Executive Director

1993-2001 Rev. Benjamin Tonna
b. 19.10.1931, Rabat.; d. 2001

Educated at the Lyceum, the Royal University of Malta, the University of Louvain (Belgium). He read for the degrees of B.A. (Malta), Lic. D. (Malta), Lic. Sc. Politiques et Sociales (Louvain). Ordained Priest 1956. Founder director of Pastoral Research Services (1960); Director for the Centre for the Coordination of Council Communications in Rome (1965); Pastoral Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta (1975); Archpriest and Parish Priest of Rabat (1978-1991); Executive Director DISCERN (1993). He has written several books and contributed several chapters in books and reports on sociology and pastoral ministry. In conjunction with Brian P. Hall, developed a value analysis computer test called the Hall-Tonna Inventory (1986).

2001 -- Rev. Dr. Joe Inguanez
b. 09.08.1943, Ghaxaq

Educated at the Seminary, the Royal University of Malta. He read for the degrees of Lic. Sc. Soc. at the Gregorian University (Rome), and for a Ph.D. at Goldsmiths College, University of London (U.K.). Ordained Priest 1970. Member of the International Sociological Association, British Sociological Association, the American Sociological Association, Board of Directors - International Association of the Sociology of Tourism. Former Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Malta. He was also member of the Diocesan Priests Council and member of the Diocesan Representative Council. Nominated director DISCERN (2001). Contributor to several chapters in books on sociology of tourism and of church structures; and several articles to Journal Sociologica Urbana e Rurale. Current interests include sociological theory, especially Symbolic Interactionism and Phenomenology, the sociology of tourism, social change and development.

Board Of Directors

 Rev. Dr. Joe Inguanez LicScSoc(Greg), PhD(Lond) [Chairman]
 Mr. Leslie Agius BPharm
 Ms Pauline Dimech BEd (Hons), BA(Rel.Studies), MTh (Lond)
 Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura MD(Malta), DScMed(Warsaw), FRCOG(UK), MRCP(Ire), Accr.COG(Leuven)
 Dr. Edward Warrington BA, MA, ACIS, DPhil(Oxon)

International Advisors

•Prof. Eleen Barker BSc (Lond), PhD (Lond)
•Mr. Gordon Heald MA(Cantab), M.Phil(Lond)
•Prof. Nicholas Lash MA(Cantab), PhD (Cantab)
•Rev. Dr. Frank McHugh MA (Oxon), PhD (Cantab)
•Prof. Richard E. Rubenstein BA(Har), MA(Oxon), JD(Harvard)
•Prof. Janet Soksice BA, MA, PhD (Cantab)
•Prof. John Stone MA(Cantab), DPhil(Oxon)
•Rev. Dr James Sweeney CP, BD, BA, MTh, PhD(Lond)
•Prof. Stefano Zamagni DPhil(Oxon)

Research Services

•Rev. Dr. Joe Inguanez LicScSoc(Greg), PhD(Lond) [Co-ordinator]
•Mr. Mark Rizzo BSc (Bath) [Administrative Research Officer]
•Prof. Anton Buhagiar BSc(Lond), BSC, MSc, PhD (open)
•Rev. Dr. Rene Camilleri MTh, STD(Greg)
•Mr. Charles Dalli BA (Hons) MPhil (Cantab)
•Prof. Joseph Falzon TSA, MA, PhD (Northwestern)
•Dr. Marvin Formosa BPsych (Hons), MA, PhD (Bristol)
•Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura MD(Malta), DScMed(Warsaw), FRCOG(UK), MRCP(Ire), Accr.COG(Leuven)

Research Support Services

•Mr. John Agius BSc (Lond)
•Sr. Victoria Sant
•Mr. Albert Debono BA Youth Studies
•Mr. Charles Grima BSc, MSc
•Mr. Julian Micallef BA (Hons)

Administrative Staff

•Rev. Alex Bezzina MSTh
•Ms. Rebecca Gatt, BA(Hons) MA(Keele)
•Sr. Antonietta Attard SDC
•Mr. John Schembri BSc
•Ms. Rosanne Fiott

Financial Support Services and Friends of Discern

•Ms. Rosanne Fiott