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 has been recognized by the Italian state for his work with the coveted recognition of "Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia”. This is the second-highest civilian honour of the Italian state and is awarded to Italian and non-Italian nationals who would have distinguished themselves in the promotion and fostering of friendship and collaboration initiatives between Italy and, in this case, Malta. The award acknowledges, amongst other things, research and contribution to knowledge and is awarded by the President of the Republic on the proposal of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

This recognition is an acknowledgment of the Italian state for Dr. Debono’s long-term collaboration with Italian Universities and cultural heritage institutions, including the Universita della Campania, the University of Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale and others training a new generation of museum professionals. His current collaborations also include the Soprintendenza per i beni e le attivita culturali della Regionale Valle d’Aosta where he is advising on the rethink of the regional museum of Aosta, and the Fondazione Scuola dei beni e delle attività culturali of the Italian Ministry of Culture and Cultural Heritage. In the past, Dr. Debono also curated major exhibitions in Italian museums and heritage sites including Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini in Rome (2017) and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence (2018) besides his active collaboration and exchanges with Italian museums when he was Senior Curator at the National Museum of Fine Arts now MUŻA.

Dr. Debono is Malta’s national representative at the European Museum Academy and sits on the international advisory board of the Anchorage Museum, Alaska U.S.A. besides other advisory roles with companies and startups in the cultural heritage and museum industry, particularly in Italy. He is also a visiting lecturer at the Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education.