Alwen Williams appointed new Chief Executive of North Wales CJC

Her appointment follows five years of leading the region's Growth Deal as portfolio director at the CJC - known as Ambition North Wales.
The CJC is a new regional local government organisation, created by the Welsh Government, with statutory responsibility for producing a regional transport plan, regional strategic development plan, and enhancing and promoting regional economic well-being.
The additional responsibilities assumed by Ambition North Wales necessitated the creation of the full-time chief executive role.
Ms Williams will now lead the CJC, which also involves continuing to drive the delivery of the North Wales Growth Deal and collaborating with partners to deliver the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone.
She said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed into this exciting role on a permanent and full-time basis.
"North Wales is my home and a place I care about deeply.
"It's a real privilege to be in a role that contributes directly towards a thriving future for our region."
Councillor Mark Pritchard, Chair of Ambition North Wales and Wrexham Council Leader, said: "This chief executive role is crucial to the development of North Wales as a region and in ensuring we can demonstrate our worth on a national and even global stage."
"The responsibilities that now sit within Ambition North Wales as the region's Corporate Joint Committee are vast and require exceptional leadership to deliver.
"Alwen's role now is to deliver for North Wales and take the region forward into the future."
Councillor Charlie McCoubrey, vice-chair of Ambition North Wales and Leader of Conwy County Borough Council, added: "Alwen is an exceptional leader and collaborator with the skills to ensure Ambition North Wales continues to deliver for the region."
"What she has achieved over the past five years has really demonstrated her abilities to bring partners across the region together with a clear vision focused on improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of North Wales."
Before joining Ambition North Wales in 2019, Ms Williams had a 24-year career with BT plc and infrastructure provider Openreach Ltd in various strategic and operational leadership roles.
She returned to North Wales, having grown up in Gwytherin, near Llangernyw, and attended Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Llanrwst.
Ms Williams holds an MSc in Systems Thinking and a first-class BA (hons) in Leadership and Management from the Open University.
Her contributions to business during her career in telecommunications have been recognised with honorary fellowships from the University of Wales Trinity St David's and Wrexham University.
Currently residing in Mold with her husband Damian, Ms Williams is also a member of the Kings Trust Cymru's development committee and a trustee of the Welsh Sports Foundation, a national charity committed to removing financial barriers to sport and physical activity for children and young people.

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