Josef Formosa Gauci was educated at De La Salle College Malta and Stonyhurst College in the UK. and graduated in economics from Nottingham University in 1989. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants.
He worked with Price Waterhouse in London and in Malta and was subsequently General Manager of the Galaxy Hotel and of Trident Developments Ltd. Between 2008 and 2014 he was CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority. He has also served as President of MHRA and was a member of MCESD and is presentyl the Chairman of the Malta Airport Foundation. He is also a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.