Ceredigion leading by example on International Women’s Day

​As part of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March, Ceredigion County Council is proud to celebrate a progressive milestone: this year, for the first time ever, the offices of Chairman, Leader and Chief Executive are occupied by women. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ceredigion born and bred, Councillor Gill Hopley of New Quay has been a member of New Quay Town Council since 1991, having served as County Councillor since her election in 1999, elected as Chairman of the County Council in May 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Outside of her council duties, Councillor Hopley has worked in the clothing industry both locally and further afield, having been educated at the London College of Fashion and Clothing Technology. Since 1987, she has owned and ran the ‘Quay Surf’ shop in New Quay where she remains a familiar face locally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Reflecting on her experiences, Councillor Hopley said: “Life is full of interesting and sometimes challenging experiences. Never stop listening and learning and your life will be fulfilled”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

First being elected as County Councillor for Talybont in 1999, Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn has been the Leader of the County Council since the May 2012 election. In acceding to this role, she became the first female Leader in the Authority’s history, and is presently the only female county council leader in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Born in Scotland and raised in Borth-y-Gest near Porthmadog in Gwynedd, Councillor ap Gwynn studied at Aberystwyth University and has lived in Ceredigion ever since. Away from her roles in the Council, she has been, and remains, very active in local administration and governance, particularly in association with the fields of the Welsh language, culture, and the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Councillor ap Gwynn said: “We must have the confidence to accept every opportunity that is offered. Each new challenge will enrich your life in whatever field you choose to contribute to”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Another Aberystwyth University alumnus, legal practitioner Miss Bronwen Morgan was born and bred in the county. She has worked for Ceredigion County Council continually since its inception following local government reorganisation in 1996. She became the first female Chief Executive of the Council in 2007 and remains in that position alongside only two other female Chief Executives across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aside from her working life, Miss Morgan takes an interest in Welsh culture with a particularly avid interest in both local and national Eisteddfodau. Reflecting upon her career, Miss Bronwen Morgan said: “I am honoured and proud to be working for a Council where the glass ceiling has not been an issue. It is also important to acknowledge the importance of the encouragement of family, teachers, managers and work colleagues to enable you to fulfil one’s ambitions”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​