici’s favourite pastime is football and is one of the few
people in Malta who supports Southampton FC. He enjoys reading, the arts,
culture and music. He can be auto critical, but he believes in what he can
accomplish.
He lives with Remenda Grech
in Żurrieq.