People of the Senedd

Rhys ab Owen MS

Rhys ab Owen MS

Senedd Regional Member

Independent Member

Not affiliated to a Political Group

South Wales Central

My Senedd Activities

Thank you, Minister. I like the three Cs, and I'm sure that this was entirely intentional, but the three Cs work in Welsh too: cydlafurio, cydweithio and cymuned. But could I be so bold a...

Plenary | 15/10/2024

As Delyth Jewell reminded us, history is important, and it was one of Cardiff's busy docks that was on this site—a doc that was opened to take the coal that went to all four corners of th...

Plenary | 15/10/2024

since they were 17 years old, then it's very difficult to break the habit, even if you've moved to an area where there is better public transport. By offering free public transport to our...

Plenary | 09/10/2024

There are several reasons why I support this principle today, but this afternoon I'd like to focus on two in particular. First, as Peredur said, we have to change people's habits. Psychol...

Plenary | 09/10/2024

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I have a cousin, as it happens, who was in the same year as you in school in Carmarthen, and although his parents speak Welsh—I don't have any stories—but al...

Plenary | 09/10/2024

When does the Cabinet Secretary expect the fire and rescue authorities in Wales to act on the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor and Inspector for Wales’s findings?

Tabled on 09/10/2024

More information and calendar events

Detailed information: Rhys ab Owen MS

Biography

Key interests and achievements

Rhys's main interests are constitutional affairs, taking action on the climate emergency, eradicating child poverty and ensuring a better life for families and those affected by dementia. He also takes a keen interest in the local history of Cardiff, the Welsh language along with legal and justice matters.

Personal history

Rhys was born and raised in Cardiff where he attended Ysgol Glantaf. He studied law at Oxford University and completed his Bar course at Cardiff University. He was awarded the Pantyfedwen Scholarship.

Rhys lives in Cardiff with his wife and their daughter.

Professional background

Prior to his election,  Rhys worked as a barrister for Iscoed Chambers, Swansea. He has practiced as a barrister since 2010.

He was appointed a First Tier Tribunal Judge in the Social Entitlement Chamber (2019 -2021)

He sat on the Advisory board of the Wales Governance Centre Justice and Jurisdiction project, was a Panel Member Welsh Government Public Law Scheme and a Law Lecturer at Swansea University from 2014-2019.

In 2018-19, Rhys undertook work with the Welsh Government as Head of Policy for the Commission on Justice in Wales chaired by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, former Chief Justice of England and Wales.

Political history

In 2017, Rhys stood in the Cardiff Council election in the Canton ward, where he increased the Plaid Cymru vote from 910 to 2,105.

Since being elected, to the Senedd he has led and supported a number of prominent campaigns, such as calling for justice for those living in high rise flats in Cardiff Bay, a decent pension for 1950s born women and campaigned for a National Care System for Wales to complement the Welsh National Health Service.

Cross Party Membership

Rhys was elected chair of the cross party group on dementia on Wednesday 10 November 2021, with Jayne Bryant MS elected as deputy.

Membership

Terms of office

  1. 08/05/2021 -

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Cross Party Membership

Elections

Media Assets

Calendar events: Rhys ab Owen MS