Cymmrodorion elect leading Welsh women as Vice-Presidents
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (“the Society” or “the Cymmrodorion”) is pleased to announce that at the Annual General Meeting on 25th May 2023 that it has elected three new Vice-Presidents, as well as the re-election of the current incumbents.
The three new Vice-Presidents of the Society are Dame Elan Closs Stephens, Acting Chair of the BBC; Professor Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and Governance at Cardiff University; and Elinor Bennett OBE, Lady Wigley, who is one of Wales’ most distinguished musicians.
Commenting on the election, Professor Sir Deian Hopkin, the President of the Cymmrodorion, said: “I am delighted to welcome our three new Vice-Presidents, each of whom has made a distinguished contribution to the development of Wales and wider society.
“We look forward to working with them, and the continuing Vice-Presidents, to enable the Cymmrodorion to continue to reach out to new audiences and engage with the issues which matter to the Wales of today.
“This is an enduring mission that has guided the Cymmrodorion since its foundation in 1753 and will continue to be our core focus in the years ahead.”
The full list of Vice-Presidents can be found on the Society’s website.
Notes to editors
Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE FSLW the Pro-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University and Professor Emerita of Communications and Creative Industry. Dame Elan has held many prominent public roles and is currently the Electoral Commissioner for Wales and Chair of UNESCO’s jury for the International Prize for the Creative Economy and on 2 June 2023 it was announced that she has been appointed Acting Chair of the BBC Board, of which she has been the member for Wales since 2017.
Professor Laura McAllister CBE FSLW is Professor of Public Policy and Governance at Cardiff University and co-chair of the Independent Constitutional Commission on Wales. Laura is also a renowned sportswoman having been Captain of the Wales women’s national football team, Chair of Sports Wales, and Football Team and in April 2023 was elected Vice-President of UEFA, the first person from Wales to serve on its Executive.
Elinor Bennett OBE, Lady Wigley, is one of Wales’ most distinguished musicians with an international reputation as a harpist, both as soloist and as an instructor, as well as being the founder of the Harp College of Wales and musical director of the international Harp Festival. While her performances and recordings have largely been in classical music, she has also performed with some of Wales’ most prominent figures in rock music.
Contact
Deian Hopkin / Theo Davies-Lewis
+44 7513 132258