Jun 16, 2021
Rajvi Glasbrook Griffiths has worked in the teaching profession in Wales since 2009 and is Headteacher of High Cross Primary School in Newport. She has been the Director of Literature Caerleon since 2014 and Director of the Caerleon Gateway Project since 2016, as well as an advisory board member for Planet magazine. Mrs Glasbrook Griffiths is also a member of the Welsh Government’s Race Equality Action Plan Committee and its working Group on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Communities, Contributions and Cynefin in the New Curriculum.
‘I feel privileged to take on the role of a trustee for Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. It is a charity and organisation that deeply reflects my driving commitment to promoting and supporting literacy, literature and the Welsh language. Education and reducing the literacy deprivation gap is a big part of my work, as is the celebration of Welsh writing both within and beyond Wales. I aim to serve the board with utmost integrity and ethical purpose.’
Jun 16, 2021
Alwena Hughes Moakes is the Global Head of Employee Engagement and Communications for an international agriculture company with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Before relocating to Switzerland, Alwena held senior roles at Aberystwyth University, most recently as Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs. Originally from Mold, Flintshire, Alwena is a seasoned communications professional with over 20 years’ experience across the public and private sectors.
“I’m delighted to be appointed as a Trustee for the Books Council of Wales. Despite living abroad for almost six years, I am passionate about Wales’ culture – my commitment to seeing Wales thrive, both at home and further afield, is as strong as ever. I look forward to this new challenge and to working with Board members to ensure the long-term prosperity of the Council and Wales’ authors and publishing industry.”
Jun 16, 2021
Professor Carwyn Jones is a former First Minister of Wales (2009–2018) and was a Member of the Senedd for Bridgend from 1999–2021. After graduating in law from Aberystwyth University, he went on to train as a barrister in London before working in legal practice at Gower Chambers, Swansea, for 10 years. He was appointed part-time Professor in the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University in 2019.
“It is a pleasure and an honour to be appointed as a Trustee for the Books Council of Wales. It is vitally important that a country’s literature reflects society and the Council is central to this need. I’m looking forward to being part of the journey!”
Jun 16, 2021
Lowri Ifor is a former teacher who has worked for the Welsh Slate Museum since 2018 as an Education and Events Officer and who also teaches a Welsh for Adults class. She was Children’s Books Editor at Gwasg Carreg Gwalch press from 2018–2019 and has been one of the editors of the Codi Pais magazine since 2018, as well as a member of the Noson Pedwar a Chwech committee which organises Welsh-language musical and literary events in the Caernarfon area.
“Like many others, reading has been a form of escapism for me during the past year, and the standard of books published recently shows that this is an exciting time for the publishing sector in Wales. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join the Board and to support the work of the Council over the coming years.”
Jun 16, 2021
Linda Tomos has been a chartered librarian since 1975 and was the National Librarian for Wales from 2015–2019, leading the strategy of the National Library in Aberystwyth. She worked previously as a senior civil servant with the Welsh Government and was the first Director of CyMAL: Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales within the Department for Culture, Sport and Tourism. A former Chair of the Library and Information Services Council for Wales, she was Chair of the BBC Education Broadcasting Council Wales between 1999 and 2003 and Chair of the National Trust’s Advisory Board in Wales between 2016 and 2020.
“I am looking forward immensely to joining the Board and contributing to developing a strong voice for the Books Council’s vital work in Wales. Much has changed since 2020 and we need a publishing sector which is ambitious and ready to innovate as we face the challenges ahead. I have a particular interest in increasing opportunities to improve literacy and promote new audiences through digital media and it will be a great pleasure for me to be part of the Books Council’s work as a trustee.”
