Welsh National Opera (WNO) has appointed Professor Medwin Hughes as it new chair. Prof Hughes is a former vice chancellor of University of Wales Trinity St David and vice chancellor of the University of Wales.
He has served as the deputy chair of the Welsh Language Board and on numerous advisory committees of the Welsh Government and the Council of Europe regarding educational and cultural policy.
He joined the WNO board in July 2022 and was appointed senior independent director in January 2024. He will take up the chair role in September when the six year term of current chair, Yvette Vaughan Jones ,expires.
The appointment comes after WNO management last month struck a new pay deal with its orchestra which lifted the threat of part-time employment. Last year, in the face of financial challenges, the WNO received additional funding of £1.5m through the Arts Council of Wales.
Prof Hughes said: “It is a great privilege to be appointed WNO chair at such an exciting and transformational time for the company, and I’m grateful to my fellow trustees for their confidence in my leadership. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Yvette Vaughan Jones for her remarkable contribution during her tenure.
“We should take immense pride in WNO’s outstanding international reputation. This is a company that consistently excels and demonstrates the best of our nation’s rich artistic tradition. As we celebrate 80 years of service.”
Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree joined WNO as co-general directors and chief executives in January 2025.
They said: “We’re delighted to welcome Medwin Hughes as our new WNO chair in the autumn. Medwin comes from the long tradition of the quiet radical and his exceptional track record in leadership and transformation speaks for itself.
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“He is passionate about the power of the arts to transform lives and the necessity of art even and especially in times of crisis. We look forward to working with Medwin, his guidance will be invaluable as we embark on this exciting new chapter in WNO’s story.
“We are also deeply grateful to Yvette Vaughan Jones, who has been a dedicated chair during a challenging period for the company. As she concludes her tenure, we celebrate her immense professional contribution and the generous spirit she brought to the role, which has allowed us to build the opera company of the future.”
Ms Vaughan Jones said: “I am delighted that Medwin Hughes has agreed to take on the role of chair of this wonderful Company. Medwin’s wisdom, experience and vast networks of peers and friends will provide the best kind of leadership.
“I am also very pleased that the WNO board members felt that the continuity of appointing an existing board member to provide that stability is what the company needs at this moment in its history, under Sarah and Adele’s leadership. We are both keen to work together on the handover to provide a seamless transition and I very much look forward to working with him on this.”