Representative of civil society on MCESD

Benjamin Rizzo, vice president of the Malta Federation of Professional Associations (MFPA) has been elected president of the Civil Society Committee within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. This is the first time that civil society is being represented directly within this forum, following legislation recently brought into force.

Mr Rizzo, who was elected for a two year term, is an accountant by profession. He was president of the MFPA during 2003-2005 and 2008-2010, and is also Malta’s representative of the MFPA within the European Council of the Liberal Professions (CEPLIS) having held this position for the last nine years. Indeed, he was awarded the CEPLIS award this year for his “visionary spirit and the work for the promotion of the European ideal”.

Mr Rizzo has been the MFPA’s representative on the MCESD Civil Society Committee for the last eight years and is also a member of the MEUSAC Core Group, following his election as representative of civil society for the period 2009 and 2011. Mr Rizzo was also president of the Malta Institute of Accountants between 2001-2003 and has been an elected council member of the MIA for 18 years.

The MCESD Civil Society Committee represents civil society organisations which represent sectors such as heritage, education, social and community advancement, persons with disability, gender equality, professions, health, the elderly and pensioners, local councils, consumer affairs, sports, agriculture, fisheries and youth.