Ceremony 6
Graduand’s Speech
Tuesday 26 November 2013 at 1630hrs
JESUITS’ CHURCH – VALLETTA
Mr Alexander Lauri
B. Eng. (Hons)
The moment I accepted to prepare this speech, I knew I was delving into unchartered waters. I was honoured,
but at the same time terrified at the thought of it all. I am not the eloquent type and so it was not going to be
easy to put pen to paper and express my ideas.
I dare to say that I am here by coincidence or perhaps destiny. This I say because on looking back I realize that
my path has, so far, resembled a puzzle with pieces falling in place albeit thrown at random. I remember
choosing the classical sciences Biology and Chemistry in Form 3. I always loved science. I could see myself in
a research lab doing all sorts of experiments, but then one day, walking with my parents past a closed shop in a
narrow street in Valletta, something really special caught my eyes – a ZX81. No, it’s not the name of a famous
sports car! Those of my age will remember that this was one of the first affordable, primitive personal
computers which, by today’s standards would be pretty useless, but which was my inspiration to shift away
from the traditional science subjects towards what was to become Information Technology.
This was 1983 and for those who lived those years know that there were very little prospects for a career in IT
back then! So my natural choice for sixth form was to revert to Chemistry, Biology and Physics – or so I
planned. And it is here where once again coincidence pops in. Half way through fifth form, teachers go on a
nationwide strike, and several of my teachers get transferred. I grasped an opportunity to move to Higher
Secondary where, in parallel with the three science subjects I started to attend Pure Maths lectures as I needed a
good background in calculus for my lifelong hobby, astronomy. This is where I realized that Biology and
Chemistry were not for me, and in the absence of any University degree course in IT, the natural option was to
choose Electrical Engineering.
But once again, I ended up at the mercy of events. After finishing my A-Level studies and garnering as many
points as possible as University would accept only a limited number of students, there was a change of
Government. The point system for entry to University was scrapped, but for the first time in decades the
engineering course was not offered. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement. But I spent that year
experimenting with computers, which by then had advanced from the ZX81 to the Commodore Amiga. DOS
based computers were far too expensive and well out of my reach. Little did I know that the coding skills I
would develop during that year would prove indispensable four years down the line when programming my
final year engineering project. As the late Steve Jobs rightly points out during one of his speeches, you can only
join the dots by looking back.
My four-year stay at University passed in a blink, but job opportunities were far from what I had hoped for.
Malta’s technology-related industry was still in its infancy. I’m sure a lot of graduates went through such a
transition period – a somewhat uncomfortable time, but which is essential to identify the right path, the right
career. Not satisfied with what I was being offered, I decided to be my own boss and so slowly built my own IT
business. This took me on a journey which lasted over 20 years, during which I had the luck of building a
family to whom I owe much of what I am today.
So how come I am graduating in Sustainable Energy? Once again coincidence plays an important part. After 20
years in the IT business, I felt it was time for a change. Internet and globalisation had changed the world. Our
lifestyle has improved in many aspects but at the same time we left too many areas to deteriorate. Pollution,
overdevelopment and traffic congestion have slowly and relentlessly eaten away our standard of living. I felt
that I should somehow contribute towards a better environment to live in. A common factor of many of today’s
environmental illnesses is the choice of energy and the way it is consumed. Reading through a local newspaper
I came across an advert of the newly offered Masters Degree in Sustainable Energy. It was a perfect fit. It
required an engineering background and addressed sustainable energy which I perceived as the solution for a
better world for our children. Here I must thank all of my tutors, and in particular Prof. Mule’ Stagno, the
course co-ordinator at that time, and co-incidentally a client of mine (yet another coincidence!), who
encouraged me to take the plunge, and Prof. Weissenbacher, my supervisor, who introduced me to the world of
energy policy with which I immediately fell in love. I had rediscovered the thrill of falling in love with a
subject area as had happened some 30 years earlier with IT.
It might sound strange to most, that at my age I could actually be rebuilding a career. However, looking back, I
realize that I only manage to excel when doing things I enjoy. The ship is at a safe port, but still hungry for
more adventures and feel this is the time for a new journey, facing new challenges and grasping new
opportunities. Today we are not just celebrating the climax of our achievements but also marking the start of an
exciting adventure. Most of us already know that the real world is tough and not necessarily fair. But doing
what we love enables us to overcome all this and is, in my opinion, the secret of fulfilment in life.
I am sure that all of us experience a sense of pride and fulfilment for being here today – for managing through
all the ups and downs. These last three years haven’t been easy, but I always hold that nothing comes for free.
All of us know the sacrifices it entails, on our part as well as from those around us, especially our family. For
this I thank my wife and two children, parents, friends, colleagues, educators and the University. None of this
would be possible without their support.
The number of opportunities nowadays offered by the University of Malta is outstanding. During the past
quarter of a century, I’ve seen the University transform itself, growing from a campus hosting less than five
hundred students. Today, it is not just a cradle of knowledge and ideas but by building stronger bridges with the
industry and the real world has become an indispensable pillar in Malta’s economy. I hope to see further
development in R&D in order to reach that critical mass required to become self-sustainable.
I started this speech claiming that I am here by coincidence. But in truth I deeply feel that God has a plan for
each of us – we just have to follow our heart. I still subscribe to Albert Einstein’s famous view that “God does
not play dice”.
Thank you & Good Luck.