Bwrdd Glandŵr Cymru

The board brings knowledge of Wales, its culture, people, and needs to the Trust. Working at a political/governmental level and with other key bodies in Wales to influence Wales' strategies and plans as they relate to waterways. It also advises the Trust on Welsh Government policy and priorities, and acts as a support and sounding board for the trustees, executive and senior management on Welsh matters.

The board has up to 10 members, with experience of working with existing partner organisations and includes people with wider connections in Wales including from public, charitable and private sectors.

Their key areas of expertise are:

• health and wellbeing
• tourism and audience development
• natural, built and social heritage
• the arts
• skills, employment and education
• regeneration and economic development and funding

Members

Phil Hughes

Phil originally from North Wales and now living near Newport, is the former manager of the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre in Rogerstone, Newport. For his involvement in Welsh tourism he was made director of Capital Region Tourism which was part of Visit Wales, in the past he has also been chairman and director of Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust. A self-confessed canalaholic Phil is now retired and is a full time Grandfather. He is also the former owner, publicist and editor of the Mon & Brec Canal Guide and regularly works with TV production companies on the Mon and Brec Canal. Phil was formerly a member of the Trust's South Wales & Severn Waterways Partnership and latterly the South West Regional Advisory Board.

Gareth Jones

Gareth is Director Planning & Place at Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Authority.  A regeneration professional and chartered town planner with over 20 years of senior management experience in the public sector in England and Wales. His passion for canals developed through his work leading restoration projects on the Monmouthshire & Brecon and Montgomery Canals. Gareth has a track record of securing major grant funding bids, delivering infrastructure improvements and partnership working. Gareth’s current role includes overseeing built heritage, tourism and visitor management, and sustainable development in the National Park.

Owen Davies

Owen, a Chartered Town Planner and Fellow of the Institute of Place Management, boasts three decades of experience in leadership and technical roles for public authorities and multinational consultancies. His expertise spans strategic policy, planning, placemaking, and regeneration, particularly in canal and waterfront locations. As a trusted advisor, he has contributed to the well-being and regeneration initiatives of Public Service Boards and the Future Generation Commissioner for Wales. Owen serves as an Expert for the UK Government's High Street Task Force and has been part of the Welsh Ministerial Task-group for Town Centre. Additionally, he manages Gwagle, an independent co-working space, and volunteers as Chair for the Plas Gunter Mansion Trust, overseeing the restoration of a 17th-century townhouse. Owen's connection to the Mon and Brec Canal is personal, as he walks and cycles along it weekly with friends and family, having spent his childhood living beside it and earning pocket money working on boats at Llanfoist Wharf.