Born in Paola on the 4th February 1953, Jennifer Fiorentino nee Mallia received her early education at the Paola Girls’ Primary School and at Maria Regina Grammar School, Blata l-Bajda. Between 1969 and 1971 she attended the University Junior College in Valletta and was a student of the Faculty of Science, University of Malta bewtween 1971 and 1976. She graduated B. Sc. Biology & Chemistry in 1974 and in 1976 graduated M.Sc. Biology. She is married to Walter Fiorentino.
She taught Biology and Physics at the Seminary (1976-1982), General Science at Siggiewi Girls’ Secondary School (1982-1983), A level Biology at G.F. Abela Upper Secondary (1983-1995) and was Senior Lecturer in Biology at the University Junior College (1995-2018). She was also lecturer in Biology at the Malta Centre for Restoration between 2000-2001.
Between 1990-1995 Fiorentino was part-time Coordinator of the Biological Diversity & Genetic Resources Network of the Malta Council for Science & Technology (MCST) during which period she served as Maltese Government representative at four UN Conferences dealing with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). During her tenure with MCST she was also involved in discussions leading to the transfer of the Argotti Botanic Gardens and Herbarium from Government to University.
Her main research interests and expertise is in the study of the lichens of the Maltese Islands. For the past couple of decades she has been identifying local lichens growing mainly on rocks, trees and soil. Her research will ultimately lead to the publication of a much needed new checklist of the lichens of the Maltese Islands. The last checklist dates back to 1915. As part of this research and at the request of the ERA Fiorentino has also compiled a Red List of lichens of the Maltese Islands. She has also authored a number of scientific publications and various popular articles on lichens besides delivering lectures on the subject.
Fiorentino was member of the Editorial Board of the scientific peer-reviewed journal The Central Mediterranean Naturalist between 2007-2014 and since 2018 has been a member of the board of the Argotti Botanic Gardens and Resource Centre.
