The current members were appointed in accordance with the selection procedures recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee).
Meri Huws was appointed Chair of the Welsh Language Board in August 2004, reappointed for a term of three years in April 2007 and prior to that was a member of the Board between 1993 a 1997.
Originally from Carmarthen, Meri Huws was educated at Ysgol Uwchradd Abergwaun, before reading Law and Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and studying at Oxford University.
After returning to Wales, she worked as a Social Worker in the Sgubor Goch area of Caernarfon and during this period was also Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg during 1981 to 1983.
From Caernarfon, Meri Huws went to lecture at Coleg Normal in 1984, the University of Newport from 1989 to 1997 before moving to the Academic Office in Dublin City University until 1999.
Meri Huws is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales, Bangor.
Meri Huws is also a member of the Labour Party.
The members come from across the political spectrum and from different backgrounds, all bringing to the work of the Board expertise and experience relevant to its likely fields of interest in:
- Language planning
- Education and training
- Broadcasting
- New media
- Business and financial management
- Health
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NICK BENNETT
Nick Bennett is currently the Chief Executive of Community Housing Cymru. He is a Member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Wales.
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OWEN EVANS
Owen Evans is originally from Aberystwyth. He is Head of Policy and Communications, BT Wales.
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HUW JONES
Huw Jones was Chief Executive of S4C between 1994 and 2005. Originally from Cardiff he lived and worked for a number of years in north-west Wales before taking up his post with S4C.
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ARUN MIDHA
Arun Midha was appointed to the Board in April 2000, and was reappointed for a further period of three years in April 2003.
He was brought up in Gowerton near Swansea and now lives in Cardiff. He learnt Welsh as an adult, and his wife and children all speak Welsh.
He is Director of Business and Planning in the Post-Graduate School of Medical and Dental Education at the University of Wales, College of Medicine. He has worked previously for Lloyds Bank and the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.
Arun Midha is a Lay Member of the General Medical Council; a non-executive director of the Welsh Ambulance Trust, and a Justice of the Peace at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.
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GWYNETH MORUS JONES
Gwyneth Morus Jones lives in Llandegfan, Anglesey. She has served as the National President of Merched y Wawr and Chair of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin.
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MARC PHILLIPS
Marc Phillips was appointed to the Board in April 2003.
He is the National Co-ordinator for BBC Children in Need in Wales, following a period as Chief Executive of the charity Tenovus.
Originally from Mountain Ash, he learnt Welsh as a school pupil in Merthyr Tydfil. He now lives in Cardiff.
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CATHERINE REES
Catherine Rees is the Director of Resources for Menter a Busnes. Originally from Llanelli she continues to live and work in the area.
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RHIANNON WALTERS
Rhiannon Walters was appointed to the Board in April 2000, and was reappointed to the Board for a further three years in April 2003.
She teaches Welsh as a second language to primary school children in Carmarthenshire, and also teaches Welsh to adults.
She has served as chair of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, and is currently the vice chair of Menter Bro Dinefwr. She lives in Llangadog in Carmarthenshire.
She is a governor at Builth Wells High School, and a member of the National Eisteddfod's Standing Committee.
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COLIN WILLIAMS
Colin Williams was appointed to the Board in April 2000, and was reappointed for a further three years in April 2003.
He is Research Professor in Socio-linguistics at the Department of Welsh, Cardiff University. He has also worked at universities in Canada, England and the USA.
He is an authority on language planning, and was co-author of The Community Research Scheme, commissioned by the Board, along with a mulititude of other publications on language planning. He has also advised governments in Europe and Canada on minority language development.
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ELIN WYN
Elin Wyn is originally from Cardiff and continues to live and work in the city. She was a journalist with BBC Wales and Head of the BBC’s office in the Assembly. She has established a training company to provide journalistic and media training in Welsh and English.