Key
interests and achievements
David is a strong
advocate for good relationships between workers and their employers and as such
believes that trade unions have an important role in supporting working
people. He is a member of both Unite and
Unison and was previously also a member of the Universities and Colleges Union
during his educational career. His academic interest in the application of
computing led him to become a member of the British Computer Society and a
Chartered Engineer during his time as an academic.
His political
interests include the future of manufacturing in Wales, the provision of health
services, education, economic development & regeneration including the
opening up of more tourism opportunities within the South Wales valleys and
improving public services within local communities.
Personal history
David Rees is a
native of Aberavon and was educated in local primary and comprehensive schools.
Upon completing his A-levels he attended University College Cardiff (now
Cardiff University) for both his undergraduate studies and his PGCE. He has
always lived in Port Talbot and now lives in Cwmafan, Port Talbot, with his
wife. They have two adult daughters, both of whom attended local Welsh medium
schools, and five grandchildren.
David has an honours
degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from Cardiff University, as well
as a post-graduate teaching qualification and a master’s degree in Computer
Science.
Professional
background
David started his
education career as a teacher of mathematics and computer science in Cynffig
Comprehensive School, Kenfig Hill, before becoming a lecturer in computing at
Afan College. He then moved into higher education as a senior lecturer in
Computing and prior to his election to the National Assembly in 2011 he had
progressed his career to become an Assistant Dean of Faculty at Swansea
Metropolitan University (now part of UWTSD).
During his time at Swansea Metropolitan University, David was chair of
the Joint trade union committee and a lay member of the Welsh regional
committee of UCU (NATFHE) representing members across the institution.
David has
continually shown an interest in educational governance and has been a staff
governor at Swansea Institute of HE (as it was known then) and Afan College (as
it was known then) plus a parent governor at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera.
Political history
David was first
elected to the National Assembly for Wales as the Labour Assembly Member for Aberavon
in 2011, succeeding Dr Brian Gibbons. During the fourth Assembly term David
chaired the Health & Social Care Committee and also sat on the Enterprise
& Business Committee, the Environment Committee and the Children, Young
People & Education Committee. He
also chaired cross party groups (CPGs) on Science & Technology, Mental
Health and Industrial Communities.
In 2016, David was
re-elected to represent Aberavon in the Senedd.
During the fifth Senedd, David chaired the External Affairs &
Additional Legislative committee and also sat on the Finance Committee, the
Health, Social Care & Sport Committee and the committee for the Scrutiny of
the First Minister. He continued to
chair the CPGs on STEMM and Mental Health and also chaired CPGs on STEEL,
Nursing & Midwifery and Cancer, whilst being a member of several others.
In 2021, David was
once again re-elected to represent his home town in the sixth Senedd, and was
subsequently elected as Deputy Presiding Officer.
Since joining the
Labour party in 1982 he has held a number of positions within the Labour Party
in Wales, as well as in his trade unions.
Before being
selected to represent his home constituency in 2011, David was the Labour
Party’s candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire in the 2003 National Assembly
election and a list candidate for South Wales West in the 2007 election.
Register of
Interests
Register of Interests – Fifth Senedd
(PDF, 3.25MB)
Register of Interests – Fourth Assembly
(PDF, 850kb)
