Royal Society for the encouragement of
Arts, Manufactures & Commerce,
Wales & Western Region

Current Committee Officers:

Dr Eric Albone Chair Email: ericalbone@rsawaw.org Tel: 0117 924 7664 + fax Address: 49 Northumberland Road Bristol, BS6 7BA Biography: Eric Albone, MA, DPhil, PGCE, CChem, MRSC, FRSA is Director of Clifton Scientific Trust, a charity developing innovative partnerships between schools and scientists (including partnerships between Britain and Japan). Before this, he split his career between scientific research, publishing a seminal text in the field of mammalian semiochemistry, and education. He is member of Council of the British Association and Chair of their Bristol and Bath Branch. He was recipient of the 1993 Royal Society of Chemistry Award and Medal for Chemical Education, and is a member of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group. He is married with two grown-up sons.

Mr Rod Ashley Member (to 2010) (second term) Email: rodashley@rsawaw.org Tel: phone/fax 01792 207702 Address: Managing Partner, CATS (Consultancy and Training Services), Orchard Business Centre, Orchard St, Swansea SA1 5AS Biography: Roderic Ashley (Swansea) is married with two adult daughters and is Managing Partner in the CATS consultancy. Born in Bristol, Rod was a teacher / teacher-trainer, but has worked in education consultancy for eighteen years. Embracing the five strands of the RSA's mission, Rod's main professional focus is skills development and collaboration between learning providers to enhance learning and participation in society. He has written/co-written over 50 publications on education, management and employability. He is an Honorary Lecturer at Swansea University, a Trustee of the i-earn UK global education network; was formerly the CEO of the Welsh Secondary Schools Association and, for many years, Chair of Governors of Olchfa Comprehensive School and a Council Member of BBC Wales.

Mr John Bartlett Secretary Email: johnbartlett@rsawaw.org Tel: 01285-653478 Address: 23 Farm Court Daglingworth Cirencester, GL7 7AF Biography: John Bartlett has many years of experience as successful chairman of a variety of organisations and non-executive Directorships of Charitable Bodies. His career was in teaching and management and organisational posts in education, serving on governing bodies and as Chairman of Gloucestershire Education and many committees and sub-committees. He spent 20 years in local government representing his County on the ACC Education Committee, also the Cotswold District. An active Gold and Silversmith, he registered his "mark" at Birmingham in 1962 and in London in 1965, lecturing and teaching in Adult and Continuing Education. He is active in voluntary work locally.

Mr Nigel Burton Member (to 2012 1st Term) Email: pentrefelin@waitrose.com Address: Dan-Y-Skirrid Farm Llantilio Pertholey Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 8AU Biography: A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, I have spent my career in the Retail industry, holding Director of Property or Development positions with Clarks Shoes, Boots, Tesco and Waitrose. Now retired but still undertake development consultancy. I have held a number of public positions including President of the Property Managers Association, President of the British Council of Shopping Centres and most recently National Chairman of the Civic Trust . I currently farm in Wales where we breed and show Welsh ponies and Cobs with great success.. I am interested in Art, Architecture, conservation and the civic realm. Chairman of Abergavenny Food Festival, I am passionate about food and encouraging interest in the food chain from "field to fork".

Prof Anthony Campbell Member (to 2012 1st term) Email: campbellak@Cardiff.ac.uk Tel: (029) 2074 2951 Biography: Professor in Medical Biochemistry at Cardiff University, expert in the science of lactose intolerance, and animals that make light bioluminescence. This has revolutionised biomedical research and clinical diagnosis, the technology now being used in over 100M clinical tests per year. He obtained an exhibition to read Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and a first class degree and PhD in Biochemistry.. He has published over 200 scientific papers, 8 books, and has several patents being exploited world wide.. He is passionate about communicating cutting edge science to young people and the public, founding the Darwin Centre in 1994 and the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival in 2000.

Mr Andy Green Member (to 2012 1st term) Email: andygreenontour@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 0845 450 3210 Address: 9 Pioden For, Nells Point, Barry Island CF62 5DD Biography: Andy Green runs a number of businesses in public relations, marketing and creativity. He has an expertise in creative thinking where he is author of 'Creativity in Public Relations', 'Effective Personal Communications', and 'A Minute with Tony Blair'. He is establishing a new social enterprise, the Flexible Thinking Forum to develop creative and flexible thinking skills among managers in organizations to help them achieve more with less. He is passionate about using flexible and creative thinking to make the world a better place, whether tackling the growth in bureaucratic unthinking, which led him to write 'Overcoming Stupidity,' or the current negativity in the world economy which inspired his latest book, 'The Upturn: your part in its rise' (published September 2009).

Graeme Harper Member (2007-2010) Email: graeme.harper@bangor.ac.uk) Tel: Tel: 01248 383215 Mobile: 07825 365155 Address: National Institute for Excellence in the Creative Industries Bangor University Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Biography: Graeme Harper is Director of the National Institute for Excellence in the Creative Industries at Bangor University. He has held roles with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the EU and the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), among others. He founded the Centre for Creative Arts at Bangor University and was Foundation Chair of the School of Creative Arts, Film and Media at the University of Portsmouth (2004-2006). Professor of Creative Writing at Bangor University - writing recently under his pseudonym Brooke Biaz - he is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Bedfordshire. He holds British-Australian citizenship.

Mr Ron F Kirkby Deputy Chair, Events Co-ordinator Email: ron.kirkby@rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk Tel: 01994 427418 Fax 01994 427056 Address: PO Box No 10 Carmarthenshire SA33 4YG Biography: Ron Kirkby was born in London and after retiring from the Metropolitan Police became involved in voluntary animal welfare work. Chairman of RSPCA Kingston & District Branch 1983-1997 RSPCA National Council 1993-1996 Chairman RSPCA National Council 1994-1996 President RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor & District Branch 1997-present Represented the Metropolitan Police at Chess (Colours), also played Chess for Surrey; gave simultaneous charity display matches for The Lord's Taverners and in schools and colleges for the Police. He moved to West Wales in 1997 and became Treasurer of RSA Wales & West in 1998. He and his wife have a smallholding where they care for rescued farm animals.

Mr Marc Lee Treasurer Email: marclee@rsawaw.org Tel: 01373 831900; fax 01373-835220 Address: Cityforum Ltd, Clifford Farm, Bath Road, Beckington, Nr Frome, BA11 6SQ; Biography: Marc Lee chairs Cityforum a specialist conference organiser and research business working in the defence, security, regulatory and central banking fields. He spent over 20 years as Conference Director, Joint MD of FTBE and Conference Adviser to the FT. He chairs the Security forum, Table 27. Educated at Oxford he taught at Southampton University early in his career.

Mr Rudi Plaut Member (coopted 2009) Email: rudip@talktalk.net Tel: 029 2081 5204. Address: Northmace House Viaduct Road Taffs Well Cardiff CF15 9XF Biography: A chartered engineer and Chairman of Northmace & Hendon Ltd, a company designing and selling specialist equipment for hotel rooms in about 100 countries. Current Member CBI Wales Regional Council and Chairman of Economic Panel. A Life Fellow, he has participated in organizing a number of events in Wales. Active in business and other interests he was the first Chairman of the Board of the University of Glamorgan, the Curriculum Qualification and Assessment Authority for Wales and Techniquest. He is a member of the Welsh Scout Council and active in his church.

Mr Toby Procter Member (to 2012 1st Term) Email: tprocter@trendtracker.co.uk Tel: Phone +44 (0) 870 421 4350 Mobile +44 Address: Director Trend Tracker Limited The CIL Building, Corsley Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7QE, United Kingdom Biography: A journalist and researcher and director of Trend Tracker Ltd, a company that publishes market studies and conducts market research and provides strategic advice for client companies and public organisations. He writes for various mostly online media on automotive industry, transport, energy and climate change-related issues, having worked earlier in his career in reference and educational publishing, and in marketing, before moving to industrial journalism as an editor of various newsletters and websites. www.trendtracker.co.uk