Project Board

Membership

The following have been appointed to serve on the Project Board:

Chair: Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Director, Welsh Language and Culture and External Engagement

A graduate of Aberystwyth University and Cardiff University, he has worked for BBC Wales, the Welsh Language Board and Ceredigion County Council where he was Assistant Director of Education responsible for Cultural Services, Youth Services, Adult Community Learning, Work-Based Learning and the Welsh Language.  He joined Aberystwyth University in September 2013 as Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Welsh Language, Culture and External Relations.  He is Chair of Mudiad Meithrin, the main voluntary sector provider of Welsh-medium early years care and education and a member of the First Minister’s Welsh Language Partnership Council, advising Welsh Government on its Welsh Language Strategy.

Dr Morgan is a member of the Project Board and the University Executive Team.  He will be supported by a range of skill sets that already exist within the organisation, including the Director of Estates Development, the Director of Finance, together with a dedicated Project Director assigned to the project in line with the University’s other Major Projects.

 

Jim O’Rourke, Old College Project Manager

Towards the end of 2017, Jim O’Rourke was appointed as manager of the Old College project.

An Aber alum and a former Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Jim set up a project management consultancy in 2004. 

He has worked on a number of high profile developments in Wales including the Urdd’s role in the Wales Millennium Centre and the £6m redevelopment of Nant Gwrtheyrn, and has provided consultant support to a range of heritage organisations, charities and local authorities to develop projects, staff teams and business acumen.

Jim has played a key role in fundraising for the Old College Appeal, having taken part in the University's fundraising activities. He has written to many alumni about the plans for the Old College, and asking for support towards its renovation

 

Louise Jagger, Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Louise has over 30 years’ experience in fundraising within the UK, having led major capital appeals, fundraising campaigns and regular giving programmes for a range of charities, including Scope, NCH and NSPCC.  Leads the department and works in partnership with alumni and supporters to maximise their contribution to the University's strategies and goals.

 

Andrea James, Director of Estates, Facilities and Residences, Aberystwyth University

Andrea James joined the university as Director of Estates Development, on 1st December 2017.  She was previously a Senior Category Lead at Crown Commercial Service, Cabinet Office, London, managing FM spend for Central Government; prior to that role she was head of Estates and FM at DVLA, responsible for a team of 90 in house staff as well a large team of contractors via a 20yr PFI contract. In addition to doing Estates related jobs, she also has many years of experience in public sector procurement. 

Born in Belfast, Andrea moved to Swansea in her early teens, then following a number of years travelling and working in various locations across the UK, she moved back to Swansea to take up her role at DVLA.

 

Nate Pidcock, Student Union President

 

Moc Lewis, Welsh Culture Officer & UMCA President

 

Stephen Lawrence, Former President of the Old Student’s Association for Aberystwyth University

Stephen Lawrence is the former President of the Old Student’s Association for Aberystwyth University. Stephen Lawrence has been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chawton House Library, the Hampshire centre for early English female writers for the past several years.  He previously held the position of director of development and external affairs at Aberystwyth University in Wales for 16 years.  He now oversees writers, researchers, and historians along with an estate over 400 plus years old, is on the board of Trustees and has an ongoing relationship with the British National Trust.

 

Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion County Council

Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn is the first woman to lead Ceredigion County Council and has been Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group on the Council since 2006.

Born in Scotland and brought up in Borth-y-gest near Porthmadog, Ellen ap Gwynn has been a County Councillor for the Ceulanamaesmawr ward in the north of the County and a Community Councillor for 14 years. She holds the WLGA Equalities and Ageing Well portfolio, is Chairman of the Local Service Board and past Chairman of the Aberystwyth Strategic Regeneration Board.

A past National Chair of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, she stood for parliament in the Montgomeryshire constituency in 2005.

She is a past Chairman of the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and Wales Association of the Performing Arts.

She worked professionally in arts management and is a founder of Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch.  She also served as Director of CYD and General Manager of Radio Ceredigion.

A past member of the Arts Council of Wales, she had a leadership role in establishing the National Theatre of Wales and was Chair of Arts Training Wales. She is a past member of the boards of eco-dyfi, Tai Ceredigion and the Council of Aberystwyth University, from where she graduated and gained a postgraduate certificate in education.

Councillor ap Gwynn was recently appointed Vice-Chair of ERW (Education through Regional Working) - the Regional Board for Education Improvement.

She has also served as a Governor of Coleg Ceredigion and still serves on both the Talybont Community Primary School and Llangynfelyn Community Primary School Boards of Governors.  She is also a member of the Ceredigion 14-19 Strategic Education Board.

 

Gareth Rowlands, Community Regeneration Manager at Ceredigion County Council

 

Mari Turner, Mayor Aberystwyth Town Council

 

Alun Williams, Aberystwyth Town Council, Bronglais Ward

Alun Williams represents Aberystwyth Town Council on the Board. He is also a Plaid Cymru County Councillor for Aberystwyth Bronglais ward and Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste & Carbon Management. He is involved in a wide range of community initiatives and takes a special interest in the environment.  

 

Brendan Somers, Aberystwyth Town Council, Central Ward

 

Alan Chamberlain, Penparcau Community Forum

 

Bryn Jones - Community Representative

Bryn is a first language Welsh speaker born in Ruthin and raised in Caernarfon, North Wales, who in 1971 moved to the Aberystwyth area (Borth) and is where he now considers to be home. Growing up with a passion for the Arts led Bryn to study Sculpture at Carmarthen School of Art and dedicate over 30 years of his professional life to utilising the Arts to influence positive change through empowering individuals and local communities.

Bryn brought this extensive knowledge of community development to his more recent work as the Communities First Co-ordinator for Penparcau & West Aberystwyth, managing the Welsh Government’s tackling poverty programme engaging with disadvantaged groups through community participation and inclusion initiatives.

With the demise of Communities First, Bryn helped the people of Penparcau to re-establish a Community Forum which 3 years on is thriving and where he continues to help to empower people within their own community, acting as their co-ordinator and helping to secure over one million pounds in funding since its inception in 2013. Penparcau Community Forum is now well-established as a Company Limited by Guarantee and earlier this year it was registered as a Charity with three full and part-time employees. 

In July 2015 and in recognition for his contribution to the community and his work across Wales, Bryn was awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree by Aberystwyth University. He is the first man to be awarded an ‘honorary degree’ by the University which was established in 1872.