{"id":775006,"date":"2026-09-18T19:20:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T19:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/775006\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T19:20:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T19:20:15","slug":"business-experts-appointed-to-help-shape-new-economic-agency-for-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/775006\/","title":{"rendered":"Business experts appointed to help shape new economic agency for Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy<\/p>\n

Nation.Cymru staff<\/p>\n

A panel of 11 business experts has been appointed to create a new economic development and innovation agency to help deliver the Welsh Government\u2019s goal to halve the productivity gap with the rest of the UK within ten years.<\/p>\n

Led by Chair Jonathan Lewis<\/a>, the panel will advise Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, on the form and function of the new agency.<\/p>\n

The Minister said: \u201cOver the past two months, we have spent time targeting and securing the support of a talented team of business experts, all bringing their individual diverse experiences, but all with a shared passion and willingness to support Wales to do business, to advise us on the design of the new development agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach will bring their own expertise to assist us in developing the detailed remit and functions of the agency, helping us design and establish an organisation that swiftly supports the growth of our nation\u2019s economy and becomes a key driver for our national productivity mission; to halve Wales\u2019s productivity gap with the UK within 10 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cImproving productivity will have a direct consequence of creating better jobs for people, thereby putting more money in their pockets and raising living standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers of the Panel are undertaking the roles in an unpaid capacity and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their enthusiasm and willingness to support government in this central endeavour as we strive to make Wales the best place in the United Kingdom to start, grow and invest in a business.\u201d<\/p>\n

The panel intends to engage widely to ensure input from a range of voices across the Welsh economic landscape.<\/p>\n

The Panel members are:<\/p>\n

Jonathan Lewis \u2013 Chair of Associated British Ports. Previously CEO at Capita plc and AmecFosterWheeler plc. \u2013 Chair
\nSarah Williams-Gardener OBE (Vice Chair) \u2013 Founding member of Starling Bank and Chair of FinTech Wales \u2013 innovation, investment attraction and business ecosystem development;
\nJohn Evans \u2013 Former CEO of Subsea7 \u2013 energy sector and large-scale infrastructure projects;
\nGerald Holtham \u2013 Visiting Professor of Regional Economy at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Managing Partner at Cadwyn Capital LLP \u2013 regional economics, public policy, finance and investment, with authoritative insight into Wales\u2019s fiscal and economic landscape;
\nBeren Kayali \u2013 Co-founder and CTO of Deploy Tech \u2013 engineering-led innovation, commercialising low-carbon technology and scaling start-ups;
\nAlison Lea-Wilson MBE \u2013 Co-founder of Halen M\u00f4n \u2013 tourism, business start-up, scaling, sales, exporting, place-based product development and building a successful international brand;
\nLa-Chun Lindsay OBE \u2013 Former Managing Director, GE Aviation Wales \u2013 leading complex international operations across industries;
\nNigel Morris \u2013 Co-founder of Capital One and Managing Partner of QED Investors \u2013 venture capital and scaling high-growth technology businesses globally;
\nGareth Noyes \u2013 held a range of senior roles at Wind River Systems \u2013 technology strategy, innovation, digital transformation and scaling high-growth businesses;
\nOriel Petry \u2013 Senior Vice President, Airbus UK \u2013 industrial strategy, international investment and advanced manufacturing;
\nLaura Doel \u2013 General Secretary for TUC Cymru \u2013 workforce development, skills, social partnership, fair work and employee perspectives.<\/p>\n

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\n\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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