Dr Maria Debono qualified as a veterinary surgeon at University College Dublin in 2007 and has practised in Ireland and Malta. She holds an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh (Distinction) and provides a veterinary referral service in canine behavioural medicine.

She has undertaken pedagogical training and developed expertise in veterinary education through her studies and her role as a lecturer in veterinary behavioural medicine. She is passionate about promoting animal welfare, nurturing human–animal relationships and engaging the wider community through education. She has also served as Secretary of the Malta Veterinary Association.