The Welsh Language Commissioner's Leadership Team
Efa Gruffudd Jones
Welsh Language Commissioner
Originally from Morriston, near Swansea, Efa Gruffudd Jones received her secondary education at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, before going to Aberystwyth University to study in the Welsh Department.
She has followed a career that has combined her interest in the arts, and in the Welsh language. She worked for the Welsh Language Board and the Arts Council of Wales before being appointed Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales's largest youth organisation, in 2004.
In 2016, she was appointed Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh which is the body funded by the Welsh Government to provide strategic guidance in the field of Welsh language teaching for adults in Wales. During her time there, the Centre developed a new curriculum and resources, with an emphasis on digital resources, and led on the establishment of innovative projects including 'Work Welsh.'
Until recently Efa was Chair of the Board of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. She was also Vice-Chair of CWVYS, a trustee of the WCVA, and a member of the Welsh Language Partnership Council.
In her position as Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa wants to ensure that the Commissioner's powers are used to their full potential, to increase the use that is made of the language, and to ensure that the Commissioner plays a key role in the efforts to secure a prosperous future for the Welsh language.
Efa started as Welsh Language Commissioner in January 2023.
Osian Llywelyn
Director of Regulation and Deputy Commissioner
Osian Llywelyn is the Director responsible for setting a strategic direction for the Welsh Language Commissioner's regulatory work. The job includes setting and enforcing duties on organisations to use the Welsh language.
Originally from Pontypridd, he had his secondary education at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen before moving to study Law at Aberystwyth University. He enjoyed travelling around South America but has now settled in Cardiff for almost fifteen years.
Osian worked for the Welsh Language Board and the Welsh Language Commissioner where he was responsible for setting the first Welsh language standards for public bodies back in 2015. Osian has also worked as Head of Regulatory Policy for Qualifications Wales, the regulator of qualifications that are offered by recognised awarding bodies in Wales.
He enjoys following Swansea City Football Club, the Welsh national football team and loves collecting records.
Lowri Williams
Strategic Director
Lowri Williams is the Strategic Director responsible for leading the work of the Finance, Policy, Hybu, Communications and Infastructure and Research teams.
Lowri is from Bangor. After twelve years living in Cardiff, she has now settled in Caernarfon.
She has a combined degree in Welsh and Spanish from Aberystwyth University where she also studied an MA in Spanish. She spent a year of her degree working in the Basque Country and after that she spent time traveling through Central and South America. Shee has worked for the Welsh Language Commissioner for ten years in positions in the field of Welsh language policy and infrastructure, and before that she led the Welsh Language Board's corpus planning work. She has spent her career promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language working as an academic coordinator for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol with the aim of establishing a professional translation studies course, a Welsh for Adults tutor, a terminologist, and a language officer for one of the national lottery charities. She has also served on the board of Mudiad Meithrin and the Llety Arall community initiative.
Lowri is currently the chairman of Elusen Ogwen which allocates grants to environmental and social projects in the Ogwen Valley with money from the profits of a local cooperative energy project. That valley is close to her heart and she enjoys exploring its mountains and working with her father to maintain a website about its rich history.
Siân Elen McRobie
Director of Governance and Corporate Services
Siân Elen McRobie is the Commissioner's Director of Governance and Corporate Services. Her work includes taking specific responsibility for a number of duties in governance including corporate risk, information risk, data protection and other legislation commitments as well as leading the work of the human resources, finance and resources departments.
She has a degree in Law and Welsh from Aberystwyth University and has worked for the Commissioner for over a decade in positions in the regulatory field. She is also a Lay Member of the Wales Adjudication Panel.
She has settled in Anglesey, where she grew up, with her husband and young daughter and is an enthusiastic member of the local Clwb Gwawr.
Audit and Risk Committee
The aim of the committee is to advise the Accounting Officer (the Commissioner) on the strategic processes concerning risk management and governance.
Read about the committee’s remit in their terms of reference.
The Audit and Risk Committee usually meets four times a year. The members are Mair Gwynant (chair), Jayne Woods, Liz Aitken, and Alan Davies.
Members of the Audit and Risk Committee
Advisory Panel
The Commissioner may consult the Advisory Panel on any matter. Members of the panel are appointed by Welsh Ministers. The panel must include between 3 and 5 members at any one time, and members will be in post for 3 years. Find out more about the role of the Advisory Panel in Schedule 4 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
The current members of the Advisory Panel are Anne Davies, Nia Elias, Rona Aldrich, Elin Maher and Gwyn Williams (Chair).
Read about the panels remit here.