On 13^th April, Dr Carl Camilleri, Chairman of the Malta Statistics Authority, was an honoured guest at the Data Smackdown Competition Awards Ceremony. This was the second edition of this nationwide statistical competition, organised by the National Statistics Office.

In his ceremonial speech at the University of Malta campus in Valletta, he presented Data Smackdown as both a competition and a broader initiative to promote statistical literacy and the effective use of data. He emphasised that understanding and communicating statistics helps people move beyond headlines, question assumptions, and make informed decisions about social, economic, and global issues such as employment, health, migration, and living standards.

The Chairman highlighted the importance of building a society that can engage confidently with data, particularly in an era of misinformation. Data Smackdown was also presented as a way to make STEM and statistics engaging and practical, showing participants—especially younger ones—that data is a powerful tool for storytelling, insight, and real-world problem-solving, not just theory.

The speech underlined the Malta Statistics Authority’s ongoing commitment to data engagement through education, collaboration, and outreach beyond this single event. It also reflected on the expanding role of statisticians across government, industry, and research, and the opportunities this creates for innovation in official statistics, data quality, modern data sources, and clear communication.

He concluded by thanking the participants and organisers, and by encouraging the continued responsible use of data for the public good, strengthening trust in evidence and informed public debate.

Following a comprehensive evaluation by the jurors, the winners of this year’s Data Smackdown competition have been announced, with teams assessed on presentation quality, depth of analysis, and the strength of their conclusions:

Category A: Post-secondary — 1^st place: G.F. Abela Junior College; 2^nd place: St Aloysius College; 3^rd place: St Aloysius College.

Category B: Secondary — 1^st place: St Aloysius College; 2^nd place: St Monica College; 3^rd place: St Joseph School.

Friday 13 February 2026

The Malta Statistics Authority and the Union Ħaddiema Maqgħudin (UĦM – Voice of the Workers) have signed a new collective agreement for managerial grades, which will remain in force until 2028.

Managerial employees at the National Statistics Office will benefit from enhanced employment conditions under this agreement. It also paves the way for the introduction of modern work processes aligned with the demands and opportunities of today’s technological environment.

The MSA Board expressed satisfaction with the constructive and participatory discussions held among all parties. This positive outcome was made possible through the goodwill and collaboration of several contributors, particularly the Industrial Relations Unit (OPM), which acted as the lead negotiator, Mr Etienne Caruana, Director General (NSO), the employees’ union (UĦM),

The National Conference themed “Data for Today and Tomorrow” was held on the 17^th November 2025 at the Malta University Campus in Valletta, bringing together leading figures in the statistical and data community.

Opening Address – Mr. Etienne Caruana, NSO Director General

Mr. Caruana opened the conference with a comprehensive overview of the organisation’s short-to-medium term plans. He encouraged active participation in all panel discussions, stressing that the insights gathered would help strengthen the NSO’s role as Malta’s central hub for official data and enhance its connection with diverse audiences.

Highlights – Dr. Carl Camilleri, MSA Chairman

Dr. Camilleri presented findings from last year’s user survey, which confirmed the NSO’s strong reputation and high level of public trust. This trust stems from the NSO’s strict adherence to the European Statistics Code of Practice in its production and dissemination processes.

He also reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing statistical institutions, including:

• Advances in computational power,
• Adoption of open-source software, and
• Integration of artificial intelligence into statistical systems.

Dr. Camilleri highlighted that while AI and the acquisition of privately held data offer transformative potential, they also introduce new legal and ethical challenges that must be carefully addressed.

Contribution – Mr. Jean Pierre Poncelet, Eurostat

Representing Eurostat, Mr. Jean Pierre Poncelet, Director for Standards, Dissemination, and Cooperation in the European Statistical System, reiterated the importance of upholding the Code of Practice in today’s highly polarised political landscape. He also provided insights into the European Statistical Programme, underlining the value of collaboration across national statistical institutes to ensure credibility, resilience, and innovation in official statistics across the EU.

Panel Discussions

Panels on Economics, Social, and Business Statistics followed, featuring contributions from: Mr. Spiteri Gingell, Ms. Marisa Xuereb, Prof. Philip von Brockdorff, Mr. J.P. Fabri, Prof. Sue Vella, Mr. Silvan Mifsud, Dr. Marthese Portelli, Dr. Aaron G. Grech and Mr Toni Attard.

Key Outputs of the Discussions

A more balanced approach towards timely data for decision-making, even if quality aspects may need to be moderated.

Improved data retrieval tools to assist users and researchers.

Increased availability of granular data content.

Expansion of data products covering non-regulated sectors.

Methodological alignment to better meet national priorities.