We love helping people and organisations to think differently, to not do the same things better, but to do better thingsSo this might be helping with your strategy development, applying insight to a public policy environment, better understanding your impact and potential impact, developing knowledge around the Well-being of Future Generations Act and how to make it real.www.dotiau.orgRecent work includes:Wrexham Glyndŵr UniversityEnsuring that the University, within its Civic Mission, delivers research that transforms. This involves embedding research within the Civic Mission; building research capacity and capability across the University; developing connections and collaborations intra and inter-university wide; strategically position the University’s Civic Mission within a broader public policy context.Wales Centre for Public PolicySupporting the Centre to improve engagement with public services in Wales. Reviewing their public service stakeholders, networks, and relationships, their approach to stakeholder mapping, making recommendations to their operations, and delivering training to the team.Welsh GovernmentMaking sense of data in the Early Years Policy space by facilitating a workshop to agree a collective vision for Early Years, identify data synergies and alignments, identify conflicts and duplications, and identify action that can be taken to realise the vision. Producing a report of the discussion and actions.

The appointment of Visiting Professor within the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences enables me to collaborate with academics on mutual areas of research interest, and deliver a series of guest lectures to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

To provide strategic governance to the EAS, holding the Managing Director to account for delivering the agreed strategy, legislative and financial requirements and improving outcomes for learners across the five local authorities.To establish and maintain the vision, mission and values of the EAS.To challenge the thinking of the Managing Director and Senior Team to ensure that possibilities have been explored and that risk is managed effectively.To set and monitor finances and ensure that the Audit and Risk Committee is assured that the company is operating within the agreed budget parameters and in adherence with corporate governance regulations and law.To protect the public image of the EAS and ensure that it is held in high esteem.

Work with the Headteacher to set, monitor and evaluate the aims and objectives for the school.Agree policies, targets and priorities for achieving the objectives.Provide support and constructive advice to the Headteacher, acting as a critical friend.Be accountable for the school’s performance.KEY PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:Led the creation of a sector-leading Governance and Leadership framework for the Governing Body which articulates ‘what good looks like’ and allows evaluation, at an individual and collective level, of the effectiveness of the Governing Body.Created resources and guidance to support and ensure consistency of the work of the Governing Body.Created a skills and knowledge matrix for the Governing Body to assess what assets we have and the areas that we need to develop.

Leading and developing a programme of research, evaluation, insight and policy activity informing policy development, improving investment decisions, and promoting the case for sport and Sport Wales across a range of Government and other social policy agendas, to facilitate the delivery of better outcomes for Sport Wales, the Government, and society.Setting the long-term strategic direction of Sport Wales, and monitor, evaluate and performance manage the delivery of Sport Wales’ Business and Strategic Plans.Actively promoting and monitoring the delivery of the Equality strategy.Turning policy into strategy and action, and ensuring that delivery informs future policy development.Promoting effective practice through value learning and continuous improvement to maximise learning and knowledge transfer.Leading, developing, and motivating a multi-disciplinary, diverse insight team to deliver organisational outcomes and enabling staff to reach their potential.Effectively communicating with specialist policy-making, practitioner, and generalist audiences, developing enriching relationships between and across various sectors.Managing multi-million pound budgets.Being aware of and managing risks to Sport Wales.Upholding and exemplifying the values of Sport Wales: ambition; teamwork; and delivery.

The ‘A Healthier Wales’ goal, and practical implications for achieving it, are understood and acted on.Sport’s role in delivering well-being in Wales across all Goals is clear and well-communicated.The evidence ecosystem is understood, utilised and developed.There is mutual learning and capacity built within both organisations to deliver the Act.Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and the sport sector in Wales are better connected. Key Projects and Achievements:KEY PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:Have co-created, with a wide range of practitioners, academics, policy officials, and the general public, ‘Journeys to a Healthier Wales’. As key guidance for the Commissioner, public bodies and others, this maturity matrix shifts the narrative about what health means, and describes, illustrates and outlines the practical steps we all need to take to achieve a healthier Wales. The simple changes that I have articulated are currently being assessed and implemented by public bodies. Additionally, one of the themes within this, ‘seamless local health- related services organised around what matters to the individual citizen’ has instigated the Commissioner to explore what a National Wellness System for Wales could look like. Established a range of partnerships with higher education institutions ensuring access to existing and emergent evidence, collaboration on research bids, and shaping of the Commissioner’s future priorities. This includes a Memorandum of Understanding with Cardiff University, which both aligns to the Commissioner’s priorities and the University’s Civic Mission, and amongst other things, has levered in £30,000 worth of research.Connecting and supporting colleagues, Sport Wales is acting more sustainably and exhibiting leading practice.

Hafan Cymru is a Wales-based charitable housing association providing housing and support to men, women, children and young people, primarily working with those escaping domestic abuse.Jointly responsible for the decisions that affect the success of Hafan Cymru and the needs and aspirations of its service-users.Involved in establishing organisational values and strategic objectives to underpin the policies and operations of Hafan Cymru, including the Investors in People Framework.Ensure that Hafan Cymru meets its business plan obligations and commitments.Provide strategic direction for the organisation.Ensure Hafan Cymru’s financial viability; that it has a sound system of internal controls, maintains robust internal control, manages risk, and maintains an appropriate relationship with external auditors.Demonstrate leadership and ensure that Hafan Cymru embraces continuous improvement.KEY PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:Challenged conventional practices, and initiated different types of debate and scrutiny through thought leadership particularly on areas of policy, public affairs, and insight.Championed the need to evidence the impact of Hafan Cymru’s work and tie into Welsh Government’s policy agendas.Contributed to shaping the person specification of the CEO to achieve the future needs of the organisation and to fill any identifiable skills gaps.

The Wales Rural Observatory was established in 2003 and funded by Welsh Government to undertake independent research and analysis on social, economic and environmental issues in rural Wales in order to inform the Welsh Government’s rural policy development.As lead researcher for the social research activity, designed project methodologies, managed projects and budgets, undertook data collection, analysis, and policy evaluation, formulated policy recommendations, and authored evidence-based policy reports. KEY PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:Led on the following projects: ‘The Role of the Housing Market in Rural Wales’; ‘Homelessness in Rural Wales’; ‘Poverty & Social Exclusion in Rural Wales’; and ‘Survey of Rural Services in Wales’. These influenced the adoption of a more integrated evidence-based approach to rural policy development by the Welsh Government.

Founded in 1872, Aberystwyth was the first university institution in Wales, and has an international reputation for the excellence of its teaching and research.Played an instrumental role as Researcher on a Welsh Government-funded project reviewing the role, functions and future potential of Town and Community Councils in Wales.Recommendations from the research (known as the ‘Aberystwyth Report’) directly underpinned parts of the Local Government Measure (2011), encompassing changes to establishing and dissolving town and community councils, community meetings and polls, appointing youth representatives, and a power for Town and Community Councils to promote wellbeing in their area.KEY PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:Contributed to the change in legislation to enhance capacity to act and increase democratic accountability of both Town and Community Councils in Wales.Successfully encouraged wider citizen engagement in community governance and empowered Town and Community Councils to play a greater role in service delivery and community development.