HAHAV is a registered charity (Charity Commission No: 1160645) and a limited company (Companies House No: 09261439).
HAHAV is governed by a board of Directors and Trustees who are all unpaid volunteers. Together they are responsible for the strategic direction, regulation, financial probity and future development of the organization.
Our board of trustees
Gwerfyl Jones
Gwerfyl Pierce Jones was born in Holyhead, Anglesey, but has lived in Aberystwyth for most of her working life. A graduate of the University of North Wales, Bangor she began her career as a lecturer at St David’s University College, Lampeter. She subsequently held a number of posts in arts administration and was director of the Books Council of Wales until her retirement in 2009. She served as Pro Chancellor of Aberystwyth University from 2012–19 and also as Deputy Chair of the University’s Council. She is also involved with a number of charities and trusts and chairs the James Pantyfedwen Foundation.
Peter Skitt
Peter joined the NHS in 1981 and has 40 years experience of varied clinical and non-clinical positions and senior management roles. Currently he is County Director and Commissioner for Ceredigion (Hywel Dda University Health Board) and Programme Director for the Mid Wales Joint Committee area. Peter’s career has involved managing Critical Care and Theatres, General Management in Surgery. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management with a passion for coaching and leadership, being a qualified executive coach.
Geraint Pugh
A father of two, Geraint graduated from Aberystwyth University with a BA degree in French and Spanish. He remained at Aberystwyth to study for an MScEcon in European Politics, before gaining employment in the world of politics.
Between 2006 and 2013, Geraint was Research and Communications Manager for Ceredigion’s Member of the Senedd, Elin Jones MS.
In February 2013, Geraint was appointed Aberystwyth University’s first University Secretary. In that role, he was responsible for ensuring appropriate governance processes were in place within the institution, and worked closely with the Chair of the governing body and the Vice-Chancellor.
After eight years at Aberystwyth University, Geraint joined S4C as Board Secretary in October 2021. He is responsible for advising the S4C Unitary Board to ensure appropriate and effective governance across all of S4C’s work.
Geraint has been Treasurer of the Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth’s PTA since September 2018. He is also an external Trustee of Bangor University Students’ Union.
Deian Creunant
Deian is currently communications and public affairs officer with the Welsh Language Commissioner and has worked in the communications sector for close to thirty years.
Until recently he was Director of communications with private sector company Four Communications where he led on various client campaigns including Public Health Wales, Welsh Government education, the Sector Skills Council and Discover Ceredigion.
Prior to joining Four he was Head of Regional Communications for the Welsh Government in mid and west Wales and was previously Head of External Affairs for the Big Lottery Fund (now the Community Fund) in Wales and Director of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru National Eisteddfod.
He also sits on the Board of Arad Goch and Morlan, is Secretary of the Saunders Lewis Memorial Fund and is an elder at Morfa chapel.
He enjoys running and is a member of Aberystwyth Athletic Club, is a keen follower of Aberystwyth Town football club and is stadium announcer for their home games, is joint organiser of photographic event FfotoAber and likes to attend the theatre.
Rhian Evans
Rhian joined HAHAV’s Board in early 2023, and is an experienced and award winning HR professional. Her current role is ‘Assistant Direct of Human Resources and Communications’ at Barcud, a Housing Association with around 300 employees; where she leads a team of 9 staff. Having gained 20 years experience in HR, she is highly experienced in managing a wide variety of HR challenges and situations. Rhian’s previous roles have included tenures at Ceredigion County Council and a Consultancy role at the University of Glamorgan. Rhian holds a degree in Business & Finance, an MBA in Business Administration, and was awarded the Fellowship of the CIPD in recognition of her Management, Leadership and Development experience.
Rhian is currently a Governor of Ysgol Bro Pedr, where she held the Chairperson role for over 8 years; and in her ‘spare’ time she conducts a Ladies Choir!
June Wells
I trained as a secondary school teacher (Food, Textiles and PE), qualifying in 1980. I spent 4 years teaching at Cockshut Hill School in Birmingham before moving to Cadbury Sixth Form College for 3 years. After a short break to have my 3 children I spent almost 25 years at Penglais School where I quickly became Head of Design Technology.
This became a large, successful department where I managed 10 staff.
Since retiring in 2019 I have been able to enjoy my many hobbies, horse riding, walking, travelling and gardening. In 2020 I became a volunteer for HAHAV, helping in the shop.
I have since become a member of the retail sub-group, and continue to volunteer in both the shop and warehouse. In 2023 I began training to become a Grief Companion and look forward to undertaking this new role within HAHAV in the very near future.
I give freely of my time as HAHAV is an amazing charity which helps so many with life limiting conditions and their carers/family members to improve quality of life.
Dr Nia Manning
Dr Nia Manning studied at Ysgol Gyfun Gymunedol Penweddig, Aberystwyth, before reading medicine at Cardiff University.
She is currently a GP at Padarn Surgery, Aberystwyth, and joined the HAHAV Board in November 2023.
Dr Sion James
Dr Sion James is a GP at Tregaron Surgery, and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. His special interests include mental health, child health, and palliative care.
Dr James is also Deputy Medical Director for Primary Care and Community Services for the Hywel Dda University Health Board.
He joined the HAHAV Board in November 2023.
Alun Pearson Thomas
Alun Pearson Thomas retired as a highly esteemed solicitor with the firm Alun Thomas & John in May 2024 after 53 years’ legal practice. He sat for many years as a part time deputy district judge in the county court and as part time Tribunal chairman. He and his wife Kay live in Aberystwyth and they have two children and four grandchildren.
Mark Godsell
Originally from Welshpool, Mark has lived in the Aberystwyth area for the past 15 years. With 25 years post qualification experience, Mark has held several senior finance roles in large organisations in both England and Wales, most recently Deputy Director of Finance at Aberystwyth University. Working predominantly in the public services, he has led Finance departments and managed the full range of finance functions within large organisations. Mark also has extensive experience of writing and presenting reports to Board and interacting with board members. Mark has an honours degree in Finance and Accounting, an MBA from Birmingham University and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.