Leading in Welsh: The Journey from the Beginning
[Welsh Language Content Only]
Discover key insights, discussions, and presentations from our Leading in Welsh: The Journey to 2050 conference on 1 May 2024.
This Welsh-medium conference brought together headteachers, senior leaders, and educational influencers from various sectors to celebrate the progress in Welsh language education and discuss the ambitious journey towards reaching 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.
This recording features:
- Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Chief Executive, Mudiad Meithrin
- Dr Myfanwy Jones, Director, Menter Iaith Cymru
- Angharad Lloyd Beynon, Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager (Nations), City & Guilds Group
- Catrin Davis, Head of Apprenticeships, Urdd Gobaith Cymru
The conference was conducted through the medium of Welsh.
Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies
Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies is originally from Bangor but now lives with her husband and four children in Llanerfyl, Powys. She studied French and Spanish at Oxford and lived for a while in Galicia and Brussels before completing a MScEcon and PhD in Political Theory at Cardiff University where she also taught as a politics tutor. After being elected to represent Riverside on Cardiff County Council in 2004, she worked as Office Manager for Leanne Wood MS in the Rhondda before being appointed Plaid Cymru’s Chief Executive in 2007. In 2011, she was appointed as a Publications Officer for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol at Aberystwyth University where she was also responsible for its research journal, ‘Gwerddon’. She became Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin in September 2014. Mudiad Meithrin is a voluntary organisation and is the main provider and enabler of Welsh-medium early years childcare and education in the voluntary sector with over 1000 settings (Welsh-medium playgroups / parent and toddler groups / ‘Cymraeg for Kids’ groups and nurseries) all over the country. Gwenllian is a Trustee with the National Library of Wales, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research and the National Lottery Fund in Wales and volunteers at her local Cylch Meithrin on the committee as the RI.
Dr Myfanwy Jones
Myfanwy Jones was brought up in Lledrod, Ceredigion, but now lives in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire. She studied Welsh, French and German at Swansea University, before doing a PhD at Warwick university. She began her career in language planning as the first officer of Menter Iaith Swansea. Then, after a spell at the Welsh Language Board leading the Youth Unit, and a few years freelancing while raising the children, she went to work as a Welsh Language Development Officer at Carmarthenshire County Council. There, she was responsible for developing the Council’s strategy to promote the Welsh language as well as leading and coordinating the Welsh Language County Strategic Forum. She started as Director of Mentrau Iaith Cymru in September 2023, to develop a national strategy and constructive partnerships to support and advocate on behalf of the network of 22 Menter Iaith Cymru all over Wales. Myfanwy is passionate about promoting the Welsh language and believes that the Mentrau Iaith is a vital tool in our efforts to maintain Welsh as a community language. Myfanwy is a Community Councillor, vice-chair of Barn magazine and runs a Welsh medium judo club in Drefach, Carmarthenshire.
Angharad Lloyd Beynon
Angharad is a Policy and Stakeholder Manager at City & Guilds and looks after Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Angharad works closely with key stakeholders to ensure that people and organisations unlock their potential and develop the knowledge and skills needed for personal and economic growth.
Angharad is a Liveryman for the WLCOW and a member of BITC Wales Leadership Board. She is also a Board member for Thrive Group Wales, Co-chair of FAB Wales and a member of the Employment Advisory Board for HM Prison Cardiff.
Catrin Davis
Originally from the Rhondda, and now living in Ffynnon Taf, Catrin Davis balances being a mother and working as Head of Apprenticeships for Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Her parents are not Welsh speakers, so Catrin is proof of the impact of Welsh medium education at its best. With a background in theater and dance, Catrin has worked for the Urdd for seven years and has played a leading role in the development of the organisation’s Apprenticeship Department from two members of staff to 25. Now, the Urdd’s Apprenticeship Department provides education to over 150 apprentices across Wales within the sports, childcare, education, outdoors and youth work sectors, and specialises in offering Welsh-medium and bilingual programmes.