Overview:
- Myriam Spiteri Debono becomes Malta’s third female president, symbolizing a new era of inclusive and principle-led leadership.
- Served as Malta’s first female Speaker of the House, guiding Parliament with fairness during politically turbulent times.
- Elected Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, she promotes values of care, competence, and collaboration.
- She embodies quiet strength, humility, and moral clarity—challenging conventional notions of power.
- Her participation in women-led networks catalyzes global change.
“We must look ahead, each and every one of us, we must keep to the fore our good qualities, hard work, resilience, solidarity, and above all proper behaviour.”
— President Myriam Spiteri Debono, Republic Day Speech 2024
These powerful words marked Republic Day in Malta in 2024, as President Myriam Spiteri Debono articulated her vision. Yet, they were not simply ceremonial; they reflected the ideals of her presidency. They were an echo from a life dedicated to public service, carried out with absolute fairness and moral leadership. As the newly elected President of Malta, she steps into a role that is as symbolic as it is profound. She has taken on the task of unifying a nation and serving as its moral compass.
Myriam Spiteri Debono is only the third woman to hold Malta’s highest office making her election historic and deeply emblematic. Her ascent redefines leadership, placing quiet strength at its zenith. It cements in place the values of solidarity and resilience that are synonymous with Malta. In many ways, her leadership ethos mirrors the likes of organizations like Girl Power Talk. The vision of inclusivity and diversity is a shared one. It gives rise to communities with a strong value system in place built with humility and empowerment.
Integrity in Action
Even before she garnered limelight as the elected President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono had built a legacy grounded in integrity. Among the first female notaries in Malta, she carved a legal career marked by an unwavering allegiance to justice. Her early work with the Gender Equality Commission and the Press Ethics Commission lent shape to the democratic ethos of modern Malta.
She has traversed decades in civic roles, she remained a steadfast advocate for democratic values and women’s rights. In Parliament, she tirelessly voiced for civic engagement and societal progress. Through her actions, she teaches us all that leadership is not merely a position, but a lifelong devotion to lifting others as we climb.
Voice of the House, Conscience of the Nation
Spiteri Debono served as Speaker of the House from 1996 to 1998, the first woman ever to do so in Malta. Therein she guided Parliament through politically turbulent waters. Her term was characterized by fairness, eloquence, and a return of dignity to parliamentary debate, much of the time in the face of a male-dominated and fractious environment.
A longstanding member of the Labour Party’s executive committee for 16 years, she has also remained Secretary General and President of the Labour Women’s League. Her leadership extended beyond Malta’s shores as she represented the country at international forums, where she was frequently tasked to preside over sessions: a testament to her reputation abroad. Her voice isn’t just a domestic anchor for the people of her country, but it also has an international impact. Her presence is a steady reminder of Malta’s progressive stance on gender equity and democratic integrity.
Value-Driven Leadership
Today, Spiteri Debono calls for “redemption, representation, and maturity” to guide her presidency. She has become an embodiment of value-driven leadership—someone who believes in the transformative power of working collectively, the dignity of work, and is committed to leaving communities stronger for those who come behind us. She is known to favor the values of wisdom and steady governance in every role she has taken part in.
Women-led institutions score higher in collaboration as institutions like McKinsey & Company have often reported. Spiteri Debono’s leadership embodies the leadership underlined in such studies and bears testimony to how empathy-driven leadership can strengthen a country. She is living proof to the fact that true leadership is not about the loudest voice in the room, but about building bridges between generations and ideologies. It is about making progress with quiet determination.
A Global Voice for Women in Leadership
Spiteri Debono’s influence now extends beyond Malta. In 2024, she was elected to the position of Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, becoming part of an exclusive membership that comprises former prime ministers and presidents. In this role, she advocates for elevating small nations and championing gender parity on the global stage.
As Mariella Camilleri, President of Business and Professional Women (Valletta), Malta, notes, “President Spiteri Debono is not just leading Malta- she’s helping shape a global movement toward value-based leadership. Her rise is a beacon for women and girls everywhere who dream of making a difference through quiet strength and principled action.”
She sees the future of leadership not in bluster but in competence and care, urging women leaders worldwide to spearhead a “quiet revolution” that emphasizes service over self-interest. She is a role model, who has a vision of service to others, leads boldly, serves selflessly and executes with determination.
In a time like today, it is imperative that women like Myriam Spiteri Debono come together to engage with networks like Business and Professional Women, Vital Voices, and other women leadership organizations. Apart from sparking meaningful conversations, these platforms help create a powerful front and unite on issues like equal representation. The united front thus formed will lead to tackling real world problems like social justice and economic participation for women. Such forums can catalyze lasting change.
Her Legacy in the Making
As President, Spiteri Debono brings to Malta not just decades of political and civic experience but also the grounding influence of family and community. Having spent much of her adult life in Birkirkara with her husband Anthony, himself a notary, the couple raised three children and now proudly guide four grandchildren.
Guided by humility and moral clarity, her presidency stands for more than ceremony; it’s a call to collective responsibility. She reminds Malta that power is not merely about presence but about principles carried forward with grace. As Spiteri Debono continues her work, she exemplifies how leadership anchored in values, community, and quiet courage can shape not just a country, but a generation.
In a world often dazzled by spectacle, Myriam Spiteri Debono offers Malta, and the world, a profound lesson: that leadership rooted in values, service, and the collective good is the kind of leadership that endures.
