MS, Minister for Education
and Welsh Language: It gives me great pleasure to announce
the re-appointment of Rona Aldrich, Gwyn Williams and
Elin Maher as Members of the Welsh Language
Commissioner’s Advisory Panel. The reappointment will begin on 1
April 2024 for a three year term.
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, which established the
Advisory Panel specifies that the Welsh Minister must ensure
that, as far as it practicable, there are at least three members
of the advisory panel at any time. Reappointing Rona, Gwyn
and Elin in addition to the two existing Members, Anne Davies and
Nia Elias ensures that the panel has the range of skills and
experiences necessary to provide the Commissioner with advice on
matters relevant to her functions.
Born in Pwllheli and educated in Wolverhampton, Bethesda,
Aberystwyth and Preston, Gwyn
Williams has spent over 25 years working in the
media. He worked for the Welsh Language Commissioner as Director
of Promotion, Communication and Administration and joined S4C as
Director of Communications in 2015. He is now the Chief Officer
of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru (the association of Welsh
translators and interpreters). He is a non-executive board member
of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and lives in Bethel near Caernarfon.
Elin Maher works as the National Director of
RhAG, the organisation for Parents for Welsh-medium
Education. She was a freelance language and education consultant
and has had various experiences working in the world of education
and within the field of community development and language
planning throughout her career, with Welsh and bilingualism at
the core of her work. Starting out as a secondary language
teacher, Elin worked in the primary sector as a classroom teacher
and also as an advisory teacher. She has also worked in further
and higher education supervising education students. She worked
for Menter Iaith Casnewydd and for Torfaen Borough Council. She
was born in Cwm Tawe but has lived in Newport with her family for
over twenty years. She continues to work diligently developing
Welsh and Welsh-medium education within the community
in Gwent and beyond through her work as an experienced school
governor and a board member of a number of local and
national charities.
Originally from Anglesey, Rona Aldrich has lived
in the Vale of Clwyd for 40 years, and has a Masters degree in
Librarianship and Information Studies from Aberystwyth
University. Before retiring she was a Chief Officer with Conwy
County Council. She is a firm believer that everyone in society
has the right to easy access to information and culture in all
its forms. After a period of being self-employed, she is now
Vice-Chair of the Books Council of Wales. Over the years she has
held a number of positions both locally and nationally including
for the Welsh Government and represented Wales at UK level.
