Nerys Evans MS

Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health

Key Interests and achievements

Nerys Evans MS was elected to represent Sir Gaerfyrddin in 2026, and was appointed as the first Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative health in May 2026.

Personal history

Raised in Llangain, she attended Ysgol Llangain and Ysgol Bro Myrddin and graduated from the University of Manchester and Cardiff University.

Professional background

She has held several ministerial and public appointments, including serving as a Member of the Williams Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, Education Commissioner, and on Ofcom’s’ Advisory Committee for Wales. She has also served as a NED on the FUW board. She led on policy for a Cancer Charity, supporting their work and engagement with LHBs across Wales and established and grew a successful public affairs agency – working with a range of organisations across the third, public and private sector on developing public policy and campaigning.

Political history

She was first elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 2007 and served for one term as a regional Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales during the One Wales coalition where she worked as the link between Ministers and backbenchers. She was the Plaid Cymru Education spokesperson and worked with the Government to deliver the first Welsh Language Education Strategy and the Coleg Cenedlaethol. She also chaired the Broadcasting committee, and the cross party group on Broadband – making the case for investment in rural communities.  During that time she campaigned to raise awareness of Violence against Women, and won the ITV Campaigner of the Year in 2008.