Meirion Prys Jones, Chief Executive
Although Meirion is originally from Bridgend in South Wales, he attended Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, and later the University of Wales, Bangor, where he graduated in Welsh Language and Literature. He then went on to complete a PGCE course at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, gaining a distinction in teaching practice.
Meirion was Head of Welsh at Castell Alun High School and Glan Clwyd Secondary School in the former county of Clwyd, before moving to work for West Glamorgan County Council as an Education Advisor for Welsh and Head of the Welsh Advisory Service. Since 1993 Meirion has been a Registered Inspector of Schools.
In 1994 he was appointed Chief Officer of the Education and Training Department at the Welsh Language Board, and Leader of the Language Planning Team in 2001, and Deputy Chief Executive of the Board in March 2003.
In 2004 he became the Chief Executive of the Board.
Enid Lewis, Director of Central Services
Enid was born and brought up in Aberaeron. She was educated in Aberaeron, and University of Wales Cardiff. She’s a Chartered Accountant since completing training with Touche Ross in 1988. After leaving Touche Ross, she worked with Welsh Water for 6 years and joined the Board in May 1997.
Enid is responsible for the Board’s central services, which are divided into three units within the Central Services Team – finance and Information Technology, Human Resources, and Marketing and Communications.
Gwenith Price, Director of Language Schemes
Gwenith was born in Pwllheli and brought up in North Wales. She was educated in Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St Asaph; Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon and Bangor University.
She began her career in education, before being appointed Welsh Language Officer in Powys County Council, and later Corporate Policy Officer. During this period, she was a member of the steering committee and chair of Rhwydwaith, a network to promote collaboration between Welsh Language Officers in different public organisations. She joined the Board in 2003, and is now Director of Welsh Language Schemes.
Gwenith leads on the Board’s statutory work of approving and monitoring the Welsh language schemes of public and voluntary organisations.
Gwyn Jones, Director of Policy and Terminology
Gwyn was born in Salford, and was educated in Caernarfon Grammar School and Nottingham and London universities.
After graduating, he worked as a civil servant in a number of policy departments within the Welsh Office in Cardiff, before moving to the Welsh Language Advisory Board in 1991. He was appointed to the statutory Welsh Language Board when it was established 1993.
Gwyn is responsible for the Board’s corporate policy, as well as the standardisation of terms and place names, data and research, grants and projects, and language technology. He is also Risk Manager for the Board.
Gari Lewis, Director of Children and Young People
Gari was born and brought up in Blackwood, and was educated in Pengam Grammar School for Boys, before studying Welsh in University of Wales Aberystwyth, and PGCE in University of Wales Cardiff.
After working as a school teacher and head of department for 15 years, Gari was appointed Senior Research Officer at the National Foundation for Educational Research. He then worked as an independent adviser for 8 years, concentrating on a number of educational projects and youth provision.
He joined the Board as Immersion Education Project Manager in 2005. He was appointed Director of Children and Young People in 2008, and leads on the Board’s work in the field of education and young people.
Ifan Evans, Director of Private Sector and Business
Ifan was raised in Tregaron, Ceredigion. He attended Llandovery College School and Jesus College Oxford, before returning to Ceredigion to study the history of broadcasting in Wales at Aberystwyth.
He worked as an university lecturer in the History and Welsh History department in Aberystwyth, before becoming managing director of Rhiannon Ltd in 1998.
During his time at Rhiannon Ltd, the company was awarded a number of regional and national awards, especially for their use of the Welsh language, and for their investment in creating a multipurpose and contemporary visitor centre in Tregaron. He has served as director for a range of other companies, including property, agriculture, leisure, manufacturing, tourism, arts and community development companies. He was a Member of the Welsh Language Board between 2003 and 2007.
Ifan was appointed Director of Private Sector and Business in April 2007, and is responsible for providing strategic direction in promoting the language in the private sector.
Sali Wyn Islwyn, Director of Community Development
Sali Wyn Islwyn comes originally from Ynystawe in the Swansea Valley and she still lives in the same home. She was educated in Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and University of Wales Bangor where she gained a degree in Welsh. In 2000, after a career as a professional harpist, she returned to the University to study finance and management skills.
She worked at the National Assembly for Wales, and then joined the Board in 2002 to develop a Local Action Plan at Ammanford. She became the Board’s South West Wales Regional Manager in 2004, and Director of Community Development in December 2007.
Sali leads the Regional Team including the Regional Managers and their deputies and the Local Action Plans’ Development Officers. The work involves managing the grants awarded to the Mentrau Iaith, Merched y Wawr and the National Eisteddfod. The team is responsible for the Twf project and for coordinating the Board’s partners work nationally, countywide and locally. Also the team has responsibility for managing the Board’s community projects and for advising the Board on community development issues.
Dr Jeremy Evas, Leader Research, Grants and Language Technology Unit
Originally from Treherbert in the Rhondda, Jeremy was educated in Treorci Comprehensive School, the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Cardiff University. After graduating in French and Welsh, he followed a PhD in the sociology of language and language planning under the supervision of Professor Colin H. Williams.
During this period, he was co-author of The Community Research Scheme, commissioned by the Board in 1995, and he completed his PhD Rhwystrau ar lwybrau dwyieithrwydd (Barriers to Bilingualism) in September 1999. He then worked in Cardiff University as a research assistant before establishing his own company in 2000, dealing with many aspects of language.
He was appointed as a member of staff at the Welsh Language Board in 2000 and in April 2003, was appointed Leader of the Research, Grants and Language Technology Unit. His main responsibilities include the European Charter for minority or regional languages; Information technology policy for the Welsh language, the Board’s websites, the Board research strategy and plan and Main Grants Scheme.
Siân Parry Jones, Coordinator of Corporate Affairs
Siân is originally from Dyffryn Clwyd. She was educated in Ysgol Glan Clwyd and University of Wales Bangor, where she graduated in Sociology and Social Policy in 1990, before gaining a post-graduate I.P.D qualification.
She worked for nine years in the Personnel and Training Department in Vale of Glamorgan Council, dealing with recruitment and equality issues as well as internal training for staff. She was also responsible for drawing up the Authority’s Welsh Language scheme.
She joined the Board in 2000, providing advice to public and voluntary organisations as they prepared Welsh language schemes.
She’s responsible for the Board’s secretariat, and connections between Board Chair, Members, Chief Executive and the Government. She oversees the work of the marketing unit and press office, and responsible for the Board’s Investors in People performance.