Mark Poulton,

 Co-Chair

Mark has lived and worked in Cwmbran all his life. Firstly, living in Southville, then Llanyravon and, since 1989, in Coed Eva. Mark has been married for 36 years and has two grown-up children. After leaving Llantarnam Comprehensive in 1976, he started as an apprentice at Lucas Girling Cwmbran and has continued to work there for Cummins-Meritor, now in his 50th year of service.

Following nine years as an apprentice and machine tool setter, he moved into the IT environment as a computer programmer in 1985 and has been in that function since. Mark has been the site IT Manager since 2009. Mark is the Chairperson and a Trustee of The Cwmbran Trust. The Trust aims to benefit the community of Cwmbran Town in the NP44 area by providing funding and gifts to schools, communities, and individuals. The goal is the advancement of education, the provision of social amenities and the relief of poverty, distress, or sickness. Mark has been the Vice-Chair of the Governing Bodies at both Coed Eva Primary School (now Blenheim Road and Coed Eva Primary Federation) since 1997 and Fairwater High School (now Cwmbran High School) since 2003.

Aimi Morris

Co-Chair

Aimi Morris is the Chief Executive for Torfaen Voluntary Alliance (TVA). TVA is committed to enhancing voluntary and community activities across Torfaen by offering resources, guidance, and recognition to local community and voluntary organisations as well as individual volunteers. Under Aimi's leadership, TVA collaborates with key stakeholders, such as the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Torfaen County Borough Council, Social Landlords, and Leaders of voluntary and community organisations, to foster a cohesive and supportive community environment.

Before joining TVA Aimi worked for Torfaen County Borough Council for almost 13 years. Having grown up in Cwmbran and spending her working life in the borough she is deeply invested in the future of our locality. She hopes her broad network across the public and third sectors, combined with her passion for community service and development can serve the Planning Board in accomplishing its ambitious plans over the next 10 years.

Louise Jones-Williams, 

Louise has worked in the arts in Southeast Wales for over 30 years and became Director of Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in 2019. She is part of a committed and talented team and leads on the strategic business and creative direction of the organisation, fundraising as well as liaising with partners and networks to develop relationships and projects. Louise is an experienced curator whose exhibitions have focused on ideas of domestic heritage, the role of women’s work in society and storytelling. Louise has been a selector for Craft Festival at Bovey Tracy, Cheltenham, Cardiff and Cardigan as well as Makers Guild in Wales. Louise is Co-Chair of Visual Arts Group Wales (VAGW) and Chair of Cwmbran Arts Trust. 

Catherine Love

Catherine Love is the Chief Executive at Bron Afon Community Housing and joined Bron Afon in 2019. Before joining Bron Afon, Catherine has enjoyed both private and public sector experience including senior roles at Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales and Cardiff County Council. Catherine is passionate about putting people, emotional intelligence, and innovation at the heart of delivering excellent customer service, within the Customer Experience Directorate she has focused on building strong connections with both internal and external customers. Catherine’s leadership style emphasizes empathy, compassion, and a determination to ensure that customers always feel supported, even in challenging circumstances. She has over 20 years’ experience specialising in customer service, marketing communications, information management and corporate planning.

Lauren Morse

Lauren is the owner of Zero Waste Torfaen, a small independent business in Cwmbran. She has two sons who both attend local schools and has lived in Cwmbran all her life. Lauren is passionate about helping to create a safe and fair community for all and when not working volunteers her time advocating for both mental health and the environment

Adam Martin

Adam is a Director for London and Cambridge Properties, part of M-Core Group and has overall responsibility for the investment management of the groups south west regional property investment portfolio. His role includes a mix of undertaking added value property initiatives and redevelopment strategies within the portfolio. Principally Adam’s work is focused on neighbourhood, convenience and town centre retail as well as multi let industrial estates.

Alison Williams

Alison is Business Development Officer for Torfaen Strategic Economic Forum, (TSEF). TSEF is a collaboration of business leaders, public sector representatives, and key stakeholders, committed to driving economic development within the borough of Torfaen. TSEF was established in 2018,and plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable economic activity, promoting social well-being, and creating long-term prosperity for businesses and residents alike .Alison’s career has spanned over 35 years in the textile industry, and she has managed Textile businesses within Torfaen & neighbouring boroughs.

Her career began with Coats Viyella, a Blaenavon based, vertically integrated clothing manufacturing business. Her experience extends to Manufacturing, Creative & Technical design, Logistics, Business Development, Sales & Marketing. Alison is a Mental Health First Aider and a skilled listener, an invaluable resource in everyday life. Alison’s hobbies are unsurprisingly textile related, and she enjoys sewing, textile art and teaching sewing in the community. 

Sian Hughes

Siân Hughes is Head of Learner Services, TLZ Campus, Coleg Gwent. Siân has dedicated over 25 years to the field of education, joining Coleg Gwent in 2005. She played a key role in promoting the Torfaen Learning Zone (TLZ) campus, and is co-chair of the Torfaen Curriculum Planning Group. Siân works in close partnership with Torfaen Local Authority and secondary school leaders to ensure a high-quality post-16 experience for students across the region. From 2013 to 2019, she served as a valued member of the Coleg Gwent Board. Her professional focus lies in learner support and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practice, she has been instrumental in embedding trauma-informed approaches across the college. A passionate advocate for raising aspirations, Siân is committed to expanding opportunities for young people in Torfaen.

Scott Rolfe

Scott Rolfe is Chief Executive Officer of Halo Leisure, where he has transformed the social enterprise since 2014, driving growth that has increased turnover from £12 million to £25 million while expanding operations to 33 facilities and 1,000 staff across multiple regions. His leadership has repositioned the organisation around their vision of 'Creating Healthier Communities', developing innovative health commissioning partnerships and implementing ambitious growth strategies that have successfully delivered expansion into new markets. With over three decades of leisure sector experience, Scott combines commercial acumen with genuine social impact expertise. His approach to performance management and understanding of both public and private sector has established him as a leader who delivers sustainable growth while maintaining community focus. Scott's governance expertise spans both leisure and education sectors, where he has served on several boards providing specialist support in finance and business development.

Tegan Davies

Tegan Davies served as the Welsh Youth Parliament member for the constituency of Torfaen from 2021 to 2024. She is a student at Cardiff University, studying English Literature and Creative Writing, and engages in volunteer work for various campaigns and organisations including Our Voice Matters and Kidscape. Born and raised in Cwmbrân, she has a keen interest in the development of the town and hopes that her position on the board will ensure that the young people of Cwmbrân are heard and that the plan is representative of the voice of all youth in the area.

William Beer

Bio & Photo to Follow

Inspector Lee Stachow

Bio & Photo to Follow

Youth Representative from Cwmbran High

Bio & Photo to Follow

Youth Representative from Croesciliog Comprehensive

Bio & Photo to Follow

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP has been the Member of Parliament for Torfaen since first being elected in May 2015. He read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, graduating in 2001 before working as a Tutor/Lecturer in Politics at his old college (2002-2015), specialising in twentieth-century British government.

After university, Nick trained as a barrister and was a practising tenant at Civitas Law in Cardiff. He has written three biographies of Labour Politicians, Attlee: A Life in Politics (2010) and Nye: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan (2014) and Harold Wilson: The Winner (2022) Nick held a number of roles within the Shadow Cabinet, including Shadow Home Secretary, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, and Shadow Minister Without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office. In 2021, he was appointed a member of the Privy Council by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Following the 2024 General Election, Nick was appointed Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Relations).

Councillor David Daniels

Councillor David Daniels is a Labour Party representative for the Pontnewydd ward and currently serves as the Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing on the Torfaen County Borough Council Cabinet. A dedicated advocate for social reform, he has championed a "radical rethink" of the care system and was recently appointed the council's Age Friendly Champion. Beyond his legislative duties as Chair of the Gwent Regional Partnership Board, he remains active in local grassroots efforts in his community and passionate in championing equality and the anti-poverty agenda. In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his partner Emma and daughter Alys.

Councillor Joanne Gauden

Elected Member - Economy

Councillor Joanne Gauden is a Labour Councillor for Torfaen County Borough Council co-representing the ward of Croesyceiliog along-side Cllr Richard Clark. Cllr Gauden has held a Cabinet Portfolio for five years: initially, the Portfolio for Corporate Governance & Performance and in recent years for Economy, Skills & Regeneration. The role includes political direction for The Replacement Local Development Plan, regeneration projects including UK Gov’s Levelling up Fund for Pontypool cultural quarter and more recently the Plan for Neighbourhoods, Cwmbran. Cllr Gauden is married with a blended family of five adult children and two grandchildren and when time allows, will be found crafting or attending yoga classes.

Councillor Anthony Bird

Councillor Anthony Bird has been a member of Cwmbran Community Council since 2017 and served as chair of the council from 2019-2023. Educated at the University of South Wales, with a BA in Business and Law, Cllr Bird has a background in local government, devolved legislation, public affairs, public relations and branding. In the past he has worked as press officer for Welsh Government, as Managing Director of the Komodo Group and as a branding consultant for local business Life In Plastic. As well as this Cllr Bird has also written a number of articles for various publications, and a book Afghanistan: What Went Wrong, with a follow up Emugeddon: The True History of the Great Emu War planned for 2025. In his role as councillor for Northville Cllr Bird has served in a number of board positions and trusteeships across Torfaen including The Congress Theatre, The Cwmbran Friends of Bruchsal Town Twinning Society, Torfaen Museum Trust and sits as Community Council representative on Torfaen Councils Ethics and Standards Committee.