PA appoints three new directors

The Planning Authority has appointed Ing. Stephen Ferrito, Perit Raphael Axiak and Kevin Portelli as director for ICT, Mapping and Digital Services, director for Compliance and Enforcement and director for Corporate Services respectively.

Johann Buttigieg, chairperson of the PA’s Executive Council said: “The appointment of the three directors has strengthened the management structure of this Authority and will help us to continue to deliver on our declared commitments. A lead player in the public sector we will sustain our ambition to provide the most efficient service to customers, formulate planning policies to address current and future needs, support of initiatives in favour of urban improvements and improving the public interface.”

Ing. Ferrito graduated from the University of Malta as a mechanical engineer. He held various top management positions with a number of local manufacturing companies and gained extensive knowledge in quality management, systems and processing change. He joined the Planning Authority in 2001 as Operations manager. Ing. Ferrito has been heavily involved in a number of reforms the Authority has passed over the years. Since 1995, he has also been a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta, lecturing in Quality Management Principles.

As director for ICT, Mapping and Digital Services, he will continue to direct the Authority’s operations, ensuring that online services offered to customers will continue to increase and improve in the coming future while ensuring that the Authority keeps abreast with the latest information technology.

Perit Axiak graduated as an architect and civil engineer and holds a Masters degree in Town and Country Planning (UK). He joined the Planning Authority in 1995 and over the years obtained extensive experience in development management, spatial planning and compliance and enforcement. Towards the end of 2016, Perit Axiak was appointed as chief Executive officer of the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools, a position which he held for a year.

Since 2004 Perit Axiak has also been a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. In his new role as director for Compliance and Enforcement, he will drive the Directorate to ensure that the decisions of the Authority are complied with more efficiently and ongoing development is managed more effectively.

Portelli graduated from the University of Malta with a BA (Hons) degree in Accountancy in 1997. He worked for three years as an accountant and auditor with a local auditing firm before joining the Planning Authority in 2000 as Financial Controller. Portelli occupied this position until 2016, gaining extensive experience in the various functions of the Planning Authority through its numerous reforms and contributed actively to new and improved processes. In 2016, he was appointed assistant director Corporate Services, responsible for the Authority’s Finance, Human Resources, Procurement and Support Services functions. Portelli is a Malta CPA warrant holder and a fellow member of the Malta Institute of Accountants.

In his new role as director Corporate Services, he will continue to provide support to the other Directorates in the areas of financial management, human resources management and procurement and support services, to ensure that the best services are offered to the Authority’s customers in the most efficient manner possible.