Dana Farrugia

Whilst sipping her favourite Earl Grey tea, Dana provides us with a glimpse of what it takes to occupy a managerial position in the grueling and dynamic world of technology and innovation. Her experience in the industry is quite vast. Indeed, Dana has been working in this sector and the world of economics and technology, for the last 20 years. Her experience perfectly marries with her strong character, an attribute she has developed thanks two inspirational figures - her parents and her sister - two women that have constantly supported her all along the years of studies and through her career path. Dana admits that there are other inspirational figures beyond her family circle she looks up to such as Bill Gates' wife, Melinda and Michelle Obama. "They are two inspirational figures I certainly look up to. I admire their ability to balance work and life. They teach us an important lesson to step back, rather than out, of our careers." She adds, “It takes two to tango. This can only be achieved thanks to the unconditional support of their partners. This is the way things should be. Reciprocity is key.”

Dana admits that her major achievement in life was her son. She had her son, Garret at a relatively young age and notwithstanding all the challenges, provided her son with a good upbringing. Dana notes, "The best lesson I could teach my son is to show him how to be a strong and resourceful individual. Today, when I look at Garret, I feel I have achieved my goal." She also feels successfully following a Master of Business Administration at the Henley Business School as another major achievement.

DAWN OF A NEW ERA

We shift our conversation to the tech sector at large and society's perception on the industry. Dana notes, "Once developed, the tech sector can offer cost-effective solutions. This can be achieved through robotics as well as intelligent and fast solutions and by means of AI technology, which subsequently help with risk management and compliance. It is for that specific purpose that the government has set up Tech.mt." Indeed, Tech.mt is instrumental to take the technology industry on our islands to the next level.

The entitiy was established by the government along with the Malta Chamber of Commerce and its main objectives are: promote, innovate and provide talent and support to all those in the sector. Apart from being responsible for this sectorial growth locally, Tech.mt, promotes Malta as a suitable set-up for foreign direct investment whilst promoting the local technological industries abroad as well.

Dana notes, “We have a lot of local talent and structural development. We are a small island competing with larger countries with very strong economies and yet, we perform better. Innovation requires a lot of research and study which comes at a hefty price. The results are not immediate and there is an element of risk yet there is a strong response from the local private sector."

Dana adds, "The European Innovation Score Board placed our country 4th as regards to environment. In addition to that, we scored high in the registration of trade marks. Although our competitors are powerful, Malta wants to make sure that this sector is safe guarded and has maximum growth. Malta excels in: high speed internet, highly skilled bi-lingual workers, competitive cost per employee, high ranking of choice for foreign investments, the eco-system and a high-performance economy."

THE EDUCATION FACTOR

The inception of Tech.mt was an important boost in the technology and innovation sector. This was also a strategic move to identify areas that need to improve.

One of these areas is certainly education. Dana points out that, as a country, the demand is higher than the supply. "Unfortunately, our human resources are limited. Moreover students still do not consider the Tech sector as their natural career path." She believes that our country will benefit much more if technology is incorporated in the Primary Schools’ curriculum together with other core subjects. This is not an easy step as, locally, we still have children who don’t have access to such technology at home. One also has to keep in mind that these subject needs effort and it might be the case that it is the reason why we don’t have so many youngsters opting to graduate in technology and innovation.”

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WAS AN ALARM BELL FOR US ALL TO REALIZE THAT THE FUTURE IS NOW!

Technology and innovation connect, educate and entertain all of its users. Given the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, technology is playing a crucial role to ensure a safe continuation to our “new normality”. She notes, " The COVID-19 pandemic offered challenges yet also opportunities. We benefitted from online learning, we ensured job retention through remote working, and we also ensured the survival of businesses."

Dana notes that the pandemic was definitely a driver for change when it comes to technology because it “instigated” the public to resort to technology. “More than anything, it was an enabler. On the other hand, it exposed certain local society weaknesses that need to be addressed." She also refers to old generation segment which may not be too savvy with smartphones or internet. This is where Tech.mt enters the picture. Tech.mt provides various online courses such as familiarisation with mobile phones and the upgrading of skills for better job opportunities. Through European funds this entity is helping to raise awareness amongst children, empowering people, especially women to further their education and help the elderly to understand better our technological era.

TECH POSES NO GENDER BARRIERS

Diversity is critical in tech, as it enables companies to create better and safer products that take everyone into consideration, not just one section of society. A report from McKinsey found that diverse companies perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged employees and retain workers better than companies that do not focus on diversity and inclusion. Despite this, women remain widely underrepresented in IT roles.

Dana believes that this is quite ironic when one takes into account the fact there are more female graduates than males. “This, in itself, shows that women have a big drive to succeed in their academic goals but for some reason they are not choosing technology. This is another reason why Tech. mt wishes to raise awareness and educate about this industry from early childhood years. Girls in particular, if they have any cultural barriers, will overcome them thanks to the information given,” says Dana.

She feels that gender should not be a barrier. “If one is really determined to succeed, then he or she succeeds. In technology the option is not giving up but to move to another field of the same sector. Women, as human nature entails, as mothers need to give more than men when it comes to family but if they are supported by their husbands, they can focus on other things including on their careers.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

It's time to conclude yet without further ado, we ask Dana what's next for Tech.mt? She notes, "We had to alter our strategy due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however this has not deterred our mission. In the coming months our goal is to continue propagating the concept of remote business-to-business networking. We will also focus on the “eBusiness Awards” so as to continue promoting talent in the sector."

She also notes that Tech.mt scouts success stories of innovation No reference to particular apps/ solutions – put this in a generic context.

She concludes that Tech.mt is still not a household name yet thanks to their strong PR strategy brand awareness will be achieved over a short span of time. She adds that, "In one year we did miracles. We worked on the branding, we focused on human resources, we invested in team building, and also focused on international outreach. Hand on heart, I am happy with what we achieved so far. the best is yet to come for Tech.mt”

MEASURING THE FINE LINE: DISCUSSING PREVENTION AND CURE IN THE SOCIAL REALM

Dr. Katya DeGiovanni - PSYCHOLOGIST

Social justice is the ideal condition in which

all the members of our society have the same basic rights, security, opportunities, obligations and social benefits. This refers to the concept of a just society where justice is more than just the administration of laws but is based on the idea of a society which truly gives individuals and groups fair treatment and just share of what is available. A just society also means moving towards an ideology of life where all the hungry are fed, all the sick are cared for, the environment is treasured and that we all treat each other with love and compassion. In a nutshell, a society in which Terry Eagleton in his book "Why Marx was Right"; “Genuine equality means not treating everyone the same, but attending equally to everyone’s different needs.”

The popular contention that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer appears to be largely based on fact, particularly within the present global context. Moreover, extreme or absolute poverty, experienced by those whose income is barely sufficient for survival, remains widespread. Indigence levels have risen in the most affluent countries, in countries once part of the Soviet bloc and in various parts of Africa, but have remained stable in Latin America and have declined in Asia. Extreme poverty and the suffering it entails affect a large proportion of humankind, and major efforts by Governments and international organizations to reduce or eradicate poverty have thus far failed to produce the desired results. This lack of a proper social justice continues to negatively impact on people in the lowest strata of society like Phillip.

Phillip was the eldest of eight siblings who performed well at school and a promising future ahead of him. Unfortunately, his father passed away when he was in fifth form preparing to sit for his Secondary Education Certificate. His father's death brought all his dreams to a sudden end and was called to work as a machine operator to help out his mother financially. Times were hard but thanks to his hard work, determination and perseverance, he ensured a decent life to his mother and his seven other siblings. Although there was a time when Phillip did quite well compared to his friends, he now struggles to keep up with society's demands.

Through measures of social security, one helps those who experience stoppage or substantial decrease in earning resulting from sickness, maternity, employment, injury, unemployment, disability, old age and death as well as the provision of medical care and the provision of subsidies for families with chidlren (ILO, 1999). Social Security provides a foundation of income on which workers can build to

plan for their retirement. It also provides valuable social insurance protection to workers who become disabled and to families whose breadwinner dies. As well coined by the American news host and political commentator, Rachel Maddow, “Social security isn’t a ponzi scheme. It’s not bankrupting us. It’s not an outrage. It is working.”

On the other hand, though, Social Protection prevents the state from resorting to social security measures by managing and overcoming situations that adverself affect people’s wellbeing. As well noted by Sharan Barrow, "If there are not jobs or adequate forms of social protection, there is not enough income to create the consumption base that drives demand and sustainable economic growth."

In Phillip's case, this would have been ideal at the time as it would have ensured he would drop out of school whilst providing more assistance to his family. Apart from the benefits attained through social security, social protection consists of policies and programmes designed to refuge poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks such as employment, exclusion, sickness, disability and old age. Such was the immediate action of the current government on the lines of social protection which was heavily needed owing to the situation brought about by the pandemic. We have thus witnessed a series of minibudgets primarily aimed at keeping our population in employment. Employment enhances individuals’ integration in society as well as their mental wellbeing. The current budget announced for 2021 by the Maltese Government was targeted at those who are mostly in need and who were likely to have been most effected in the pandemic. There was a push for homeownership for first time buyers up to 200,000 Euro as well as compensation for cost of living increase. Those who are over 70 years of age are now all entitled to travel for free and all pensioners will have a five Euro weekly increase in their pension. Hundred Euro Vouchers will also be reissued thus giving a further subsidy to all those who are sixteen-years of age and over. This money will in turn be invested in the local economy and aim to further preserve jobs.

Over the recent years, we have also seen a shift from a focus on social benefits to one which emphasises social protection. In other words, it is more feasible in the long run to teach a person the skills to fish rather than to supply him with a ready-made meal. Social protection ensures access to essential goods and services. In the years to come, one would

expect the less provision of social benefits and more policies pushing social protection. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”.

Areon fragrances from Balev

Balev was founded in 1990 in Varna, Bulgaria by Dimitar Balev as a trading company. In 1997, the Areon trademark was registered and its own air fresheners appeared on the market. Areon is rapidly gaining popularity and in ten years has grown from a local supplier to a world famous brand. Balev Ltd Malta, it’s a subsidiary company of Balev Corporation. We started operating in Malta back in 2009.

Today we strive and work to meet the expectations of our customers in terms of value and quality. At the same time, we strive to find new solutions and technologies in functional perfumery.

The Areon Online Store project was launched on January 1, 2020. The task of the online store is to provide the latest and most complete information about the Areon brand, as well as about new innovations, changes, etc. as for the fragrances themselves, both for the home series and for cars. Orders can be made online from www.areon.mt or on our fb page areon Malta

We are definitely confident and know that Areon flavours have won the trust of our customers and friends, because only we have natural, high-quality, innovative products that help make our life better, brighter and more pleasant.

Limited access to learning and poverty are intertwined.

The least educated struggle the most to comfortably penetrate the job market and are often the most susceptible to abuse. COVID-19 has in practice displayed the other side of the coin: poverty, poor housing conditions and scarcity of resources including digital, which predated the pandemic, led many students to miss out on quality education and for this they have suffered for months on end.

The enormous value in e-learning is at the core of a resolution passed in the European Parliament last month. We acknowledge the significant role digital means may play as a reliable alternative for anyone unable to indulge in the normal classroom experience. Getting there however, calls for awareness to certain realities. Not all households are equally equipped for the children to be able to enjoy unfettered access to their lessons. Clearly, the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities that existed before.

I support digitalisation, also in education, as both in times of a health emergency and in more normal times, it may prove empowering to many, not just youths.

“In these past months, our digital access and capacity have rapidly evolved from added value to essential and indispensable elements”

Digital policy must first start by ensuring the foundations are in place: the households’ digital capacity and their skills. In this light, the Maltese Government’s budgetary measure providing internet access for free to youths who go on to study after secondary school, has an undeniable social value.

In these past months, our digital access and capacity have rapidly evolved from added value to essential and indispensable elements necessary to access some of our basic needs and key services. Developing public policy both at a national and a European level, to maximise our use of the digital means available, has an admirable accessibility factor. Making sure everyone has equal access will guarantee it is also just as empowering.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is a love affair with life.

Burk Uzzle

AN ELECTIVE AFFINITY

Artists aren’t exactly known for their accommodating,

easy-going ways. More often, it’s words such as “egocentric” and “introverted” that spring to mind as they are often known as "lone wolves". In reality, though, few artists work in total isolation, especially once they have achieved a certain level of success. The likes of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Marina Abramovic and Ulay and Bernd and Hilla Becher are a few examples of how collaboration was an integral, motivating agent in the development of their practices, which span monumental sculpture, endurance-testing performance, and innovative digital art.

The collaboration between CAROLINE O'CALLAGHAN and NADETTE CLARE-TALBOT was born out of an affinity and complementarity based on Payton's principle - “We are stronger together than we are alone.” Incredibly good looking, sophisticated and extremely talented, Caroline and Nadette embarked on a collaboration to produce works of art. They are different and yet so similar. What is so interesting in their collaboration is the power balance. They are clear about whose idea was whose, even though no one will ever know once the work is complete. Indeed, every project they collaborate on is a masterpiece which conveys the skills of great flowertist and the incredible ability of a photographer. Both sat with Atelier to discuss the genesis of their collaboration and their projects.

What brought you together creatively?

C: We knew we were both artists just working in different mediums. I was painting still life at the time and approached Nadette to work on a series of composed photographic pieces that I would ultimately paint from. Interestingly though, this second stage of painting never happened. In fact, we became so involved in the process of composing and creating the photography that we started to see that the work was something special in its own right.

N: We instantly had a shared aesthetic, both inspired by the same artists and photographers and a clear visual understanding of what we wanted to create. Caroline said the vibe she had in mind was dark and moody - which sings to my aesthetic. At this point I don’t think we had even seen each other’s work but were sympatico in our vision.

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER THAN WE ARE ALONE.

How do photography and art fit together? How is the medium of photography accepted within fine art?

N: Photography has multiple personalities and comes in many different forms including commercial photography, such as fashion and interiors, but also, of course, Fine Art

Photography. Perhaps historically it is this

application that has seen a certain amount of prejudice because the art and skill of taking a photograph isn’t fully appreciated. This has been compounded by the phone pic and social media, which means it is now an accessible art form to everyone with a gallery on hand to exhibit at the touch of a button.

C: The challenge for us is to elevate this understanding. By using traditional methods of photography and an aesthetic made in the studio, rather than on screen, we hope to achieve this.

What is the underlying common denominator?

C: Nadette and I definitely have a clear shared visual aesthetic which I think you can see from our work individually before and within the collaboration. An example of this is our title piece, Elective Affinity, a term that has its origins in chemistry but has been adopted into the art world. The idea was to bring two things together which the viewer does not expect, in this case the curiosity box lined in flowers. In a sense, Nadette and I in our collaboration as a photographer and botanical artist creating fine art represent an

“elective affinity”.

N: Absolutely, again I think it comes back to having a traditional approach to the work. Caroline with the compositions, which are grounded in many of the rules of balance used within still life painting, and me with photographic methods, which are all real time studio effects. We actually use little postproduction. Elective Affinity is the perfect example actually of our traditional process. We worked from the outset to compose the work within the frame and Caroline created this delicate miniature installation. Over a two day shoot we used a whole tool box of photographic effects to create an image that came full circle in our expectations. It perfectly describes us as artists in collaboration.

How do two so strong personalities coexist?

N: Caroline and I definitely share a common purpose and that’s to make beautiful images which challenge and inspire the viewer. We are both completely in tune with each other in terms of the end piece and almost always arrive at the same end point and image.

C: This is completely true. In fact, the few times we have diverged we have actually found it to be a pretty rewarding experience because it has drawn one of us or the other outside of our comfort zone and developed us as an artist that little bit more.

What does colour mean to you within your work?

N: Colour is both our starting point and our end point in terms of the images we produce. It is so fundamental to the work.

C: An example of this would be Vanitas. We knew we wanted to use a cloche jar to represent a visual contradiction, preservation and at the same time expiration. The floral adornments are representative of the Mexican calaca figure, and therefore death. The jar acts as both a skull and a mechanism to preserve memories, which in this case is simply a nebulous digital image. We were so clear in the meaning of this piece that we knew the colours would need to be bold and symbolic to reflect the concept. The marigolds are symbolic of the celebration of life and death, while their rich gold and orange tones lent themselves to be juxtaposed against the petrol blue, creating a strong colour dynamic.

Tell us a bit about your recent assignments?

N: Caroline and I completed a piece in March titled

Samurai, which was another strong colour play with intense, saturated tones. It focuses on a flower composition inspired by the human form, playing with the illusion of scale, which is something we are both really intrigued by.

Any projects in the pipeline?

C: Yes, we are currently in the middle of a classic still life composition focusing on more of a geometrical structure. It’s an exciting piece in many respects. It’s a departure from florals and is also being shot in a different studio, all of which has an effect on the end product.

N: For us it is ongoing. We have some new camera techniques we are hoping to play with while we further explore contemporary still life juxtapositions.