Trustees

Over the past eight years Kate had held a portfolio of non-executive positions across key bodies in Welsh public life, with a particular focus on the cultural and health sectors. She is passionate about helping organisations be the best they can, delivering for the people of Wales. She is committed to broadening engagement in culture, history and heritage across all our communities, reflecting the stories of Wales to ourselves and to the world. 

Prior to her non-executive career, Kate spent fifteen years’ working in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in public affairs, policy and strategic communications, both in the UK and internationally. 

She was born and brought up in north Wales, attending the Alun School in Mold before graduating from Cambridge University. She now lives in the Bannau Brycheiniog.  

Hywel John read economics and law at Trinity College, Cambridge before qualifying as a chartered accountant.  He has worked for thirty years in the international oil and gas industry holding senior executive and board-level positions with public companies.  More recently, he has combined advisory roles with volunteering opportunities which have included work as a school governor, church treasurer, participating in local archaeological excavations and supporting a major World War One exhibition as an Education Assistant working with schoolchildren.  He is a member of the University of Swansea Development Advisory Board.

Hywel has family roots in the former mining community of Fforestfach near Swansea and has a home in Pembrokeshire.  He is a developing and enthusiastic second-language Welsh speaker and has a passion for visiting museums, sites of historic interest and rugby grounds across Wales and beyond.

Rhys studied Modern History at Oxford University before embarking on a career in journalism. He was a reporter, producer and a senior news editor at BBC Cymru Wales. He was also a journalist fellow at the Reuters Institute at Oxford University looking at the production of news in multi-national states. 

Rhys is currently BBC Cymru Wales Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy and is responsible for a range of functions, including communications, regulatory and public affairs.

Rhys is passionate about making archives accessible having overseen the digitisation of the BBC Wales archive and helped develop the BBC’s Centenary exhibition in tandem with Amgueddfa Cymru. He was also instrumental in creating the National Broadcast Archive for Wales, in tandem with the National Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Library of Wales.

He is a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Rhys has written and lectured on Welsh history and has published a biography of Gwynfor Evans for which he was awarded the Welsh Book of the Year Award.

Originally from Carmarthen, Rhys lives in Cardiff with his wife and two daughters.  He supports Cardiff City and Wrexham FC.

John is a climate scientist, poet and geologist with a passion for science outreach and engagement he is a director of Torfaen Museum Trust and Fare Share Cymru. Aged 42 at career-peak, and when an ultra-fit fellrunner, explorer, caver and expedition leader John, suffered a stroke which forced his medical retirement. 

Through 10+ years of living with compound-disabilities, John has been reclaiming and championing opportunities to contribute to society, conservation, and sharing his experience for the disadvantaged, and for all. 

A climate change ambassador for climate Cymru; In Blaenavon, John runs the highest live online weather station and live cam in Wales, south of Snowdon. John’s current portfolio focuses principally on climate change, sustainability and equality of opportunity with regard to Disability; Previously [2019-2023]  Deputy Chair of Disability Labour [UK], he is now Senedd Liaison-Officer for Disability Labour in Wales and Disability Officer for LGBT+Labour (Wales). He is Vice chair of Torfaen Access Forum and a Welsh Govt. appointee to the ABUHB Community Health Council and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. With these, and as a director of the National stroke charity ‘Different Strokes’ he is an energetic advocate for increasing participation and engagement in environmental and educational activities. – After John graduated from the dept of Geography & Geology, University College Cardiff; he gained his PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where he became founding chair of the graduate School of Geosciences in the Grant Institute. Here with growing passion for public, community, and cschool-engagement with research he became climate-& volcanology lead in the Royal Society COPUS-collaboration with National Museum of Scotland in the “Earth Fun” touring geology road show, (“the back-in-time-Bus)“which across Scotland and Sweden has now engaged directly with >40,000 young learner participants. Initially a physicist his career developed in landscape-, and climate-science, involving participation in several International Ocean Drilling Programs leading c.25 international research expeditions from Borneo to the Arctic. With >50 climate change & geology research papers John has an international profile and chaired teams reporting directly to the Deputy Prime Minister[ODPM], advised Government regions, and Local authorities on climate change strategies, He was a founder member of the first UKHE Centre for Excellence in Active [Learning CEAL] for Geography/Geosciences. And Co-Editor-in-Chief of the international Journal of Higher education Teaching & Learning

Ameerah Mai is a first language Welsh speaker who grew up in Llanberis, and habitually visited the National Slate Museum while growing up. A graduate of the Well-Being of Future Generations Commissioner's 'Future Generations Leadership Academy’, she was listed on the Future Generations Changemaker 100 with her cohort. In 2022, she represented Wales on the United States' International Visitor Leadership Programme.

Ameerah has a BA in History and an MSc in International Relations, both from Cardiff University. She is the Academi Heddwch Coordinator at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, where she works on Wales' first peace institute: Academi Heddwch Cymru. In this role, Ameerah also works on the Women's Peace Petition project alongside as part of a large partnership which aims to celebrate the centenary of this mostly forgotten feat in Welsh history.

Born and raised in the Rhondda, Owen studied International Politics at Aberystwyth University before moving into a career in various policy and communications roles spanning 20 years. Currently Owen is the Assistant Director for Insight, Policy, Public Affairs and Community Investments at Sport Wales. In this role he oversees the organisations research work, relationship with the Welsh Government and other key stakeholders, as well as having responsibility for distributing Welsh Government and Lottery funding to clubs and community groups in every corner of Wales. Prior to joining the organisation, Owen led the communications work for Plaid Cymru at Senedd Cymru and developed a passion for the role of culture in education and engaging young people, stemming from his time leading the policy, public relations and public affairs work in Wales for the UK’s largest teaching union. 

Owen co-chairs the strategic management board of the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport and is a Board Member at both Literature Wales and the Geraint Thomas Cycling Trust.

Llion joined Welsh indie Cwmni Da in 2019 as Director of Content and took over as Managing Director in 2021. He worked for two years as a newspaper reporter before spending a decade at the BBC, producing and directing documentary films for BBC1, 2, 4 and was a freelance director. His films have won awards in France, Canada, Switzerland and an RTS award. Llion was recruited as a commissioner for Factual Content and Sport at S4C in 2012, where he secured the rights to the Tour de France. In 2016 he was appointed Head of Content Distribution and was a member of the management team and the S4C Authority. He is a regular panellist at film festivals in Asia, including Tokyo, Incheon in Korea and GMZ in China. His PhD was on documentary film and he has published five novels, a travel book and a diary of Geraint Thomas winning le Tour de France.

Born and raised in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Daniel attended Cowbridge School prior to reading Law at Cambridge University. Daniel has 25 years' experience as a business lawyer working on international transactions in the UK and Europe. In 2012 Daniel established a European office for an international law firm. He led the office, advising international investors at board level and acting in non-executive, directorship roles. Daniel built and led a diverse and inclusive team of 50 colleagues, comprising 15 different nationalities. With a life-long passion for languages and history, Daniel is a keen advocate for the contribution of cultural institutions to the communities that they serve, and by which communities those institutions themselves are culturally enriched. Daniel speaks French, German, Luxembourgish and is a keen student of Welsh. Alongside board advisory roles and voluntary work, Daniel enjoys hiking, cycling, Welsh rugby and the arts

Dave Jones, who has worked as an environmental regulator for 20 years, is a Senior Specialist Advisor at Natural Resources Wales. He is responsible for developing policy and guidance for the management and protection of groundwater in Wales. Dave is a Chartered Geologist and Chartered Scientist and a former Vice President of The Geological Society, the world’s oldest geological society. He studied geology as an undergraduate at Cardiff University, and later completed a master’s degree in hydrogeology.

He is passionate about science and the environment and is looking forward to ensuring Amgueddfa Cymru continues to be recognised for its commitment to the environment.

A fluent Welsh speaker, he is originally from Wrexham but now calls Cardiff home.

Dr Emma Yhnell is a passionate and multi award-winning educator, science communicator and Senior Lecturer based in the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University. Emma holds a BSc honours degree in Biochemistry, a PhD in Huntington’s disease, a PGCert in Clinical Trials and completed an independent research fellowship funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales. Emma has international expertise in science communication and has built a reputation for her unique ability to untangle the academically technical and translate it into entertaining, relevant and engaging content. Emma has an infectious enthusiasm and passion for teaching and education. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and a National Teaching Fellow, in addition to her numerous other accolades. A committed change maker, margin mover and equity advocate, Emma has a wealth of experience in EDI, serving on national and international advisory boards and committees concerned with education policy and strategies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Jan Williams has senior leadership experience across the whole healthcare system in Wales, with a strong track record in organisational leadership and development, in improvement science and in the fields of investigation, inspection and regulation as they relate to generating improvements in policy and practice.

Jan was educated to postgraduate level at the University of Wales and the University of Aberdeen. She joined the NHS in 1979 and held a number of senior posts at NHS Trust, Health Authority and Health Board level; Jan also held senior posts at national level and in Welsh Government.

Prior to her appointment as Chair of Public Health Wales, from 2013 to 2017, Jan was the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) Commissioner for Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside police forces. This involved membership of the IPCC Governing Body, oversight of independent investigations into the forces concerned and the production of learning recommendations to improve policy and practice.

In addition to her role in Public Health Wales, in recent years Jan has been a Board member of the Human Tissue Authority and an independent member on the Home Office Domestic Homicide Review Quality Assurance panel.

Jan was made an OBE for work on the ACAS Council, for industrial relations in the health sector.

Abigail Lawrence, who has worked in the creative arts sector in Wales for 15 years, is Head of Public Engagement at BBC Cymru Wales. She is responsible for ensuring BBC Wales’ new home at Central Square in Cardiff, offers an engaging and immersive experience to all visitors, including school groups. Abigail will bring to her role as Board member the experience of welcoming and growing audiences with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 

Prior to BBC Cymru Wales Abigail, who has always felt passionately about all aspects of cultural life, was Operations Director at Chapter Arts Centre.

Richard spent the early years of his working life as an engineer and manager in the steel and copper industries before moving into a career in higher education. He has worked in a number of Welsh and English higher education institutions, in roles ranging from lecturer to Assistant Vice Chancellor. His academic career focused on Engineering and a broad range of STEM-related programmes. In addition, he has been involved in leading numerous applied research and knowledge exchange projects with a wide range of industrial partners. Richard is interested in international education, served on the PVC International Advisory Group for Universities Wales, and has been a Visiting Professor at Wuhan University of Technology in China. He led major projects for the National HE STEM Programme and has been involved in supporting outreach STEM projects with schools over many years. During his time in the North of England he worked closely with the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and a number of cultural organizations reflecting the diversity of the region. He has been a member of the Council of Guild HE and the board of the Teaching Excellence Framework and is currently a governor at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, a non-executive member of the board of Careers Wales and a member of the International Advisory Committee at Coventry University. Richard is passionate about the power of education to transform the lives of individuals and the fortunes of whole communities. He has broad interests in the arts and culture, including music, the history and diverse culture of Wales, particularly its industrial heritage, and Welsh art.

Freya Stannard is an experienced cultural heritage professional. She is currently the Head of National Programmes at the Natural History Museum, and was formerly Manager of National Partnerships at Tate. Her work has a particular focus on building partnerships to engage with diverse communities across the UK, and she has experience of working closely with several Welsh cultural organisations.

Prior to this, Freya worked in several roles at Arts Council England, managing the Acceptance in Lieu and Cultural Gifts Schemes and supporting the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.

She is passionate about the positive impacts that culture and heritage have on society, and she focusses her efforts on the development of the sector, widening access and combining her love of the natural world and the arts.

Cai Wilshaw (he/him) is a communications consultant currently working at The Economist, The Fourth Angel communications agency, and TNW (a Financial Times company). He was previously Head of External Affairs for the world's most-read LGBT+ publication, PinkNews, and is a regular commentator for BBC Cymru on US politics, having worked in the US Congress. In his current roles he has a particular focus on diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and forging innovative global partnerships.