First female head for government ministry

Cecilia Attard Pirotta yesterday became the first woman permanent secretary when she was appointed the top civil servant at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion.

She takes up the post after a long and distinguished career within the Foreign Office, where she had also made history by being appointed Malta's first woman ambassador resident overseas. Ms Attard Pirotta, currently the ambassador to Spain, will take up office on July 18.

She was one of four new permanent secretaries presented with their appointments by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at a ceremony in Castille, Valletta yesterday.

The other three new permanent secretaries are Godwin Grima, in the Office of the Prime Minister; Anthony C. Mifsud, in the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure, and Charles Deguara, in the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs. Three appointments are backdated to May 25.

Asked to comment on Ms Attard Pirotta's appointment, Dr Gonzi said the government felt the need to lead by example in the field of gender mainstreaming. "Gender representation in decision-making is essential for the ongoing economic and social development of the country," he said.

"The public service needs to be a model employer and the appointment of Ms Attard Pirotta as the first ever female permanent secretary will surely usher in a new dimension to the senior management structure of the public service."

Ms Attard Pirotta said she was proud and happy to be fortunate enough to become the first female to be given the appointment of permanent secretary.

"It's definitely a challenge from a personal and professional point of view. I hope my appointment will the beginning of a similar number of appointments of females in such posts," she said when contacted.

Asked if she believed in the concept of introducing minimum quotas of women on boards, Ms Attard Pirotta said she was definitely against any form of positive discrimination.

"If we truly believe in gender equality, then women should be appointed on their own merit. I don't see why this shouldn't be the case when considering there are more female graduates from our university than males," she said.

Ms Attard Pirotta, who has an extensive CV, was decorated Officer of the Order of Merit of Italy and Portugal.

Born in September 1963, she is married to Ivan Attard. She holds a BA (Hons.) in public administration from the University of Malta and a Masters in diplomacy from the university's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.

She first joined the Foreign Office as a student worker 21 years ago and then took on a full-time post as administrative officer upon graduating in 1988.

She continued climbing the career ladder in the Foreign Office and among the numerous other posts she has held was head of the western and central European division within the ministry's bilateral directorate.