Cross Party Group Annual Report 2022 – 2023

Cross Party Group on Wales International

 

1.     Group membership and office holders:

Heledd Fychan MS – Chair

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS

Alun Davies MS

John Griffiths MS

Darren Miller MS

Secretariat – Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales

 

2.     Previous Group Meetings since the last AGM.

Meeting 1

Meeting Date: Wednesday 8th of March 2023

Attendees:

Heledd Fychan MS

Chair

Rhun ap Iorweth MS

 

Huw Irranca Davies MS

 

Jane Dodds MS

 

Ruth Cocks

British Council

Rebecca Gould

British Council

James Hampson

British Council

Ian Gwyn Hughes

FAW

Mali Thomas

Urdd

Haleema Khan

Plaid Cymru Support Staff

Brooke Webb

Heledd Fychan Support Staff

Mathilda Manley

British Council

Tracey Marenghi

Global Wales

Matt Eades

Welsh Conservatives

Brian Davies

Sport Wales

Owen Hathaway

Sport Wales

Lleucu Siencyn

Arts Council of Wales

Nick Davies

Producer of Gwyl Cymru

Eluned Haf

Wales Arts International

Susie Ventris-Field

Welsh Centre for International Affairs

Susana Galván

Taith

Hayley Richards

Welsh Centre for International Affairs

This list may not reflect the full attendance of the meeting as some joined online and were unable to be noted down – Please contact Brooke.webb@senedd.cymru with any corrections.

 

Summary of issues discussed:

Presentations and updates were given by James Hampson (British Council) Ian Gwyn Hughes (FAW) and Eluned Haf (Wales Arts International) about Wales’ participation in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the impact in showcasing Wales on the world stage. An update was also given by Jane Dodds MS on Wales’s Response to the ongoing situation in Iran.

Meeting 2

Meeting Date: Wednesday 17th of May 2023

Attendees:

Heledd Fychan MS

Chair

Luke Fletcher MS

 

Alun Davies MS

 

Ruth Cocks

British Council Wales

Mathilda Manley

British Council Wales

Brooke Webb

Heledd Fychan MS support Staff

Nguyen Hoang Long

Ambassador of Viet Nam to the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

Maija Evans

British Council Wales

Rebecca Gould

British Council Wales

Alexandra Buchler 

UWTSD

Keiron Rees

Global Wales Unis Wales

Sarah Moran

Researcher, Senedd

Elin Jones

UWTSD

Ian Cooke Tapia

Cooked Illustrations

Rob Humphreys

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

Susana Galvan Hernandez

Taith

Sarah Horner

Hijinx

Richard Huw Morgan

Good Cop / Bad Cop

Laura Fergusson

Global Wales

Richard Davies

Parthian

This list may not reflect the full attendance of the meeting as some joined online and were unable to be noted down – Please contact Brooke.webb@senedd.cymru with any corrections.

 

Summary of issues discussed:

As part of the 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations celebrations between UK and Vietnam, we look at the lessons and opportunities arising from a continued and concerted effort of international cross sector engagement using the Wales-Vietnam long standing partnership as a case study. The Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, HE Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long was also in attendance to listen to the discussion. Speakers included Rob Humphreys from Global Wales, Rebecca Gould Head of Arts, British Council Wales and Richard Davies publishing Director, Parthian

Annual General Meeting

Members reelected Heledd Fychan MS as chair of the Wales International Cross-Party Group and the British Council were reconfirmed as Secretariat for the year.

 

Meeting 3

Meeting Date: Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Please note that this meeting was cancelled due to diary conflicts.

 

3. Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities with whom the Group has met during the preceding year

None, but stakeholders from the organisations (listed above) have attended the Cross-Party Group meetings.

Annual Financial Statement

Cross Party Group on Wales International

Chair – Heledd Fychan MS

Secretary – Ruth Cocks, British Council

Group’s Expenses

None

£0.00

Costs of all goods

No goods purchased.

£0.00

Benefits received by the group or individual members from outside bodies

No benefits received.

£0.00

Any secretariat or other support

No financial support received.

£0.00

 

Services provided to the group such as hospitality.

All refreshments paid for by:  no refreshments provided

Paid for by the British Council Wales

 

Date

Description and name of provider

Cost

 

None

£0.00

 

Total cost

£0.00