Congratulations to WISERD co-director, Dr Anwen Elias, based at Aberystwyth University, who has been appointed by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, as chair of a new Innovating Democracy Advisory Group.
The Innovating Democracy Advisory Group has been created following a recommendation in the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales final report, which was published earlier this year. The report recommended that an expert panel is created to advise Welsh Government and partners on expanding the use of democratic innovation and enhance civic engagement in public life.
Dr Elias was a commissioner on the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. In that role, she contributed specific expertise in civic engagement, particularly in establishing the citizens panels and designing the Community Engagement Fund. Through her experience as a commissioner, she will ensure that the Commission’s findings will continue to inform the work of the new Innovating Democracy Advisory Group.
On her appointment, Dr Anwen Elias said: “It’s an honour to be asked to chair this new group. I hope the group can scope new opportunities for increasing citizens’ involvement in decision-making, in partnership with others across Wales who are already doing excellent work on public participation and deliberation.”
Read more in the Cabinet statement on the Welsh Government website.