Gwenda Thomas was a Member of the National Assembly for
Wales between May 1999 and April 2016. This was her biography at the time she
left.
Personal history
Gwenda Thomas was born in Neath and educated at Pontardawe Grammar
School. She is married with one son and is a former community and county
councillor.
Professional
background
Gwenda was previously a civil servant,
having served in the County Courts branch of the then Lord Chancellor's
Department as an Executive Officer, and then at the Benefits Agency.
She represented her home village of Gwaun
Cae Gurwen as both a community and county councillor for many years. She was
appointed Chair of the Social Services Committees of West Glamorgan County
Council and, following local government reorganisation, of Neath Port
Talbot County Borough Council - becoming the first woman to chair a major committee.
Until her ministerial appointment in 2007,
Gwenda was Chair of the Governing Body of Ysgol Gynradd Gwaun Cae Gurwen
Primary School.
Political
history
Gwenda was first elected to the
Assembly in May 1999. During her career as an Assembly Member, she has served
as Chair of the Housing Committee, Chair of the Assembly’s Equality of
Opportunity Committee, chaired a review into Safeguarding Vulnerable Children
in Wales and has been Deputy Minister for Social Services.
Her interests include health, social
services, children’s issues, local government and the voluntary sector.
Video
biography
Register of
Interests
Register of Interests – Fourth Assembly (PDF,
850kb)
Register of Interests – Third Assembly (PDF,
490kb)
Register of Interests – Second Assembly (PDF,
361kb)
Register of Interests – First Assembly (PDF,
268kb)
