has a track record in Community Development work within the Third Sector in a range of settings and at all levels since 1979. In addition she has extensive experience of Adult Education, Learning and Training as a facilitator, moderator, assessor, advisor and verifier within accredited and non accredited learning programmes in communities, organisations and learning institutions. She has worked within disadvantages welsh valley communities as a generic practitioner witnessing first hand the transformative effects of community development interventions on an individual and community level. She has held senior management positions within organisations as well as undertaking consultancy work for a range of organisations across the sectors. She was instrumental in establishing and securing funding for an all Wales National Organisation for Community Development and currently represents the Community Development field at Ministerial levels across Government Departments. She is also an adviser to Community Development organisations outside Wales and is a much sought after speaker in anti-poverty work and issues around social justice. She is currently Chief Executive of Community Development Cymru. She is co-author of "Community Development in the South Wales Valleys" published by Cardiff University Press and was awarded an MBE for her services to Community Development and Social Inclusion in Wales in 2003.

‘Duplication is the language and practice of the past’

Community Development Cymru has recognised that public spending pressures means that the way the third sector operates has to change. Here’s how it took steps to reduce its reliance on public sector funding