Dr Marthese Portelli is 32 years old. She lives in Birkirkara with her husband Jes and their son Miguel. At the moment she occupies the posts of:

• A lawyer by profession specialising in IT and commercial law

• Director in a Waste Management Company

• Business Development Executive with a Private Company

• Lecturer with 2 leading companies in Business Strategy and Development and Occupational Health and Safety

• Lectures also with a Private Guard Academy

• Representative on the Council for Children on behalf of the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs

• Local Councillor

• Gozo Regional Committee Member

• President of the PN Executive Committee

• And of course, the campaign - loads and loads of meetings!

She attended the Salesians Primary. When at University, she managed to juggle lectures, her responsibilities as GUG President, her responsibilities as KSU Vice-President and her working hours at the Socrates Office on Erasmus (an EU programme on student exchange).

Dr Portelli was a general election candidate in March 2008 and was the first woman to occupy the post of President of the PN Executive Committee.

She says that she works hard and that it is of great satisfaction to note that people have shown faith in her, giving her their support. Dr Portelli says that before acting "I put myself at the other end."

About the EU membership she says: "I believe that EU membership has provided us all with a wider identity. NGOs, local councils, businesses, students and many others have already benefitted. Mind you, I am not saying this to try and portray an image of haven. But it is for a fact that EU membership has given us the chance to have a direct influence on policies. We have both brains and stamina, so let's maximize on these opportunities! Let's adopt a positive approach! Your needs have to be at the centre of our thinking!"