Pembrokeshire College has recently appointed Iwan Thomas, CEO of PLANED, as its new Chair of the Corporation Board.
Iwan officially took on the role of Chair on the 1 August 2021 having joined the Board in 2019. Iwan takes the helm from Caroline Oakley former Director of Nursing at Hywel Dda University Health Board, who had held the position for the last four years and to whom the College would like to pass their sincere thanks for her strong leadership and the support that she has shown to the College, its staff and learners, throughout her time as Chair.
Following a year of significant challenges for the education sector owing to the global pandemic, Iwan is looking forward his new role and commented: “Taking over this key role at this particular time is a huge privilege and also a challenge. Continuing to support our learners and staff as we emerge from COVID, yet making sure all are safe will continue to be a priority. However, placing the College at the forefront of the county in terms of its significant wider socio-economic impact through its skills development, support and partnership working with businesses, communities, and others, will be key to my focus as Chair.”
A passionate advocate of supporting communities via both skills development and promoting enterprise, Iwan has direct experience of developing the Regional Skills Partnerships model across Wales, and delivering sustainable outcomes, particularly for young people within communities.
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.
Dr Barry Walters, Principal of Pembrokeshire College, said “I am delighted with the appointment of Iwan Thomas as Chairman of the Corporation Board and really look forward to working with him. I would also like to pay tribute to the work done by Caroline Oakley over the past four years and thank her for her support during her term as Chair of the Governing Body.”
