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.