News

Helen Murray

President of PCAF – Observer on the Board

Helen Murray is the current Engagement Advisor for South West Wales for CITB – the Construction Industry Training Board. She is also a Board member for Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, a director of food innovation community company ‘Swper.box CIC’ and runs her own consultancy ‘Bill’ supporting local business development and offering organic health solutions.

Helen’s career history has focused on community development, lifelong learning, research and evaluation. Her principles are founded in the work of Paulo Freire and she has published and presented internationally on participatory appraisal methodology. Her other speaking engagements have included presentations to the European Rural Parliament as a Welsh representative, speeches to audiences including HH Prince of Wales and sessions for members of Parliament in Westminster, and Senedd members in Cardiff. Following holding teaching posts in University of Glamorgan and Swansea University, with secondments to Welsh Government, she has held leading roles for charities such as Duffryn Community Link and PLANED. In these roles she has developed a familiarity with European funding, audit, strategic development and business planning.

Helen spends most weekends, especially in the winter, on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path running with friends. She’s a keen cyclist and swimmer, with a commitment to year-round skins sea swimming. She is also a long-term Welsh language learner, attending classes every week.

Iwan Thomas

Vice Chair of the Corporation Board

Iwan Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of PLANED, and joined the organisation in October 2018 having worked in the public sector for over 20 years; most recently being a Regional Programme Manager with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board for five years, including working on the Growth Deal to support key and growth economic sectors.

Iwan is a passionate advocate of supporting communities via both skills development and promoting enterprise. With direct experience of also developing the Regional Skills Partnerships model across Wales, and delivering sustainable outcomes, particularly for young people within communities, Iwan has been able to work in partnership with employers and politicians on key projects of local, regional, and national significance.

Iwan has also sat on, and led a number of Boards, including being the Chair of Board of Trustees for three years, of North Wales Science, with responsibility for running Techniquest Glyndwr in Wrexham; a Trustee of Theatr Clwyd in Mold; and also an Advisory Board Member of the North Wales Schools Consortia – GwE.

PLANED is a community development organisation and charity that has over 30 years of experience of delivery across Pembrokeshire and West Wales, and currently administers the £3million LEADER fund for the county to support innovative projects within communities. This is in addition to projects supporting digital inclusion, community shares, land trust, well-being & resilience, and environmental sustainability, from their head offices in Narberth.

Andy Jones

Andy joined the Port as Finance Director in 2011 bringing with him extensive working knowledge in senior financial, commercial and operational roles across a broad range of industries. In 2014, Andy accepted the role of Deputy Chief Executive adding responsibility for the marine operations and risk management aspects of the Port. He was appointed Chief Executive in 2019, following a period in an interim role.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cardiff before continuing with the firm in Toronto, Canada. In 2000, he was appointed as Finance Director for a division of S&P500-listed machinery and equipment manufacturing giant Manitowoc. He subsequently moved into an Operations Director role within its commercial cooking equipment business and worked closely with chefs, restaurant owners and food chains such as McDonalds. In 2007, Andy took over as Commercial Director for the Canadian distribution business of Manitowoc, growing the business by double digits each year. In 2009, he started his own successful company focused on providing trusted advisory services to SME business owners, before returning to the UK.

Andy is a member of the CBI Council in Wales and a Board member of both the Milford Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone and Pembrokeshire College.

Marc Blockwell – ACIB

Relationship Director Barclays UK Pembrokeshire

Born in Pembrokeshire Marc started his working career with Barclays in 1984 at the Tenby office.  During his thirty-six years with the same organisation he has worked all over South Wales from Cardiff to Milford Haven. For the last twenty years, he has specialised in Business Banking. He has direct responsibility for a portfolio of some the larger Business clients in West Wales and his role requires him to advise and support these businesses.

He has prior experience of governance within the education system having been a governor for a local primary school for over ten years with roles specialising in finance and accounting.

Steven Richard Downes

Information to follow

Dylan Harries

Dylan pursued a career in Accountancy before retiring from public practice in 2018 after some 30 years with local accountancy practice Ashmole & Co. During his practice years, he specialised in both the charity and agricultural sector providing governance and strategic planning advice and assistance.

Prior to his appointment at Ashmole & Co, Dylan studied at University College of Wales Aberystwyth, where he graduated with an Honours degree in Economics and Accounting, before being employed in various roles within the finance departments of Health Authorities in Glamorgan and Gwent. Retirement from public practice has allowed Dylan to engage as a board member of various local charities.

Professor John Gammon, BSc(Hons), MPhil, MA(Ed), PhD, RGN

John is currently Deputy Head, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University and Non-Executive Board Member at Hywel Dda University Health Board. He has previously been a Board member of Carmarthenshire NHS Trust.

He qualified as a nurse at Westminster Hospital, London, and gained his Bachelor of Science degree (BSc Hons) at South Bank University, London. John’s clinical expertise is infection prevention and control with national and international recognition. He is an active researcher with publications on infection prevention, quality improvement, workforce planning and teaching practice, with a number of publications on these subjects.

John has taught in higher education for many years with considerable experience of working to influence and develop education programmes, in relation to healthcare, leadership and management and health policy. He continues to work with national and international Governments, and healthcare companies advising on professional education and infection prevention. He was awarded his Professorship in 2013.

John Chairs a number of regional, national and international advisory committees and editorial panels for academic journals. He has extensive personal networks, built over a long clinical and academic career, which help inform his thinking, research, teaching and professional behaviour. He is passionately committed to the value of education, interdisciplinary teaching and working with a commitment to support others.

Caroline Oakley (MBE, MA, RN)

Chairman of Pembrokeshire College Corporation Board

Employee of the NHS for 37 Years. She was Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Safety for Hywel Dda University Health Board before retiring in July 2016. Prior to this she was Director of Nursing, Hywel Dda NHS Trust April 2007 – October 2009 and Acting CEO, of Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, September 2005 – March 2007.

Caroline received an MBE in July 2017 for services to the nursing profession and NHS Wales.

Caroline was a member of Pembrokeshire College Advisory Forum for 3 years prior to becoming a Board Member in 2016. She became Chairman in 2017. With her wealth of experience she is also the link governor for Safeguarding.

Caroline is a trustee for Sandy Bears, which is a children and young people bereavement service.

Steve Evans

Steve Evans has been a member of the lecturing staff at Pembrokeshire College since 2003. Before coming to work at Pembrokeshire College, he was self-employed for almost twenty years. Steve had previously served as Academic Governor from 2007 to 2011 and was able to gain a vast insight into how the College functions.

He served on a number of Corporation committees during his tenure and is proud to have played a part in the ongoing developments of the college.

He is the staff governor currently representing the academic staff at Board level.

Dr Barry Walters MSc, PhD, PGCE

Pembrokeshire College Principal

Barry was appointed Principal at Pembrokeshire College in May 2019 having previously been Deputy Principal then Interim Principal (March 2012 – May 2019). Following a brief spell teaching computing at Croydon College, he joined Kingston University in 1990. Lecturing in the Business Faculty, he held various posts before becoming acting Head of School of Business Information Management. Whilst at Kingston, he spent a sabbatical period working at Halmstad University, Sweden and in 1989 spent a year, as part of his postgraduate research, working at Xiamen University, China. As a Peer Inspector with Estyn, he has participated in a number of FE College inspections.

Barry coaches junior football and rugby and has a general interest in sports.

Andrew Phillips, Bsc, (Hons), MCIOB

Born in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Andrew is a former student of Pembrokeshire College, having studied for a Diploma in Building, before going onto completing an Honours Degree in Construction at Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham.

Andrew is a qualified Chartered Construction Manager and for the past 35 years has had a varied and progressive career working on a wide range of prestigious projects in the public and private sector across West Wales. In 2003 Andrew along with wife Sue created Carreg Construction which he continues to lead as MD with the support of his daughter, Amy. This small Pembrokeshire business has built a reputation of delivering very high quality projects, notably ‘The Cloisters’ at St. Davids Cathedral, ‘Oriel Y Parc Gallery’ and ‘Trewarren’, UK winner of best constructed house in 2013.

Andrew is the founder of ‘Agoredbuild’ a new software as a service product, (SAAS) aimed to provide financial transparency and decision making control to clients undertaking building projects.

Andrew has represented both the Federation of Master Builders and Federation of Small businesses in a range of topical construction related matters with Welsh Government and as an approved Business Wales mentor, enjoys helping individuals to develop their business ideas and fulfil their personal life goals.

Paula Ellis

Pembrokeshire College Corporation Board

Paula represents Welsh hospitality on the Peoples 1st Hospitality Accreditation Panel, contributes to the South West Wales Tourism Forum, is a member of the Wales Tourism Alliance, supports the Regional Skills and Learning Partnership Tourism and Hospitality Cluster Group and is a committee member of St David’s Tourist Association.

Paula has enjoyed a career of 30 years working in the tourism and hospitality industry. A former further education college student, she pursued her tourism career as a travel agent, overseas tour operator, marketing manager of Cardiff Airport, before moving on to hospitality by working at some of Wales’s leading 4 and 5 star hotels including St David’s Hotel and Spa and Vale Resort, prior to relocating to Pembrokeshire to join St Brides Spa Hotel in 2004. Taking a brief break from hospitality, Paula worked as manager of Oriel y Parc Visitor Centre and Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales gallery.

Since 2014, she is the Group General Manager of The Retreats Group, which operates three of Wales’ leading luxury boutique hotels, Twr y Felin Hotel, Roch Castle and Penrhiw Priory.

Maria Pena

Pembrokeshire College Corporation Board

To follow

Sue Leonard

Vice Chairman – Pembrokeshire College Corporation Board

Sue is Chief Officer of Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS), a position she has held since 2008. Prior to joining PAVS in 2004, Sue worked as a Community Development Officer with PLANED and also gained experience of working with the private sector as Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Chamber of Commerce.

Sue has a strong background in training and development, having worked in the Further Education sector for 12 years. She spent 10 years at Pembrokeshire College, as a lecturer, senior lecturer and programme area manager, before leaving to become a self-employed trainer and consultant.

Sue is in her third term of office on the Pembrokeshire College Board, and was appointed as Vice Chair in 2017. She served for 8 years as a member of the Audit Committee and currently chairs the Quality Improvement Committee. Sue is the link governor for Learners & Curriculum.

Stan McIlvenny OBE MSc, Dip Corp Gov, CMILT

Stan is a Marine Engineer by profession having served on crude, product, gas tankers and also R0-Ro vessels. He has 25 years experience in the port industry as CEO and Company Secretary.

He holds an MSc from Edinburgh Napier University in Corporate Leadership, a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance and recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business & Executive Coaching, both from University College Dublin. In 2003 he was awarded an OBE for services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.

He is currently Chairman of the Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone, Chairman of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and a member of the Stakeholder and Accountability Committee, a sub committee of the board of Milford Haven Port Authority.

Graham Morgan

Brought up in Begelly, Graham carved a career in banking with the RBS Group, specialising in support for commercial and business customers. Prior to returning to Wales in 2007, Graham was Head of Business Development for Natwest UK.

Between 2009 and 2015, he took over as Director of the Chamber of Commerce in Wales with a specific focus on leveraging connectivity between business, academia and government.

Graham currently holds the master franchise for Business Doctors in Wales, specialising in close support for business owners around growth planning, business development and trouble shooting. He is able to draw from 13 years on the Board of Career Wales Mid Glamorgan and Powys Ltd as Chairman.

Past time activities include running, mountain biking and skiing. Alongside being the Chairman of Panthers F.C. which is the largest junior football club in Wales.

Jon Haswell

Director of Resources and S151 Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council and ERW

Jon has over 30 years experience working in the public sector, working for five local authorities and the Audit Commission. In his current role, he is responsible for a diverse Directorate which includes all the finance related functions, ICT, procurement, customer services, housing and building maintenance. He is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the Council’s transformation programme and 21st Century Schools programme.

Jon has been a Board Member for four years and is also a member of the Audit Committee, utilising his experience gained as a Head of Internal Audit in both English and Welsh local authorities.

Cllr Cris Tomos

Cris has been heavily involved with community development for over 25 years and has been a volunteer on several organisations & projects – from Treasurer of the local Village Hall to Board Member of 4CG Cooperative – Community owned Car Parks, Retail, Offices. Workshops & Craft Centre who in 2013 also bought the old Police Station and Court House in Cardigan.

Cris is the Chair of Cwm Arian Renewable Energy cooperative with plans to develop renewable energy and low carbon solutions for communities in West Wales. Cris received the award of Welsh Co-operator of the Year in 2012 and Welsh Social Enterprise Champion of the year in 2013

Cris supported the community purchase of Tafarn Sinc where 509 people raised over £400,000 to buy the iconic pub in North Pembrokeshire.

He works part-time for PLANED in Narberth and as of May 2017, was elected as the county councillor for Crymych ward and is now the Pembrokeshire county council cabinet member for the Environment and the Welsh Language.

Chris Martin B Pharm (Hons) FRPharmS D Litt (Honorary)

Chairman of the Audit committee and member of the Search and Remuneration Committee

A pharmacist by profession Chris is currently Chairman of Milford Haven Port Authority, Non-Executive Advisor for Alliance Healthcare Distribution Ltd, Deputy Chairman of the Bevan Commission (Lead Commissioner for Innovation and EOL care), Vice-Chairman of Life Science Hub Wales Ltd, Trustee and Director of Marie Curie UK, Chairman of the Wales Advisory Board for Marie Curie, a member of Swansea University School of Management Advisory Board, Chairman of the Welsh Government ESNR Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC), a member of the Welsh Government ARAC and MD of Richam Developments Ltd.

He has had a successful career running his own group of independent community pharmacies and worked in the public sector for over 15 years having been Chairman of four separate health organisation in West Wales. Pursuing a portfolio career in the trust port, public, private and charity sector he has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Swansea University and was given a fellowship by the RPSGB in 2006 for distinction in the profession of pharmacy.

Charlie Royal

Pembrokeshire College Marketing and Learner Recruitment Manager

Charlie Royal is responsible for marketing the College’s provision across, A-levels, diplomas, apprenticeships, degrees, part-time and business courses as well as the College’s commercial activities. Charlie also has responsibility for the College’s Admissions, Learner Voice and International activities.

With a Master’s degree in FE Leadership and Management, Charlie has more than 15 years’ experience of FE college marketing and has spent the last eight years at Pembrokeshire College. Prior to working in the FE sector Charlie worked in management roles within the hospitality industry and has a wealth of experience in customer service.

Charlie became a staff governor in 2017.