Personal history
Huw is married to Joanna Irranca-Davies (they combined their
surnames Davies and Irranca on marrying, becoming Irranca-Davies). They have
three sons, and are all proud of their Welsh and Italian family roots. Born
into a strong Labour Party family, he has long been a grass-roots campaigner
and active in community regeneration.
Born in 1963, he is an alumni of Gowerton Comprehensive
School, Crewe and Alsager College (BA Hons), and Swansea Institute of Higher
Education (MSc).
A keen walker (Vice-President of Ramblers Cymru) and
“everyday cyclist on a sit-up-and-beg-bike”, he also relaxes watching his sons
playing rugby or reading historical novels (and never anything political!).
Professional background
Huw Irranca-Davies worked in public and private sector
management and as a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education before entering
politics. In February 2002 he was elected as the Labour MP for Ogmore in a
parliamentary by-election, a seat which he held until 2016 when he was duly
elected as the Assembly Member for Ogmore at the National Assembly for Wales.
Political history
Huw was elected as Labour MP
for Ogmore in 2002. Huw served as
Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers in DWP, Northern Ireland and DCMS,
as a Government Whip, as Under-Secretary of State for Wales; and as Environment
Minister.
From 2010 he served as Shadow
Energy Minister, and then as Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Rural
Affairs. In May 2015, he was elected as the Chair of the Environmental Audit
Committee, a position held till May 2016 when he was elected to the National
Assembly of Wales – now Senedd Cymru.
In the Fifth Senedd he
initially served as the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs
Committee before becoming the Minister for Social Services and Children, then
at the request of the First Minister became Chair of the Regional Investment Wales
Steering Group, the European Advisory Group and the PMC committee overseeing
the spending of EU funding streams in Wales.
He is currently Chair of the
Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and a member of the Climate
Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Chair of the Strategic Forum
for Regional Investment in Wales and Chaired the Special Purpose committee on
Senedd Reform. Huw is also Chair, Vice Chair and member of 25 Cross Party
Groups.
