Chambers Wales strengthens board with eight new advisory appointments

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid has appointed eight senior business figures to advisory roles on its board, as the organisation looks to strengthen policy development and support economic growth across Wales.

The voluntary appointments bring expertise from sectors including international trade, finance, law, sustainability, education and social value, with the new members tasked with helping shape policy priorities and deepen engagement with the Welsh business community.

Leading the new intake is Dr Fiona Withey, who joins as International Trade Chair.

Dr Withey is co-founder and former Chief Executive of TrakCel, a software provider serving companies in the gene and cell therapy supply chain, and brings more than 30 years’ leadership experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

She also serves as chair of Medi Wales and has extensive experience in export and international trade.

Rhys Williams has been named Policy Chair. As Regional Director for NatWest Cymru, he has played a key role in political engagement for the bank and maintains strong links across Wales’ business landscape.

In the role, he will support the development of a senior leaders’ network while advising on policy issues affecting members.

Lucy Bulley joins as Business Growth Chair, bringing experience in founding, scaling and selling multiple businesses.

A commercial growth consultant, she previously served as Programme Director for the 2025 FinTech Wales Foundry and is expected to focus on supporting Welsh startups and scaling firms.

Emma Waddingham, Founder and Editor of Legal News Wales and the first non-lawyer president of the Cardiff and District Law Society, takes on the role of Business Networking Chair, where she will support collaboration and engagement among members. Emma is also a Businessin Wales columnist.

John Cullen has been appointed Social Value Chair. A partner at accountancy firm Menzies, working within its restructuring and insolvency team, he leads the firm’s UK-wide equity, inclusion and social value initiatives and will help guide policy aimed at strengthening community and social impact among member businesses.

Jessica Leigh Jones MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of iungo Solutions, joins as Skills and Education Chair.

An inventor and engineer who has held senior advisory positions including roles with the Institute of Apprenticeships and the Engineering Education Scheme Wales, she will help shape the Chamber’s work on education-to-employment pathways.

Louise Dow becomes Construction and Sustainability Chair. As Business Lead for Wales and the South West at environmental and sustainability consultancy SLR, she brings technical expertise in construction and infrastructure and will support policy work relating to housing, planning and sustainability.

Tom Wilkinson joins as Not for Profit Chair. Chair of YMCA Cardiff and Operations Director at housing association Barcud, as well as a risk and governance specialist at Astari, he will focus on strengthening collaboration between public, private and third-sector organisations.

In addition to their advisory responsibilities, Dr Withey, Lucy Bulley, Emma Waddingham and John Cullen have also been appointed as non-executive directors to the Chamber’s board.

Existing board members, including Acuity Law partner Rachelle Sellek, Bevan Buckland partner Harri Lloyd-Davies and Liz Maher OBE, will continue in their roles.

Liz Maher OBE, a past President of the Chamber, said: “The Chambers Wales team directly connect across all sectors that seek to promote success in Wales, for all in Wales, those that look to start a business, those that want to grow their businesses and those that look to provide the training to ensure Wales has a community with the requisite skills to achieve success.

“The ability to attract such an amazing cohort of such experienced people to help guide Chamber policy in our support of members is evidence of the depth of expertise and diversity of sector experience we have in Wales.

“It’s a delight to welcome them and to thank them as well for their commitment as volunteers, in supporting our continued focus, as a Chamber of Commerce, to the success of Wales as an economy and community.”

Chief executive Gus Williams said: “We have put together a strong team and I’m excited about how we can really help to support business growth and economic development in Wales.

“The expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm they bring is second to none.

“Add that to the experience and commitment we already have from our incumbent board members, and I believe we house the perfect combination to serve our members and champion Welsh businesses, big and small.”