BirdLife Malta is collaborating with partner organisations to fulfil the project objectives. The project partnership is a mix of governmental and nongovernmental organisations who have joined their efforts in past LIFE project partnerships, and which have the necessary roles and expertise to bring a desired change to the future of Yelkouan and Balearic Shearwater populations, throughout their range.
Team
Manya Russo
Project Manager
Manya has a background in marine conservation, having completed a bachelors in Biology and Chemistry, and a Masters in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent, UK. After her studies, Manya went on to working within international consultancies and NGOs in various fields of marine science, gaining experience in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. She has worked across different European funding frameworks and projects, and is currently the Project Manager for LIFE PanPuffinus!
Contact: manya.russo@birdlifemalta.org
Martin Austad
Seabird Research Coordinator
Martin has a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Systems and a Master’s in Ecology. Martin began volunteering with BirdLife Malta and later became a leader of the youth group Falko and helped out as a licensed bird ringer with the LIFE+ Malta Seabird project. Martin was for 4 years on the LIFE+ Arcipelagu Garnija team as Project Warden. Martin is now Seabird Research Coordinator on LIFE PanPuffinus!
Contact: martin.austad@birdlifemalta.org
Rita Matos
Project Warden
Graduated in Marine Biology and Biotechnology on the Aquaculture and Fisheries sector at Peniche, Portugal. Since 2016, has volunteered and worked with SPEA (Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds) with seabirds on LIFE Berlengas/LIFE Ilhas Barreira projects. In 2019, Rita joined Birdlife Malta on LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija project and currently works for LIFE PanPuffinus project as a Project Warden.
Contact: rita.matos@birdlifemalta.org
Francesca Visalli
Project Warden
Francesca has a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science and a Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour, where she was investigating the reproductive behaviour of Scopoli’s Shearwaters in collaboration with ISPRA, Italy.
She is passionate about seabirds and their fascinating lifestyle. In 2022, she joined the seabird team of BirdLife Malta as a Seabird Conservation Assistant within the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering scheme, and now she has joined the LIFE PanPuffinus! project as Project Warden.
Contact: francesca.visalli@birdlifemalta.org
Justine Borg
Marine Policy Officer
After spending three years working offshore on research vessels in the Mediterranean, North and Baltic Seas as a marine mammal and fisheries observer, Justine felt a strong desire to pursue a career related to marine environmental policy. This prompted her to advance her academic journey by embarking on a Master’s program on Ocean Science, Conservation and Innovation.
Now, as a Marine Policy Officer with BirdLife Malta since March 2023, she’s dedicated to protecting her home country’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Contact: Justine.borg@birdlifemalta.org
Mark Sultana
Chief Executive Officer
BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana’s role in this project is to assist the team, in particular the project manager and finance officer, in the decision-making process to direct this project to successful results; as achieved in previous EU LIFE-funded projects that BirdLife Malta has managed over the years.
Contact: mark.sultana@birdlifemalta.org
Nicholas Barbara
Head of Conservation
Nicholas joined BirdLife Malta in 2009 to manage BirdLife Malta’s EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project and then moved on to manage the EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project, while also managing BirdLife Malta’s growing conservation department. During this time BirdLife Malta secured and concluded also the LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija project before embarking on LIFE PanPuffinus! Nicholas studied conservation biology in the UK, and biology and chemistry in Malta.
Contact: nicholas.barbara@birdlifemalta.org
Nathaniel Attard
Communications Manager
Nathaniel is BirdLife Malta’s Communications Manager and joined the organisation in May 2016 after a successful 17-year career in the media. Together with his team he is responsible for dissemination of all the information regarding LIFE PanPuffinus! through a detailed communications strategy.
Contact: nathaniel.attard@birdlifemalta.org
Gabriella Seguna Galea
Finance Manager
With a Degree level in the ACCA qualification and years of experience working within the Finance sector of various international companies, Gabriella joined BirdLife Malta in May 2024 and oversees the finance department and all accounting aspects of the organisation.
She is also project administrator for multiple projects across all departments within the organisation, including LIFE PanPuffinus!.
Contact: gabriella.seguna@birdlifemalta.org
Alessandra Loria
Education Officer
After obtaining a Doctorate Degree in Evolutionary Ecology and completing a one-year Postdoctoral project, Alessandra wished to dedicate her knowledge and experience to Environmental Education. She believes that engaging the public in actions toward a more sustainable world is essential to contrast the global ecological crisis and find urgent solutions. Alessandra joined BirdLife Malta in 2022.
Contact: alessandra.loria@birdlifemalta.org
In Malta the project is also co-funded by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights
Co-funders
