Alwen Williams is 鈥渃oming home鈥 to help drive forward the 拢1bn North Wales Growth Deal.
After 24 years with telecoms giant BT, Alwen will begin a new role as programme director for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board in January.
Originally from Gwytherin, near Llangernyw, she is looking forward to leading a programme office that will coordinate the Growth Deal from 2020 onwards.
Now living in Mold with husband Damian, Alwen is relishing the challenge and eager to get started.
鈥淚t is a big step leaving BT and the private sector after almost a quarter of a century, but this is the right position at the right time,鈥 said Alwen.
鈥淚 get to come home after being away for many years. Personally, this has always been home, but professionally I鈥檝e been in Cardiff and London for more than a decade, so it will be fantastic to return.鈥
She added: 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about the programmes and already feel invested in the vision because I am from the region and determined to help make it a success.
鈥淚t matters to me in every sense, particularly boosting the North Wales economy.鈥
Currently senior area manager for BT Openreach in London and the South-east, and previously director of BT Wales, Alwen says the digital connectivity programme is one close to her heart.
However, the former pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Llanrwst, insists every project is of significant value to the six counties.
鈥淚n my work with BT I have always been on the private sector side of the table; this role means collaborating with all industries, working to bring about jobs, revenue and having a positive impact on the environment, transport, education and many other areas,鈥 said Alwen.
鈥淭he key themes support long-term economic growth, so the challenge is to channel them in partnership with our stakeholders.
鈥淟ed by the Ambition Board 鈥 which has worked so hard to get to this point 鈥 and alongside the 海角视频 and Welsh Governments, the sense of collaboration and unity that has been fostered throughout gives us a firm foundation on which to move ahead.鈥
Alwen is also keen to garner further feedback and consult with myriad arenas and the general public.
鈥淭he Growth Deal and wider vision for North Wales is not a one-way dialogue, it鈥檚 an opportunity to involve all of the citizens who live here and encourage real discussion on what works for them,鈥 said Alwen.
鈥淣orth Wales is a great place in which to invest, and as we put the infrastructure of the programmes in place that engagement will be crucial.鈥
She added: 鈥淭he 拢240m committed by the 海角视频 and Welsh governments is a small proportion of the overall 拢1bn ambition, so we will be aiming to garner more investment from the private sector and do so in a strategic way, so we see growth across multiple industries.鈥
A team of officers will help to oversee programmes in low carbon energy, advanced manufacturing, land-based industries (agriculture and tourism), land and property, skills and employment, digital connectivity, and strategic transport, which will have a positive impact on tens of thousands of households, businesses and organisations across the region.
鈥淲hen we have the team in place, we can start to sharpen plans and bring the projects to fruition,鈥 said Alwen.
鈥淲e aren鈥檛 going cap in hand to businesses, it鈥檚 about working together for the economic benefit of the entire region, and future generations.鈥
She added: 鈥淭he Ambition Board and I want people to come along with us on this journey.
鈥淭here are challenges ahead but I鈥檓 passionate about the Growth Deal and confident in the programmes and themes they鈥檝e put forward; there is a fire in my belly, and I can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥
Dyfrig Siencyn, chair of the Ambition Board and Leader of Gwynedd Council, welcomed Alwen and said she will be an inspiring figurehead for the Growth Deal.
鈥淎lwen has made her mark on the private sector in her many years with BT, and I鈥檓 sure she will do the same as Programme Director,鈥 said Cllr Siencyn.
鈥淪he is engaging, a strategic thinker and her love for North Wales shines through. I look forward to working with her and on behalf of the Ambition Board would like to congratulate her on this pivotal new role.鈥
