Dr Andrew Cornish
Dr Cornish is currently Principal and Chief Executive Officer for Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion, part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Group.
He began his education at Maesteg Comprehensive School where he studied A-levels before progressing to study an honours degree in physics at University of Liverpool and then a PhD in physics at Cardiff University. He is a member of the Institute of Physics (CPhys MinstP) and has worked as a peer assessor for Estyn for nearly 20 years, assessing the standards of other further education colleges in Wales.
As Principal, he is a member of Public Service Boards (PSBs) in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion and sits on the Board of the Llanellli Wellness Village. He represents both Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion through Colegau Cymru, an umbrella organisation that represents all Further Education Colleges in Wales. He has worked in Further Education for over 25 years, holding a wide range of teaching, management and leadership posts in that time.
Huw Davies
BA FCA
Born in Llanelli, and a fluent Welsh speaker, Huw attended Ysgol Gyfun y Strade before gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Accounting & Finance from Bristol Business School. Deciding to continue his career in finance, Huw qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Bevan & Buckland in Swansea before joining KPMG in Bristol. After four years as an Audit Manager with KPMG, Huw moved into industry becoming the Senior Financial Controller for the South West of England and Wales for FTSE 250 Company WS Atkins plc “Atkins”.
After a secondment to Qatar, he was promoted to Senior Financial Controller – South of the UK for the Design & Engineering arm of Atkins, before deciding on returning to his roots and joining Llanelli RFC Ltd “the Scarlets” as their Head of Finance and Company Secretary, prior to their move to a new stadium in July 2008.
In 2012, Huw set up his own private consultancy business taking up Financial Directorship roles with a number of SMEs throughout South Wales.
Huw’s experience in both small and large practice, and varying challenging commercial roles in industry have resulted in a completely open and robust outlook on all aspects of business.
Delwyn Jones
Board Member
Delwyn has been a Partner/Director of T.A.D. Builders since its inception in 1976 following attendance at the former technical college in Llanelli where he firstly studied OND in Business Studies then ONC & H.Tec in Construction. Having been born and bred in West Wales Delwyn has always lived in Llanelli and surrounding area.
As Commercial Director of T.A.D. with over 40 years’ experience in the building construction and maintenance industry, Delwyn has been involved in all schemes from initial enquiry stage to final completion, including overseeing maintenance contracts. Delwyn currently sits on a number of organisations at board level or in an advisory capacity.
Paul Jones
Executive Head teacher - Bryngwyn & Glan y Mor Federation
Educated at Cowbridge Grammar School before completing a Geography Degree in Swansea University in 1982 and a PGCE in 1983. Initially a Head of Geography at Penyrheol Compehensive Swansea before assuming the role of Director of Finance and Resources at Gorseinon Further Education College from 1990-96. In 1997 he became the College’s Academic Registrar.
After obtaining a Masters degree in Education in 1996 and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2002 he moved to Bryngwyn Comprehensive in Llanelli 2003 initially as a Deputy Head teacher, then Head teacher and latterly the Executive Head teacher of the Bryngwyn & Glan y Mor federation of schools in 2014. During 2007-2009 he was seconded to Carmarthenshire Education Authority responsible for developing the 14-19 Curriculum.
He has been a Peer inspector with Estyn for 25 years and is currently a member of the national Estyn/OECD steering group for School Improvement.
Janet Morgan
MSc, BA (Hons) Cert Ed,FETC, OATA (Staff Associate Board Member)
Janet moved into education in 1998 having been an employer and work placement provider for Coleg Sir Gar in the field of Animal Science. She has in the past twenty one years taught and managed Further Education Animal Science courses at all levels and developed the Higher Education provision in this field to add to the college portfolio the Foundation Degree in Animal Science, The BSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and most recently the on-line internationally available Higher Education Certificate in Animal Science.
Janet has previously held the role of Staff representative to the Corporate Board and a director of Coleg Sir Gar / Coleg Ceredigion between 2016 - 2018 and is currently an associate director and staff representative to the Learner, Curriculum and Skills Advisory Board. Janet's current post is of Head of Section in the Faculty of Visitor Economy and Animal Science and is engaged in research into developing student self-efficacy and resilience as part of her Professional Doctorate studies.
John Edge
MA BSc, Board Member
Born in Norfolk, John studied at Rugby School and then at Christ Church Oxford and has an MA in Law. His main career has been in international business consultancy, working widely for various organisations – for example in 1981 he set up a specialist consultancy for the Financial Times, where he was Managing Consultant.
He then moved to NFC in 1984 (later an FTSE 100 company - now owned by Deutsche Post, and a main part of ‘new’ DHL) Here he was the international development director, and then head of acquisitions, tasked to lead the expansion of the company outside the UK across 6 continents. Later John returned to international consultancy in 1998 to enable him to move his home to Ceredigion, and also took a further degree in Environmental Science from the OU to explore ecology issues.
His home is very much now in Wales and Ceredigion, where he takes a wide interest in supporting many local organisations, and international projects in educational and conservation.
Maria Stedman
Chair of the Board
Maria has served as a Governor and Council Member during the significant transformational change undertaken by the former Trinity College Carmarthen to become the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She is currently Vice Chair of the UWTSD Council.
Prior to her current role as Chair of both Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion, Maria was one of the University’s representatives on both Boards until 2017.
She has also served as a School Governor and Chair of Governors ay Ysgol y Dderwen, Carmarthen; Treasurer of International Celtic Film Festival; founder board member and treasurer of Dr M’z youth drop-in centre, Carmarthen; and, between 2012-2014, as a lay member of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Welsh Language Commissioner.
Rosemary Pritchard
B.Sc., Vice-Chair of the Board
Rosemary grew up in Wigan, Lancashire, attending Wigan Girls’ High School before moving on to Bristol University where she gained a B.Sc. Honours Degree in Mathematics. Staying on in Bristol after graduation, she began work in the insurance industry.
After she met her husband, also working in the same field, they set up their own insurance broking and financial services business based in Ammanford and Llandeilo. The business was eventually sold in 2001 after 26 years, and Rosemary was subsequently appointed Project Manager for the Dyscovery Centre, a multi-disciplinary Centre for people with learning difficulties, and part of the University of South Wales.
Alongside her work, Rosemary also volunteered for several years as a basic skills tutor with adult groups in Carmarthen, with a focus on mathematics and numeracy.
She was appointed to the Board of Coleg Sir Gar in November 2010 and subsequently appointed as a Director of Coleg Sir Gar Ltd. and then a Vice-chair of the governing body in January 2018.
Hywel Jones
Board Member
Hywel Jones is the longest serving member of the Corporate Board at Coleg Sir Gar having joined the Board in June 1992. Has served periods as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board over the years and was made a Fellow of the College in July 2008. A fluent Welsh speaker. Had a successful career in the Manufacturing Industry having been promoted to a Senior Management role at an early age and was heavily involved in the Management Buy Out of Llanelli Radiators in the early 1980s and subsequent sale to Calsonic Kansei in 1989.
Outside interests included Chair of Careers Wales West in 2001 which followed the merger of Dyfed Careers Company, West Glamorgan Careers Company and Education/Business Partnership at that time. Following retirement in 2003 was Chief Executive and Chair of Careers Wales Association.
Geraint Roberts
Chair of Standards Committee, Board Member
Geraint lives in Cwmffrwd near Carmarthen.
Geraint was born and bred in the Aberystwyth area and he attended University College Swansea, graduating in Geography. He was innovative with regard to teaching his subject through the medium of Welsh from the very beginning in the Gwendraeth Valley, then as a deputy head in Lampeter and as head of Ysgol Y Strade, Llanelli. Then he worked for Carmarthenshire County Council and he continues to work freelance in the area of education. He has a Master of Education degree from Aberystwyth University. He’s a member of the Council of Trinity St.David’s University
His main interest is writing Welsh poetry and he has edited two volumes of poetry. Geraint enjoys all sorts of sport, he is a fervent supporter of the Scarlets rugby team and he enjoys playing golf and walking.
Bryony Evett-Hackfort
Staff Board Member (Coleg Sir Gar)
Bryony grew up in Malmesbury, Wiltshire and moved to Carmarthenshire in 2001 to attend UWTSD. In 2004, Bryony graduated with BA Hons Degree in Theatre Studies and Theatre Design and Production. After completing her studies, she worked as a freelance and associate director with multiple in-house and touring theatre companies based in Wales. Later Bryony went on to found the Coracle Theatre Company, a youth and professional company focussed on Physical Theatre.
In 2006, Bryony joined the Performing Arts teaching team where she remained and later led the team until March 2018. In 2018, Bryony became the Teaching and Learning Manager for both Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion. Bryony feels privileged to be in this role and to spend so much time working with incredible staff who are driven to support the learners and achieve excellence.