Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS

Main interests and achievements

Elin lives in Aberystwyth and enjoys music, movies and reading. She is a member of Côr ABC in Aberystwyth, and has also been a member of the group Cwlwm. In 2009, Elin won the Farmers Weekly British Farming Champion award in addition to the Assembly Member of the Year award.

Personal history

Elin was born in 1966 and grew up on a farm in Llanwnnen, near Lampeter.  She attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter Secondary School. After receiving a BSc in Economics from the University of Cardiff, she was awarded an MSc in Rural Economics from the University of Aberystwyth.

Professional background

Elin has worked as Economic Development Officer for the Rural Wales Development Board. She has also been a director with Radio Ceredigion and the television production company Wes Glei Ltd.

Elin was a member of Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992 until 1999 and she was the youngest Mayor of Aberystwyth during the 1997-98 term. Elin was National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.

Political history

Elin is the Llywydd of the Welsh Parliament.

She was elected to the Assembly in May 1999 and, in the first term of the Assembly, was Shadow Minister for Economic Development. Following the Assembly election in 2003, she managed retained this portfolio until 2006, when she became Shadow Minister for the Environment, Planning and Countryside. On 9 July 2007, the One Wales Government was formed and Elin was appointed Minister for Rural Affairs.