What was your highlight of 2025?
There are so many to choose from, but a very recent highlight was the Wales Investment Summit, personally hosted by the first minister and attended by Prince William, and with support from UK government ministers. We brought together global investors from 27 countries, giving them the chance to explore new opportunities for partnerships and investment balancing those not yet actively engaged in Wales with those with significant experience of Wales and the Welsh Government.
It was fantastic to see businesses experiencing Wales’s world-leading innovation from semiconductors for mobile phones to our celebrated creative industries, which export TV and film to audiences around the globe. It was a real highlight to attend such a high-quality event put together by our internal team, and I’m pleased to see the outstanding results in terms of secured investment.
What was the hardest part of being a leader in 2025?
These remain challenging and fast-moving times, with the Welsh Government context affected by UK and global events. The difficulty is often how to manage the expectation for everything to be delivered on all fronts, whilst ensuring that elevated priorities attract the right time and attention. In this respect, our staff have done a great job in the hard space of delivering the full legislative programme, achieving significantly against 284 Programme for Government objectives and progressed the first minister’s priority areas. So, to them and all colleagues delivering across our services and statutory duties: thank you – diolch.
What are the main challenges facing your department in the coming year?
In May, the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament will expand from 60 to 96 elected members, including provision for an expansion of ministers. This will be a generational change to democracy in Wales, and colleagues here are working hard to ensure the organisation is ready for the change. Looking forward, as well as delivering right now as expected by our first minister, has been hard but we have made progress at this time of change. I’m pleased we’ve all worked hard to prepare for the practical implications as well as strengthening our organisational capability in critical areas like AI, continuous improvement and leadership.
Which celebrity or historical figure would you choose to turn on the Christmas lights in your town – and why?
“Gavin and Stacey” has absolutely found its heart and home culturally, notably at Christmas, with Wales and the Welsh population. So, it’s an easy choice to want Nessa (aka Ruth Jones) to press the button, probably lit up by the headlights of Dave Coaches’ bus (last seen located at the British-Irish Council which we hosted). Coincidentally, Ruth Jones happens to come from my town anyway!
Happy Christmas and Happy New Year – Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Read all the entries to this year's perm secs round up here