OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Yvonne Mallia
Yvonne Mallia
Director
Yvonne is a warranted social worker with over 25 years of experience in the social welfare sector and holds the position of the Director of Fondazzjoni Sebh. She has obtained a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management from the University of Northumbria. Yvonne has practiced as a social worker various child and family services and held various leadership positions. As the Director of the national child and family welfare agency, Yvonne has been instrumental in developing and managing a vast range of social welfare services. Following this she also set up and managed the Quality Assurance Department. Her role was crucial in ensuring high standard of service across the different departments of the organisation. In 2018 Yvonne took up the role of Family Services Manager of Fondazzjoni Sebh and in 2019 was appointed Director of the same foundation. Yvonne likes to spend time with her family and friends and enjoys swimming, watching a good film, and finds stillness and inner-peace in nature.
Alexia Baldacchino
Alexia Baldacchino
Children Services Senior Manager
Alexia is a warranted social worker with over 20 years of experience, and she currently holds the position of Children Services Senior Manager at Fondazzjoni Sebh. Her main role involves running the children’s residential homes to high standards. The main priority is to ensure that all children are offered a safe, structured, and loving environment. Since graduating from the University of Malta in 2003, Alexia worked in various mental health services where she obtained specialised training in child and adolescent mental health. As the principal social worker, Alexia managed the social work provision for community and child and adolescent mental health services. In 2020, Alexia graduated in MSc in Human Resources Management and Training from the University of Leicester. Alexia is a committee member of the Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW) serving the role of Memberships Officer and the MASW representative on the Social Work Profession Board of Malta. Alexia forms part of the executive committee of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH Malta) and is currently serving the role of Vice Chairperson. In her free time, Alexia enjoys spending time with her family, baking cakes and swimming in summer.
Kerry Hermitage
Kerry Hermitage
Family Services Senior Manager
Kerry is a social worker and holds the position of Family Services Senior Manager at Fondazzjoni Sebh. The majority of her experience is working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness and she has experience in overseeing the running of various residences in the social sector and in creating projects that enhance service user involvement and empowerment. Kerry is very passionate about social justice and involves herself in various networking platforms. She was previously the Chairperson for the Platform Against Homelessness and she currently holds the position within the Maltese Association of Social Workers of public relations and current affairs officer, representative on MFPA and board of studies at the University of Malta. Kerry obtained a Masters of Social Work and is in the process of applying for her PhD with the University of Malta. Kerry is responsible for ensuring that the Family Services deliver a high-quality service within Il-Milja, Community Prevention Services, il-Mixtla and aftercare services, and ensuring that these services promote values of empowerment and individualisation of service users.
Elmer Stanmore
Elmer Stanmore
Central Office Senior Manager
Elmer occupies the role of Central Office Senior Manager and is responsible for all the corporate functions of the Foundation, including human resources, health and safety, PR, fundraising and policy development. Elmer has vast experience of 20 years in the social field where she worked as a professional focusing on Children and Family Services and later in the office of the Chief Executive Officer and on Quality Assurance. She obtained a Master of Arts in Social Work with Monash University in Australia. Throughout the years Elmer gained a vast array of knowledge which helps her to understand and deal with complex issues. Elmer has at heart volunteering, an activity in which she has been engaged since her adolescent years. Beyond her working hours, Elmer enjoys time with her family, loves baking, sewing and gardening.
Abigail Grima
Abigail Grima
Home Manager at Dar Sagra Familja
Abigail is a warranted social worker with over 13 years of experience, and currently holds the position of Home Manager at Dar Sagra Familja where she oversees the general running of the home and ensures that the children have a safe and loving environment where they can call home. Abigail has always worked with children, ever since she graduated from the University of Malta in 2010. She had her first job as a residential social worker in a home for teenage girls, after which she worked as a social worker at the Looked After Children Service within the Foundation for Social Welfare Services. In 2017, she went back to residential social work at Dar Sagra Familja managed by Fondazzjoni Sebh. In 2021, Abigail was promoted to Assistant Manager Care and Well-Being within the same Foundation . Abigail was awarded a Social Work Award in 2018 for Promoting the Voice of the Service Users. In her free time, Abigail enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, and watching a good movie series.
Martina Vassallo
Martina Vassallo
Home Manager at Dar San Nikola
Martina occupies the role of Home Manager at Dar San Nikola. In this role, she oversees the overall operation of the children’s home and ensures that the residents receive high-quality care services that cater to their needs and provide a safe and warm environment. Martina holds a degree in Health and Social Care Management and has been working in this field for the past five years. In her free time, Martina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, loves to explore the outdoors engaging in adventurous activities like camping and kayaking, and appreciating the tranquillity of nature.
Jade Cardona
Jade Cardona
Home Manager of Dar Santa Tereza
Jade has studied Psychology at the University of Malta and is currently reading for a Masters Degree in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. She has worked in residential settings for the past 5 years, including being a part of the management team in settings of homelessness, migration, and children’s residential care. Jade begun working with Fondazzjoni Sebh as the Assistant Manager of Dar Santa Tereza and Dar Sagra Familja in 2022 and was promoted to Home Manager of Dar Santa Tereza a year later. In her role as Home Manager of Dar Santa Tereza, a residential home that supports children under the age of 5 years, Jade strives to provide a serene, loving, and safe home environment for the children entrusted in our care, giving a priority to their unique needs and empowering them in their journey in finding their voices. Jade has a passion for supporting and empowering vulnerable members of society and believes it is a privilege to support such individuals and be a part of their journey.
Joseph Gerada
Joseph Gerada
Home Manager at Dar Fra Diegu
Joseph has studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of Genova. He worked for 6 years as an educator and was a school assistant head for 6 years in Italy. On his return to Malta he worked in various state schools. In 2009 he started working in the disability sector first on an EU project and after as a Manager at the Foundation for Respite Care Service for 9 years. In 2018 he was employed as an assistant Home Manager at Dar Fra Diegu and a year later he was promoted to a Home Manager of the same home. Travelling & adventurous activities such as trekking, camping and canoeing as well as listening to music, particularly classical music and pop are some of the things that Joseph enjoys doing in his free time.
Josette Stensen
Josette Stensen
Home Manager of il-Milja
Josette Stensen is a warranted social worker and a Gestalt psychotherapist. She is the Home Manager of il-Milja, a second stage shelter for survivors of Violence Against Women and children under Fondazzjoni Sebh, and has worked in this service for over 20 years. In her free time, she likes to be with her family and friends, travel and enjoy the stillness of nature.
Catherine Fleri Soler
Catherine Fleri Soler
Manager Community Family Service as part of her role as NGO Liaison Manager within the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS)
Catherine is a warranted social worker and obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Malta. She has extensive experience in a numerous settings. This includes working for 2 years within the poblaciones in Santiago, Chile in the Hogar de Cristo, an organisation founded by San Alberto Hurtado. For over 20 years she worked first as a community social worker and then headed a community development unit in Cottonera. Later as a services manager, she was instrumental in developing various community services in Malta. Catherine is responsible for setting up and managing the new Community Prevention Team within Fondazzjoni Sebh, which focuses on Hamrun and Marsa. In her spare time she enjoys: photography, listening to music, & watching sports.
Ann Marie Muscat
Ann Marie Muscat
Assistant Manager of the Director
Ann Marie started off her career with Fondazzjoni Sebħ in one of the Children’s Residential Homes where she worked for six years. Her duties included direct work with children as well as administrative responsibilities. Ms Muscat decided to further her studies in the managerial and administration sector and she has been working in this field for the past four years. Ann Marie was part of the Central Office team where she worked on various administrative tasks, projects and events. She now forms part of the Director`s Office, where she assists the Director in administrative tasks and various projects and tasks delegated to her. Ann Marie loves the outdoors and in her free time she enjoys travelling, reading and cooking.
Brian Muscat
Brian Muscat
Central Office Manager
Brian is a seasoned lawyer with 20 years of legal experience. As the Manager of HR and Corporate Services at Fondazzjoni Sebh, he leverages extensive experience gained from previous managerial roles to oversee human resources and corporate services within the Foundation. In addition to his legal qualifications, Brian has pursued various training programs in management, and in HR and employment-related subjects, including organisational psychology with the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Throughout his career, Brian has successfully led and managed teams of workers in major local and international companies, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex legal and organisational challenges. His expertise spans a wide range of HR activities, including day-to-day HR operations, talent acquisition, compliance with employment laws, employee training, conflict resolution, HR policy formulation and implementation, and implementing compliance programs. From a young age, Brian has been deeply involved in voluntary work with local NGOs, driven by his desire to serve the community. In his free time, Brian enjoys traveling, cooking, and gardening.
Board of Administrators Members
| Ms Yvonne Mallia Director and Chairperson |
Ms Rose Anne Abdilla Board Secretary |
| Ms Ruth Cauchi Board Treasurer |
Ms Sina Bugeja Member |
| Sr Victoria Sant Member |
Mr Alex Mamo Member |
| Mr Zachary Borg Member |
The Consultative and Operations Management Board Members are:
Consultative and Operations Management Board Members
| Ms Yvonne Mallia Chairperson |
Dr Marceline Naudi Member |
| Dr Patricia Bonello Member |
Ms Glenda Curmi Member |
| Ms Marija Zahra Member |
The mission of Fondazzjoni Sebħ began in 1956 when the Archdiocese of Malta decided to coordinate the work done with children living in residential homes run by male and female religious congregations. Fondazzjoni Sebħ was initially known as Ufficju Djoċesan Djar tat-Tfal and later changed to Ufficju Ejjew Għandi. In 2018 the entity registered itself as an NGO and in 2019 it became established as Fondazzjoni Sebħ VO/1622. Since 1956, the primary focus was on Children’s Homes. This changed in 2000 when the Archdiocese of Malta opened Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu, a second-stage shelter for survivors of domestic violence which is now called Il-Milja. This shelter was the first of its kind in Malta as it focussed on empowering women and children to reintegrate into the community, independent from their abuser. Since then Fondazzjoni Sebħ has also incorporated a Community Prevention Service which covers the areas of Hamrun and Marsa. In 2024 the service was renamed Community Family Service focusing on early intervention and family support and preservation. Fondazzjoni Sebh launched it’s AfterCare Services in 2023 which supports youth leaving Sebh’s residential homes or families leaving Milja with ongoing support when transitioning to independent living.