Dafydd Elis-Thomas

Dafydd Elis-Thomas was the first Assembly Member to represent Dwyfor Meirionnydd in May 2007, after representing Meirionnydd Nant Conwy from 1999 to 2007. He was Member of Parliament for Meirionnydd from 1974 to 1983 and Meirionnydd Nant Conwy from 1983 to 1992. On leaving the Commons he was nominated to the Lords in 1992 and appointed to chair the Welsh Language Board form 1993 to 1999. He has lived most of his life in the Snowdonia National Park, and enjoys the recreations of hill walking and jogging from the family cottage near Betws y Coed.

He was elected by his colleagues as ‘Llywydd’ or Presiding Officer of the National Assembly in 1999, 2003 and 2007, and has led improvements and reforms in the Assembly’s ways of working. These include an accessible Petitions Committee, and new clear standing orders, and a ‘Vote 2011’ campaign to encourage registration especially among new younger voters. He also introduced a new law to ensure AM’s pay and staff conditions are decided by an independent Remuneration Board, and a strong Independent Commissioner for Standards for AMs to promote the best quality of public life.

As a former researcher and teacher in adult and higher education, he maintains close links with Bangor University as Chancellor, and with Coleg Llandrillo as President.  He is Vice-President of the National Trust Snowdonia Appeal which invests in sustainable farming and conservation in Snowdonia. He is active in the Church in Wales.

Recently he was appointed as Chair of the Assembly's Environment and Sustainability Committee and Plaid's spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food. He is also a member of the National Assembly’s Business and Enterprise Committee