The National Assembly for Wales’s Presiding Officer has officially been invested as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
She was awarded the honour for Political and Public Services to Women and Democracy.
“It’s a great honour to go to Buckingham Palace and be recognised for the work you have done,” Dame Rosemary said.
“But this award isn’t just about my work; it’s also for the people who have worked with me and for me over the many years that I have been in frontline politics.
“The honour is also for my family who have lovingly encouraged me to get involved in public life and try to change things for the better.
“It is also recognition of my Women in Public Life campaign which I hope will encourage more women in Wales to enter public office and ensure that women’s voices are heard in the decision-making process.”
The Presiding Officer has dedicated four decades to public life, including as Newport West’s first Assembly Member since 1999. She has served Wales as Minister for pre-16 Education and Children, Chair of the Assembly’s Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee and Presiding Officer.
Her work to encourage women into public life has included founding Newport Women’s Forum, which provides a bursary to help empower women and give them confidence to achieve their goals.
Since being elected Presiding Officer in 2011she has put the issue of barriers to women firmly at the top of the political agenda through her “Women in Public Life Campaign” #POWiPL.
It’s a campaign that saw the Presiding Officer named Devolved Parliament or Assembly Member of the Year, at the annual Women in Public Life awards in London.
Under Dame Rosemary’s leadership, the National Assembly has become an exemplar in promoting equality and valuing diversity, achieving national recognition on several fronts, including being named in The Times Top 50 Employers of Women in the UK.
