Godfrey Baldacchino (PhD, Warwick, United Kingdom) is professor of sociology at the University of Malta, Malta. He served as Canada Research Chair and UNESCO co-chair (island studies) at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was President of the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA) (2014-22). He served as Malta's Ambassador-at-Large for Islands and Small States (2021-24). He is the founding editor of Island Studies Journal and Small States & Territories, two diamond open access journals. Author or editor of some 50 books and monographs, including The Routledge International Handbook of Island Studies (2018). He is well regarded internationally as a specialist in island and small state studies.

Ritienne Gauci (PhD, Portsmouth, United Kingdom) is associate professor in geography at the University of Malta, Malta. She is Malta's national representative for the International Association of Geomorphology (IAG). Her research focuses on physical geography, particularly coastal geology and geomorphology, erosion processes, geoheritage and hazards. She is Deputy Director of UM's Doctoral School, an executive board member of the Malta Map Society, member of the MATSEC Geography Board of Examiners and was a founding committee member of UM's Maritime Platform. Her research involves collaborations with various international institutions on a number of European-funded projects. She has authored more than 70 publications, including the edited volume Landscapes and landforms of the Maltese Islands (2019).