HONOURABLE OWEN BONNICI - MINISTER FOR THE NATIONAL HERITAGE, THE ARTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Dr Owen Bonnici is the Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and the Local Government.
He was born and raised in Zejtun and is the youngest of two siblings.
Owen Bonnici read law at the University of Malta and graduated with a B.A. In Legal and Humanistic Studies (European Studies) in 2001 and a Doctorate of Laws from the University of Malta in 2004. He furthered his studies and obtained a diploma in Canonical Jurisprudence in 2005 from the Maltese Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
He practiced as a lawyer in private practice and lectures at the Faculty of Law in the University of Malta as a ‘teaching associate’.
Minister Bonnici was first elected as a local Councillor in Marsaskala, and then as a deputy mayor of Marsascala. He was also elected various times as a member of the National Executive Committee within the Labour Party.
He was subsequently elected to Parliament for the first time in 2008 at the age of 27 years. On that same day, his daughter Ema was born.
Between 2008 and 2013, Minister Bonnici served as a Shadow Minister for Youths & Culture and also for Higher Education, University & Research. Upon the election of a new Labour Government in 2013, Dr Bonnici served as Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and, later, in 2014, as Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government.
He was re-elected in 2017, and was once again appointed as Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government. He subsequently served as Minister for Education and Employment and later as Minister for Research, Innovation and the co-ordination of the post-COVID-19 strategy. On the 26th of March 2021 he was also given the responsibility of the Equality portfolio.
In the 2022 election, Dr Bonnici was returned from two electoral districts. On the 30th of March, he was appointed as Minister For The National Heritage, The Arts, And the Local Government.
He is a passionate football fan and supports Southampton FC. Loves reading, music, art, and culture.
Dr Bonnici lives with Remenda Grech in Zurrieq.