Louis Vella was born in Hamrun on the 10th December 1948. In 1971 he obtained a 1st Degree in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Malta. In 1976, as a WHO Fellow, he graduated with a Master’s degree in industrial health and safety from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He subsequently also trained in radiation protection at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
He then joined the Department of Health within the then Ministry of Health and Environment. Subsequently he also attended courses on Environmental Impact Assessments at the University of Aberdeen, and Environmental Toxicology at Heriot Watt in Edinburgh and also at St Bart’s College in London.
His work at the Department of Health initially was mainly related to occupational health issues arising from the use of chemicals in local industrial situations. The control of workplace exposure is frequently achieved by extracting fumes to the outside air. There were also the emerging problems connected with industrial and toxic waste disposal. As the ministry was also responsible for environmental matters, he also found himself responsible for many aspects of air pollution and hazardous waste disposal.
In 1979 when the British Forces left Malta, he took over from the admiralty the responsibility for the Navy’s mooring and salvage unit. He subsequently continued to run the Recompression Chamber part and established a proper base for a safer recreational diving industry.
Whilst at the health department he had a leading role in establishing that the source of chronic lead poisoning in the Maltese population arose from the use of waste oils in bakeries. He also carried out the first surveys on industrial waste production and disposal which fed into the first Malta National Waste Strategy document.
In 1993 he was appointed as the first director of the newly setup Environment Protection Department, a post he held until 1997. During his tenure he expanded the staff complement by the engagement of graduates in the natural and scientific fields. A mobile air monitoring station started to be operated and this provided the first reliable data on continuous atmospheric pollution monitoring using recognised methodology.
Likewise, the first weighbridge at a landfill was installed which, coupled with vehicle inspections, also established reliable data on the various types as well as the quantities of wastes entering the landfill. He made important contributions as a member of various boards and committees on which he was nominated, including the Clean Air Board, the Radiation Protection Board, and the Scientific Committee of the Civil Protection Department. He was also a board member of the Planning Authority for a number of years.
He has travelled widely to view and experience environmental protection measures in a variety of countries, including the USA and Germany. He also represented Malta in various fora, either as a delegate or as Head of Delegation. His last role before definitive retirement was as a member of the Compliance Committee of the Barcelona Convention.
