This is a National Assembly Press Release
Jenny Randerson, Minister for Culture, Sport & the Welsh Language, today announced the appointment of six new members of Welsh Language Board. They are Marc Phillips, Ifan Evans, Betsan Dafydd, Nia Parry, Jeffrey Morgan & Colin Baker.
Marc Phillips, aged 49, is the National Co-ordinator for BBC Children in Need in Wales principally responsible for the distribution of grants to community groups throughout Wales. He has a long history in the voluntary sector having, at various times, been Chief Executive of Tenovus, Director of Dyfed Association of Voluntary Services, and Mid Glamorgan Organiser for Urdd Gobaith Cymru. He was brought up in Mountain Ash and Merthyr Tydfil, where he learned Welsh as a pupil in Cyfarthfa Castle High School. He was Chair of Plaid Cymru 1996 – 2000, and during the 1990's fought two General Elections and two European Elections. In the mid '70's he was Secretary of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg. Marc is 49 years old, married with two sons and one grand-daughter, and lives in Cardiff.
Ifan Evans, aged 29, now lives in Aberystwyth and is a director of the Rhiannon Celtic Design Centre in Tregaron. Raised in Tregaron, Ifan Evans 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 Welsh and English, before becoming managing director of Rhiannon Ltd in 1998. The company designs and makes its own range of Welsh and Celtic jewellery, and has recently completed a £600,000 development project to refurbish its premises and to open a new Museum, Galleries and Tearoom in Tregaron. Living and working in a Welsh-speaking area of rural Wales has naturally inspired an interest in the Welsh language, but Ifan Evans has also inherited a concern for the language from his late grandfather, Professor Jac L Williams, who was a leading advocate of bilingual education during the 1960s and 1970s.
Betsan Dafydd, aged 30, was brought up in the Teifi Valley, Carmarthenshire. She then went on to study Welsh at Swansea University. Following three years working as a youth worker for Menter Aman Tawe, Betsan continued to work with young people in a variety of settings, in both the voluntary and statutory sectors. Betsan studied part time for a Diploma in Youth and Community Work in the University of the West of England, Bristol. During 2002 Betsan worked with the Wales Youth Agency on the Opening Both Doors project, focusing on bilingual Youth Work. Betsan now lives in Rhondda Cynon Taf and is currently employed by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as Senior Youth Officer, she is also studying part time for a Doctorate at University of Wales, Cardiff. Betsan's particular interest with the Welsh Language Board is to support and widen the availability of services to young people in their language of choice and to ensure that the language and culture of Wales has a substantial place in all domains of Youth Work in Wales.
Nia Parry, aged 27, was born on Ynys Mon, and brought up in Llandrillo yn Rhos, but is now based in Cardiff. She graduated from the Welsh Department at Swansea University and has subsequently carried out some research at Cardiff University. Nia has worked as a Welsh Language for Adults tutor for a number of years, running a range of courses in the workplace and tutoring evening classes. She has co-authored learning materials and has had the opportunity to direct training sessions for tutors in Cardiff and at the University of Wales, Bangor. Since 2000, she has worked as the tutor/presenter of television programmes 'Welsh in a Week' and 'cariad@iaith'.
Jeffrey Morgan, aged 46, was born in Newtown, Powys but now lives in the Cardiff area. He is a chartered accountant by profession and qualified with Deloittes. He has worked in the electricity and gas industry for many years and he is the former Managing Director of Hyder Service Limited, responsible for all customer service operations for SWALEC and SWALEC Gas. He is now the Chairman of Economy Power Limited, an independent electricity Supply Company and Eco2 Limited, a renewable green energy generation company, both based in Cardiff. He is chairman of the Board's Audit Committee.
Colin Baker, aged 53, is Professor of Education at the University of Wales, Bangor, having been an undergraduate and postgraduate at that University. He is the author of 12 books and over 50 articles on bilingualism and bilingual education, with specific interests in bilingual development in young children, language planning and bilingual education in Wales. He also teaches Social Science Research Methods and Statistical Analysis. He is married with three fully bilingual children.
Jenny Randerson said: "I am delighted that these 6 candidates have agreed to be members of the Welsh Language Board. Their experience will bring valuable expertise to the deliberations of the Board over the next three years as the Board plays a central role in implementing many aspects of Iaith Pawb, the Assembly Government's National Action Plan for a Bilingual Wales.
"I am also pleased that Rhiannon Walters, Sue Camper, Arun Midha and Colin Williams have accepted my invitation to stay on the Board for a second term. They have all made valuable contributions to the work of the Welsh Language Board and will, I am sure, continue to do so over the next 3 years."
Rhodri Williams, Chair of the Welsh Language Board said: "Coming after the publication of positive data regarding the language in the 2001 Census, I know that the varied backgrounds and experience of the new members will be of great value to the Board in taking forward its work. I look forward to the next three years - we have an exciting agenda for change which will, I know, broaden the basis of the language in society."
Notes:
The Welsh Language Board is an Assembly Sponsored Public Body.
The new members will serve from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006. The 4 members who have been re-appointed will serve their second term over the same period. The posts are remunerated.
Both Colin Baker and Jeffrey Morgan have served 2 terms of office on the Welsh Language Board. They made fresh applications and have been appointed again, in accordance with the Code of Practice on Public Appointments.