After 19 years at the CBI, I am moving on as Wales Director.
In my final regular Business News Wales column, I’ve gathered some thoughts to look back on my time at the CBI.
It is fair to say that the last couple of decades have been a rollercoaster period for the business community in Wales and the rest of the UK.
Three events stood out for their impact on business and society during this period. The 2008 financial crash, Brexit and Covid-19 brought immense hardship, with the pandemic also bringing unbearable tragedy to communities.
The CBI has been there to support businesses through all these enormous challenges, through its work on the furlough scheme and via various policy initiatives.
It has also been a fascinating period to work with the devolved and UK governments on Welsh business priorities. There have been eight prime ministers and five first ministers during my time at the CBI. Most of the politicians I have met over the years genuinely have had Wales’s best interests at heart. They all had different styles, and some were undoubtedly more effective than others.
One of the saddest things I have witnessed in politics is the increased levels of abuse being directed at elected members, particularly women, via social media. I would question why anyone would want to go into the profession if they know they will be subjecting themselves to that level of abuse. The targeting of anyone for abuse is repugnant, and I would be very wary of encouraging anyone in my family to enter politics in the current climate. In my mind, that is a deeply concerning state of affairs, and it is certainly not unique to Wales – it’s a worldwide phenomenon.
Over the years, I have met and worked with incredible people in my various roles at the CBI, but it would be unfair to single out any one individual. I have had brilliant colleagues at the CBI and their level of dedication is unmatched. They work so hard and are committed to tackling the challenges facing businesses.
I have engaged with so many great CBI stakeholder colleagues, and their honesty and integrity are an inspiration. We are also lucky to have an excellent group of public sector officials and government affairs professionals who care so passionately about Wales.
Finally, I was delighted to see so many representatives from the Welsh business community at my leaving party at ‘The Classroom/Y Dosbarth’ chef training restaurant in Cardiff and Vale College.
The owners, management and staff of companies across Wales put in so much effort every day to survive and prosper.
After my departure as CBI Wales Director, I will continue to work in the private sector, for Thomas Carroll, in a non-executive capacity, and to support great organisations like Vibe Youth and Gower College in Swansea. I wish to thank everyone, particularly my CBI Wales team, for their support, guidance, and friendship over the last 19 years.
