The Board of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the Coleg) has appointed Ann Beynon as Chair while the process of appointing a permanent chair is being completed.
She will succeed Dr Aled Eirug, whose term of service ended on 31 August 2026.
Ann is a familiar face in Welsh public life and has worked in many fields including business, higher education and broadcasting. She in an experienced board chair in the public and private sectors and specialises in leadership, governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Ann was Director of BT in Wales before she retired in 2015. Prior to that, she was Director of Business Development for the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and Head of Politics and International Affairs at S4C. She was also the Wales Commissioner of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights between 2010 and 2016.
Ann has undertaken a number of governance roles including as member of the Coleg Board since 2021, independent advisor to the National Assembly for Wales (2018-2022), and member of the Board of the water company Hafren Dyfrdwy (2018-2024). She is currently Chair and Non-Executive Director of the Farmers' Union of Wales insurance company. During the nineties, she was a member of the Welsh Language Board, and in 1999-2000 was a member of the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords. She has also been a member of Bangor University's Council (2007-2010).
Ann graduated with a first class degree in Welsh from Bangor University. She was the first woman to be elected President of the Students' Union and contributed to the establishment of UCMC / NUS Wales.
Ann said:
"I'm thrilled to be appointed interim Chair of the Coleg Board. It's an exciting time to be leading the organisation as it reflects on and celebrates the successes of its first fifteen years.
"The Coleg's contribution to ensuring a greater number of confident Welsh speakers and increasing the use of Welsh in the workplace across various sectors is key to the success of the Welsh Government's national language strategy, Cymraeg 2050. I look forward to working with other trustees, staff and partners to build on the successes of the first fifteen years and to support the Coleg to move forward into the next period with confidence."
Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg, said:
“I welcome Ann's appointment as interim Chair of the Coleg Board. Her appointment will be an asset to the Coleg in the exciting times ahead of us.
"On behalf of Board members, officers and all those associated with the Coleg, I would like to thank Dr Aled Eirug for his service as Chair since 2022. During Aled's time as Chair, the Coleg was designated (under the Tertiary Education and Research Act 2022) to advise Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, on its statutory duties in relation to Welsh. This is one of the most significant developments in the history of the Coleg. At Aled's last Board meeting as Chair, a new Strategic Plan was approved which, following consultation, will be launched in the autumn. We wish Aled well in the future.”
The Coleg is currently advertising for more members to join the Board, and details of these opportunities are available on the Coleg's website