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Rachel Calleja

Artistic Director

Rachel Calleja is an artist, inclusive dance practitioner and creative arts therapist. She holds degrees in Psychology, Dance Studies, and Creative Psychotherapy, Rachel has worked in the inclusive sector since 2010 and studied inclusive dance practice through DanceAbility in 2012. She began volunteering with Opening Doors in 2014 and has been closely involved in its development ever since. Alongside her role at Opening Doors, she works as an Expressive Arts Facilitator with Villabianca and leads inclusive dance workshops with Magħna. Since 2015, she has developed and collaborated on performative and community-based projects promoting access, inclusion, and wellbeing, collaborating with Candoco (UK), ZfinMalta, Arts for the Blues (UK), Teatru Salesjan, Spazju Kreattiv, and others.

Brendon Thearle

Administrator & Logistics Officer

Brendon mainly comes from the theatre world and has worked professionally in both the theatre and film industry since 2019. He has also worked as a Logistics Assistant in the 2024 and 2025 editions of Science in the City and has recently completed his Bachelor in Theatre (Honours) degree, achieving a First Class Honours, at the School of Performing Arts within the University of Malta.

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ilona baldacchino

Outreach Officer

Ilona Baldacchino is a dance facilitator and inclusive arts practitioner based in Malta. With a background in psychology and dance performance, she has over a decade of experience developing and leading inclusive dance projects within community, educational, and professional settings. Ilona advocates for equitable access to artistic training and performance opportunities and collaborates with artists of all abilities to create inclusive artistic work. Her practice centres on empowerment, active collaboration, and creative expression through movement. Ilona has presented her research on inclusive practices and performance at international conferences and institutions including the Gulbenkian Arts Centre (UK), the University of Malta School of Performing Arts, the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (UK), Dortmund University (Germany), and Roehampton University (UK). She continues to deepen her understanding of inclusive practices to support the diverse needs of all participants she works with.

alessandro nicosia

Finance Officer

Alessandro has a background in accounting and organisational management and is committed to supporting organisations that create a positive impact. Outside of his professional career, he has volunteered with missionary and community organisations, gaining valuable experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds. He believes strong financial management plays an important role in enabling organisations to focus on the people and communities they serve.