Paul Zahra has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary with the Ministry for Finance and Employment.

Zahra replaces Alfred Camilleri, who has retired.

Camilleri served in the post since 2006 in a career which spanned multiple government administrations.

Zahra joined the Malta Public Service in 1984 and served at the Economic Division within the Office of the Prime Minister. During 1989-1992, he was personal assistant to the Economic Secretary and Chief Economics Officer at the Ministry of Finance. In 1993 he was appointed Director (Economic Strategy) and subsequently Director General (Economic Policy).

Since 2001, Zahra has discharged duties as Permanent Secretary in a number of Government Ministries, including the Ministry for Economic Services, Ministry of Finance, Ministry for Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers and the Office of the Prime Minister.

In March 2013 he was appointed to the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto. In November 2020 he was appointed Permanent Secretary for EU Funds at the Office of the Prime Minister. In April 2022 he was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands (European Funds).

Ronald Mizzi, who is the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Economy, European Funds and Lands, will now also be taking on the European Funds portfolio.