Prof. Petra Caruana Dingli is Associate Professor at the Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation at the University of Malta. She also lectures within the Faculty of Arts. She has long-standing experience working within the non-governmental sector in cultural heritage.
She has been chairperson of the Mdina Cathedral Archives since 2021. She is also Council member of the University's academic staff association UMASA, and Council member of the heritage NGO Din l-Art Helwa and editor of its magazine Vigilo, and curator of St Peter's monastery museum in Mdina.
She holds a doctorate in the field of literature from the University of Oxford. Today her research interests are interdisciplinary, moving between the cultural and creative industries, creativity, cultural heritage, and early modern and nineteenth-century writing and culture. She is currently conducting research into the creation of heritage value, concepts of creativity and heritage in literature, and women and religious heritage in early modern Malta.
Petra first graduated B.A. in English, Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Malta. She continued her studies in literature and graduated B.A.(Hons) and M.A. at the University of Malta. She then wrote a doctoral thesis at the University of Oxford, UK, and graduated D.Phil. in 2000. She graduated M.B.A. in General and Strategic Management from the Maastricht School of Management in 2003.
Prof. Caruana Dingli (formerly Bianchi) was director for environmental protection at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority from 2011-2013. She was director of the British Council in Malta from 2009-2011, and a regular columnist for the Sunday Times of Malta from 2015 to 2020. She was formerly a member of the following boards: Today Public Policy Institute (2008-2018); Civil Society Committee of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) (2013-2015); Committee of Guarantee (2008-2011); Valletta/Mdina/Cottonera Rehabilitation Committee (2008- 2011); Majjistral Nature Park (2007-2011); Council for Voluntary Organisations (2008-2010); National Federation of NGOs of Malta (2007- 2009); St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (2000-2008).
