First of all, let me thank you for inviting me to be present with you this evening and to assist to this very touching ceremony. I wanted to congratulate all the awardees and also the nominees for their projects, and I also want to congratulate the Chamber itself for organising such an event which instils more pride in the profession.
We are towards the end of the ceremony which was supposed to celebrate the 21st edition of the Malta Engineering Excellence Awards. As I said, I take the opportunity to congratulate all those who have distinguished themselves in their respective engineering fields. I note with satisfaction that our young engineers are at the forefront in advancing innovative ideas and solutions for a more sustainable environment. The awards are not only a celebration of your individual hard work and successes but are also a strong vote of confidence in the centrality of advancing and promoting the benefits of a multidisciplinary field such as engineering within our tertiary educational systems and institutions.
All of this could not be possible without the stewardship of the Malta Chamber of Engineers, who has since 1978 contributed in no small part to promote the development of a professional and diverse engineering class in Malta. Acting as an inspiring beacon for young aspiring professionals in the electrical, mechanical, communications, and industrial engineering fields, the Chamber continues to be an important platform to advance professionalism and a hands-on approach for those embarking on this path. By espousing education, best practices in the different fields of engineering, and outreach to the general public, the Chamber has been successful in inspiring Maltese engineers to push barriers and seek new frontiers in the field of sustainable development. And this evening we have witnessed, as a matter of fact, the vast range of applications that were presented as projects and which ranged from practically one end of the spectrum to the other.
So, I am therefore very pleased to also observe a mix of ages, backgrounds, and genders. I believe that an increase in women enrolled in engineering courses at the University of Malta and MCAST and later successful employment in different engineering fields compliments our country’s efforts of combating the gender gap. It is therefore with great satisfaction to observe that Engineer Michelle Cortis has become the first Maltese engineer, as it has already been pointed out, to be elected to the Executive Board of the Fédération Européenne d’Associations Nationales d’Ingénieurs (FEANI). Furthermore, I am pleased to note that four engineers have been elected to the Maltese Parliament, further complementing the work of other members of Parliament hailing from different professional backgrounds.
I cannot fail to mention the touching story of the late Miguel Borg, who we have just commemorated, who despite the huge health challenges graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Malta. With his determination and courage to push through and achieve his dream of becoming a qualified engineer, Miguel continues to be an inspiration for all of us.
In conclusion, I once more congratulate all the awardees and thank the Chamber of Engineers for their unwavering commitment to be leaders in promoting the highest professionalism and ethical standards in the engineering profession in Malta.
Thank you for listening. Thank you very much.
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