Iwan Thomas Email & Phone Number

Carmarthen, Gb

Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Gb

Appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for PLANED, I am fortunate to now be leading, a more talented and committed organisation than when I joined. With a team that now can now appropriately deploy their fantastic skills , with the right support in place, PLANED is more forward looking, collectively work with geographic communities, and communities of interest, to identify, develop and implement sustainable projects that improve the wellbeing of localities with a focus on long-term, integrated, collaborative actions and solutions.With a new organisational Vision document published in 2022 "Empowering Communities / Grymuso Cymunedau", our forward work programme across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire & Ceredigion is clear, in that our support for working with communities is built on collaboration, communication, and commercial sustainability for those innovative community projects based on our four themes of focus.

Cardiff, Gb

Carmarthen, Gb

Appointed by Welsh Government as an Independent Board Member specifically for the Third Sector via work through PLANED

Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Gb

Board Member of the new DMO - Visit Pembrokeshire, which replaced the previous 'Pembrokeshire Tourism' trade body.

Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Gb

Governor / Member of the Corporation Board for the College

Wrexham, Wales, Gb

Since 2015, I was Chair of the Board of Directors of 'North Wales Science' which was responsible for overseeing the running and management of Techniquest Glyndwr in Wrexham.As North Wales premier Science Discovery Centre, it works closely with its host and main sponsor, Wrexham Glyndwr University, and supports in excess of 70,000 visitors and participants annually.Providing outreach to schools across North Wales and into England, TQG enriches its delivery programme by developing links with local Industry to help make the science and technology relevant to other groups and individuals, whilst also working in partnership with industry and academia to promote STEM learning and promote commercial opportunities to further subsidise delivery.

Llandudno Junction, Conwy , Gb

Seconded by request from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB), to lead the skills and employment workstream of the Board, and initially coordinate the development of a single regional Skills and Employment Plan for North Wales. The Plan is aligned to the existing economic priorities agreed by partners across North Wales, and provides a context for strategic intervention and business planning, to improve further integration and coherence across the region.The Plan and the focused suite of targeted regional projects as its outcome, will influence and inform policies and resources; influence school curriculum and college course contents; and align with employer commercial needs aligned to skill developments and retention across North Wales.Engagement and support working in partnership with providers, beneficiaries, and employers across all priority sectors is a key component of this role. Amongst numerous deliverables and activities, this has included working with partners such as the Ministry of Justice and Lend Lease (Primary Contractors) on supporting the skills, employment, and community engagement on the North Wales Prison - HMP Berwyn at Wrexham; and currently Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey with companies such as Horizon Nuclear Power, and regional providers to collectively help develop and promote the skills needed both directly, and aligned to the commercial and partnership opportunities within the supply chains, to deliver this project once approved.As the official Welsh Government recognised Regional Skills Partnership for North Wales, working with partners we have delivered a clear focused suite of regional skills projects following successful applications for European funding, delivering in excess of £50million for the region.

Mold, Flintshire, Gb

One of the initial three new Board of Trustees invited to be a part of the reconfigured Theatr Clwyd Trust in the autumn of 2016, to work with the team at the Theatre and help promote its future expansion and outputs locally, regionally, and nationally, as one of the foremost producing theatres in Wales.

Member of the Advisory Board for the Regional Education Schools Consortia for North Wales with a role to promote the links between schools and industry via the promotion and alignment of skills demands within the regional economy

Returning to the Local Government Data Unit - Wales from my previous 2 year secondment as the Regional Coordinator for the Regional Learning Partnership for South West Wales.My role is to oversee the InfoBase Project which primarily incorporates a national online data and information system for Wales. InfoBaseCymru is a national online data tool, that is developed and supported in Wales, and has the ability publicly for all users, to access freely available information from a variety of national and local sources in one single point, within a single format, and to drill down further to genuinely local levels. Using fully interactive maps and tables, with the additional functionality of being able to export data and download specific report, InfoBaseCymru provides accessible and transparent information about Wales, for Wales, and is managed in Wales.My role also encompasses the support and management of the numerous local information systems the Data Unit manages on behalf of a number of local and regional partners across Wales.

Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Gb

The Regional Learning Partnership South West Wales (RLPSWW) is a transformational partnership bringing education and regeneration partners together to help provide a better future for learners and potential learners across the South West Wales region.Seconded as the RLP Co-ordinator in December 2009 from the Local Government Data Unit - Wales.I coordinated the implementation phase of the RLP and established its supporting structures. Notable achivements also included the management and delivery of the Regional Learning & Skills Observatory (RLSO) Pilot; the first annual RLP Event; raised awareness with local partnerships and networks and contributed to securing the Convergence funding for Priority 4. This initial secondment has now been extended to the end of the project, with me dividing my time between work regionally with the RLP and nationally, for the Local Government Data Unit - Wales. I provide continuity and expertise across all aspects of the RLP, working with partners and leading the continuing work on the further development of the RLSO amongst other aspects.

As the first Senior Improvment Consultant appointed within the Local Government Data Unit for Wales, I was responsible for providing consultancy to the local government sector, and its wider community partners across Wales, on a number of performance improvement themes and initiatives.Key outcomes of this role include the increased awareness and promotion of the transparent data agenda; accountable performance; supporting senior officers in the realisation of realistic and appropriate targets; assisting organisations in the adoption and understanding of common data and statistics to improve service delivery; and supporting the collaborative working agenda amongst multi-sector partners and organisations.From 2010 I was seconded to coordinate the implementation phase of the Regional Learning Partnership for South West Wales. The secondment was extended for over two years to support the work of the 30 plus multi sector partners within the region, and dividing my time between working regionally for the RLP, and nationally for Data Unit Wales.

Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Gb

Mba, Business Administration

Ba Hons, History

Bmus, Mus

Education record