During the “Digital Government” conference organised by MITA, Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana announced the creation of a new position within the Malta Public Service: Chief AI Officer.

This role will oversee and coordinate all artificial intelligence projects across public administration. In addition, an AI Governance Group will be established, composed of members from various sectors.

Sultana stressed that artificial intelligence should serve not only as a tool but as a “force multiplier”, enhancing the Public Service’s efficiency in serving the country. He welcomed next year’s National Budget, which will make AI more accessible to the general public through free courses and subscriptions to AI services.

He also encouraged senior officers to mentor younger employees, whom he described as “digital by birth,” eager for change and unafraid of technology.

“To have a digital Government, we must not be satisfied with the status quo. We must leave a legacy because, as a public administration, we are ready to lead even in this field,” Sultana concluded.

MITA CEO Emanuel Darmanin highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between MITA and the public sector to maximise the benefits of digitalisation. He noted that Malta is already achieving strong results in European indices, and through continued joint efforts, the country can become a model of digital excellence not only in Europe but globally.

The conference focused on key themes in public administration, including interoperability, cybersecurity and AI, and featured contributions from local and international experts as well as representatives from the European Commission.

Claudia Oliveira from the European Commission discussed how the Interoperable Europe initiative is promoting connected and efficient governance across member states. Jonathan Cassar, MITA’s Chief Information Security Officer, addressed cyber resilience challenges and best practices, while Dr Josianne Cutajar, former MEP, explored the AI regulatory framework and its opportunities for public administration.