Speakers / Hosts

Andrew was born in Swansea on the 15th February 1974, the same day as Hollywood star Christian Bale (who was born in Carmarthenshire) and exactly a century, to the day, after polar explorer Ernest Shackleton was born (all Aquarians).

Andrew's interest in all things outdoors started at the tender age of five, when his grandfather showed him how to collect periwinkles and mussels from the rock pools close to Mumbles. His father used to take him fishing off the Gower Coast for mackerel and sea bass from an ancient and slightly leaky Canvas and Wood Kayak. Those early experiences sowed the seed of his enthusiasm for wilderness living skills and outdoor pursuits.

Highly popular television presenter, Arfon Haines Davies has been one of ITV Wales’ main presenters for over 30 years.

Arfon was, for very many years one of the main news presenters on HTV. He has also presented Quizzes; Documentaries; Concerts; and Sports programmes and can currently be seen on the long running archive series "Never to be Forgotten".

Arfon is equally at ease with English or Welsh broadcasting and has presented many Welsh language programmes on S4C including ‘Pacio’; ‘Penblwydd Hapus’; ‘Cledrau Coll’ and, most recently, ‘Pws’.

Ashleigh Crowter is a sports reporter and presenter for BBC ‘Wales Today’, Wales’ flagship television news programme. He is an accomplished broadcaster and witty speaker and an ideal host for conferences and events.

Ashleigh’s working brief is to cover the best stories in Welsh sport – from Grand Slam champions to grassroots heroes.  Over the last 13 years, Ashleigh has been close to the biggest sporting events in Wales and overseas.

He was on the finishing line at the Great Wall of China when Nicole Cooke set Welsh athletes on the way to a record-breaking medal haul at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He’s also reported from the historic Cardiff Ashes test, two Six Nations Grand Slams and also covered the nine year build-up to the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Behnaz was born in Shiraz, Iran. She moved to Swansea when she was 10 years old and has lived in Wales ever since. She has a good command of Farsi. She went to University of Glamorgan where she gained a BA in communication studies. She completed her postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism at Cardiff University.

Behnaz initially joined the BBC in 2001 working behind the scenes in News. She then went on to become a picture editor and a video journalist, where she produced various stories on Wales Today.

Bethan Rhys Roberts was born and educated in Bangor in North Wales. She knew she wanted to be a journalist from the age of 9 when she wrote a weekly family newsletter to keep relatives in North and South Wales in touch.

Her first headline was "Auntie Blod has new curtains"! So the only way was up! Brought up bilingually, she had a love for languages and went on to study French and Italian at Cardiff University. During her studies she spent a year working as an au pair in Toulouse and studying at the British Institute in Florence.

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Carolyn Hitt combines wit, warmth and a way with words. She has written and presented television and radio series on the arts, popular culture, consumer issues, history and sport for Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales and ITV Wales.

Carolyn's broadcasting projects have ranged from Family Detectives, the popular ITV family history series to Gareth@60, a BBC documentary on rugby legend Gareth Edwards. She is also in demand as a media pundit on a wide variety of subjects, from current affairs to literature and as a producer has worked with some of Wales's most well-known personalities

Chris Corcoran is a highly popular stand-up comic, writer and BBC radio and television presenter. His most recent television series for BBC is 'Wales and the Other Five Nations' where he takes a fun look at the Six Nations it's characters and greatest moments. Chris interviews Martin Johnson; puts Eddie Butler on the spot; asks Iuean Evans about his mud-moustache; mows the lawn of the Millennium Stadium and, finally, has the excuse to dress up as a valley girl - although, in truth, he didn't need much persuading.

Originally from Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Chris started his career as a cameraman, working all over Wales, Europe and the world for clients as diverse as BBC, S4C, The weather channel, Malaysian TV, ZDF and many many more. He has also been responsible for filming and directing a number of different programmes and promotions for S4C and various and numerous clients including WTN, ZDF, Saudi TV, Welsh Tourist Board, Welsh language board, Ty Hafan, WWF, Welsh Assembly, Taste of Wales, Motor Neurone Disease Association, NCH, Chinese Tourism board and the Welsh National Opera.

Television presenter Chris Roberts has extensive experience in the Broadcast industry.  Chris presented on Sky News for twelve years - the last seven as a mainline presenter.  Prior to that Chris was a reporter in the field and studio presenter for ITN and BBC Radio. Chris delivered first-hand coverage of many of the biggest breaking news stories in recent history including the fall of the Berlin Wall, conflicts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 9/11 in New York, the Asian tsunami, and a wide variety of home news events from politics to pop music.

Vivacious television presenter, Claire Summers, is a familiar face on BBC Wales' flagship news programme, 'Wales Today'. Claire enjoys a much varied role on the programme from anchoring the main slot to doing a whole range of live broadcasts from out and about. Claire also presents 2W news and sport. With her easy going personality and highly tuned sense of humour, Claire is extremely popular with viewers and colleagues alike.

Claire is passionate about news, and enjoys the challenge of a hard story but, at the same time, has a lighter touch. She has anchored 'Wales Today' from the National Eisteddfod for several years. and also delighted viewers and visitors to the Royal Welsh Show. She had been asked to enter a Heifer in the main ring and, although she found it a bit of a challenge, she did turn up trumps. Claire is also a very keen sports fan, with only girls in the family, she wasn't left with much choice. She often covers the Sports Correspondent slot.

Without a doubt one of the greatest athletes that Great Britain has ever produced, Colin Jackson called time on his outstanding athletics career in front of an adoring home crowd at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in 2003. After more than a decade spent at the very pinnacle of his sport, it was a fitting end to a glittering career.

110m hurdler Colin ranked in the world top 10 for 16 years, was World No.1 from 1992-1994 and, for the last 7 years of his career, was never out of the world's top 3 and since setting a European junior record of 13.44 in 1986, went on to set 7 European, 8 Commonwealth and 9 UK records at 110mh. Colin still holds the World Record over 60mh indoors (7.30, Sindelfingen 1994) and, has only recently been robbed of his 13years World Record over 110mh outdoors (12.91, World Title, Stuttgart 1993).

Derek Brockway is Welsh born and bred and his interest in the weather began as a young boy growing up in Barry during the long, hot summer of 1976. He left school in 1986 and joined the Met Office, based mainly at Cardiff Weather Centre but with spells observing the weather at Cardiff Airport, Birmingham Airport and eight months in the Falkland Islands. He qualified as a forecaster in 1995 and was posted to Birmingham Weather Centre, broadcasting on several BBC Radio stations across the Midlands.

In December 1995 Derek moved to London and work in the world of television preparing the ITV National Weather and Channel 4 weather. He has also broadcast on GMTV's 'The Sunday Programme'.

Dr Paul Thomas is one of those rare speakers and academics who are placed not only at the cutting edge knowledge and company development but has spent many years managing companies in both private and public services. He has also spent many months/years overseas consulting in India, China, Malaysia, Pakistan and parts of Europe, gaining significant experience in development and implementation of leadership within varying cultural environments.

Frances was born in Cardiff and attended University there. Her career in broadcasting started in radio - at 210FM in Reading and Severn Sound in Gloucester. She went from there to HTV West before going on to Meridian TV, ITN and Sky News. This lead to her working on Sky Sports and News 24 Sport. She has reported from a number of Six Nations OB's for BBC Network Sport and has also presented from the Commonwealth Games for BBC Wales.

Frances is a familiar and popular host to viewers and listeners throughout Wales and beyond. She's a much respected anchor of sports programming including 'Wales on Saturday', 'Sports Personality of the Year', 'International Snooker', 'Bowls' and 'Boxing' all for BBC television.

Frank Hennessy is one of Wales' best loved and most popular television and radio presenters. Frank has had his own BBC radio programme for very many years and has, over the last few years, been travelling all over the world recording television programmes exploring the background of music.

Frank is one of Wales' most prolific singer/songwriters. His musical career has taken him to every corner of the British Isles and even as far away as New Orleans, Boston and Newfoundland.

Born in Llangefri, Anglesey, Hywel Gwynfryn is a very happy self- confessed workacholic....

Television presenter, Iolo Williams, grew up in in Llanwddyn near Lake Vyrnwy. At the beginning of 1985, Iolo got a job with the RSPB and spent the next 14 years working for the organisation. During this time, he became a regular on the media - on TV, radio and in newspapers - making a name for himself as a leading expert on Welsh birdlife.

His big TV break came in 1997 when BBC Wales approached him to work on a new series called 'Visions of Snowdonia' which followed the lives of six people living and working on the slopes of the country's highest mountain. He was offered a second series - this time, Iolo was 'Birdman' and it's a name that has stuck.

Iwan Thomas MBE is without a doubt, one of the greatest athletes that Britain has produced. 

Born on 5th January 1974; His initial athletics breakthrough came at the "World Junior Championships" in 1992, as part of the British 4x400m relay team, in which they won 5th place. In 1993, Iwan attended West London Institute of Higher Education, studying Sports Science and Geography. Working extremely hard, Iwan managed to juggle his studies and training which paid off, in 1994 took part in the "Commonwealth Games" 400 metres, setting a Welsh Record where he reached the semi-finals, representing Wales.

Broadcaster and journalist Jamie Owen anchors the country's most watched TV News programme BBC Wales Today and the country's most listened to radio show broadcast from Wales, Jamie & Louise - (co presented with Louise Elliott) the corporation's flagship radio show.

Jamie's broadcasting career began in London. He quickly became one of the UK's most familiar voices reading the shipping forecast, the news and Today in Parliament on BBC Radio Four. He recently returned to his roots at Radio Three to narrate Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Jason Mohammad is one of BBC Wales' most experienced and high profile news and sport presenters. He is currently one of the main presenters of Wales Today and is also the presenter of Wales on Saturday, BBC1's fast moving sport results programme. In late 2007, Jason also became the face of BBC Wales' new sport programme, Sport Wales and also presents live football.

Jason is one of the most popular broadcasters and can also be heard on BBC Radio Wales. He has presented Good Morning Wales and is a team captain on the light hearted sports quiz Extra Time.

Jonathan has been the main news anchor for ITV Wales for more than a decade and is a very familiar face for Welsh viewers. With over fifteen years of broadcasting experience he is a highly accomplished live performer both in the studio and on location.

Jonathan is also an award winning journalist and in 2001 he was named Welsh Journalist of the Year for his work with the flagship news programme 'Wales Tonight' and the current affairs series 'Wales This Week'.

Kevin Green is one of the most sought after speakers – not only in Wales but throughout the world. A former dairy farmer turned property mogul and trainer, Kevin was on Channel 4's Secret Millionaires

Kevin is Wales' most successful residential landlord. When you meet him and hear his fascinating story, not only will you be bowled over by his knowledge and enthusiasm for life and the property industry but you will find his 'rags to riches' story rather larger than life. Kevin, a property guru, social entrepreneur and trainer is the proud owner of 267 properties throughout Wales, worth in excess of £29 million.

Lorraine is a brilliant young singer/songwriter who has had great success with her recordings. With superb hard-hitting production and lyrics that tackle issues, her unique style of humour and gutsy vocals are a powerful combination.

Lorraine has devised a one woman show especially catering for cabaret style performances at theatres and in function suites, bringing an extra dimension to after dinner entertainment.

Louise Elliott is a versatile presenter, bringing warmth and energy to her radio and television shows.

With an honest and friendly approach, Louise has presented a wide range of live lifestyle, current affairs and consumer programmes. She is an accomplished interviewer, at ease in the company of politicians, professionals, celebrities and particularly the audience.

Born and bred in Gowerton, Swansea, Lowri graduated in Music - specialising in voice. She is an accomplished soloist as well as being a trained violinist and pianist. During her youth, she was a member of the National Youth Choir as well as the National Youth Orchestra and travelled with the county orchestra as their soloist singing Welsh folk songs throughout America.

Stunning television presenter Mai Davies has had an impressive career in television to-date. She was, for several years, the reader of the daily Sky Television news. Mai has also presented many other television programmes, including the weekly chat show/discussion programme 'On the Edge' featuring high profile celebrities and prominent figures; 'Wales This Week', the award winning weekly investigative current affairs programme; 'First Past The Post', a 'Pop Idol' type competition to find an 'alternative politician'; 'Sharp End Debates' studio debates during Assembly and General Elections as 'Question Time'; 'Sharp End', an issue based political discussion programme and 'Wales Decides', live Assembly Election results.

Whatever your occasion, Mark is perfect with his witty opera tales and insightful anecdotes of what really happens backstage! An evening with Mark will take you on an emotional journey, making you laugh, cry and leaving you breathless with his heartfelt renditions of traditional classics like Myfanwy & Some Enchanted Evening.

Multi-talented Mike Doyle excels at everything he does. His television performances always command top viewing figures and he is one of Wales' favourite radio presenters.

Mike is a West End singer and award winning comic who leaves his audiences spellbound after his many appearances all over the world. He rarely leaves the stage without a standing ovation.

Mike won the 'Stage Comedy Newcomer of the Year' at the British Comedy Awards in 1990 and he has been thrilling audiences worldwide with his brilliant performances ever since. He has also appeared in 'high profile' pantomimes every year since 1988.

Nigel Walker first achieved world class recognition as an athlete when he represented Great Britain as a high hurdler on 30 occasions at all major events, including the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Nigel retired from athletics in 1992 to pursue a second sports career as a rugby union player with Cardiff RFC. In his first season he was capped for Wales at full international level and went on to accrue 17 full international caps.

Penny Roberts is one of Wales's most respected and well known television journalists and presenters, with a BBC career that spanned more than two decades. In that time Penny has been at the centre of all the major news events and stories and has built a reputation as a formidable interviewer but is also a presenter who is warm and has a light touch when required.

Penny began her career in independent radio before moving to anchor the main drive-time news programme on BBC Radio Wales. She also worked as the country's network correspondent and has been a regular reporter on Radio 4's 'Today' programme. A move to television followed and for five years Penny anchored 'Wales Today', before being appointed the programme's Chief Reporter.

Phil Bennett: Llanelli RFC. Wales. British Lions & Barbarians

When asked to describe Phil Bennett, one rugby author wrote: "There is a word in Spanish which is used when other superlatives are deemed inadequate - 'Duendne'. It has no equivalent in English or Welsh but it accurately describes that doyen of Welsh Rugby, Phil Bennett. He was a rugby player whose talents defy definition; a mercurial mix of the impressive, the unexpected and dare I say, the superhuman!"

Broadcaster and former schoolteacher Phil Steele is one of Wales' most popular after dinner speakers.

His strong sporting background as a former top class welsh rugby player with Newport RFC in the 1980's together with his role as a mirthful radio presenter and sports commentator for BBC Wales radio and television have enabled him to develop a wide variety of material.

Piers Bramhall was the face of a multi-million pound advertising campaign "We Want Piers Bramhall" for Welsh Tourism.

Rebecca John is a popular and experienced reporter and presenter on the television news programme, BBC Wales Today.

Rebecca has a passion for languages and studied French and German at Cambridge University. She has also learnt Welsh and has appeared on the S4C programme, Welsh in a Week. Her love of language and attention to detail have earned her the title of Wales Today's unofficial 'grammar tsar'.

Rory Cellan-Jones has been a reporter for the BBC for more than two decades, covering business and technology stories for much of that time.

Rory's on-screen career began as reporter for 'Wales Today' in Cardiff, from where he moved to London as a reporter on 'Breakfast Time'. He quickly transferred to business coverage, working across the BBC's output from the 'Money Programme' to 'Newsnight', from the 'Today' programme to the 'Ten O Clock News'. The stories he has covered range from Black Wednesday and the Maxwell trial to the dot com bubble and the rise of Google.

Roy Noble is a former Head Teacher. His move to broadcasting was gradual and part-time at first but Roy is now one of the best loved and most listened to broadcasters in Wales. His unique brand of humour, easy-going personality and power of verbal communication has made his daily BBC Radio Wales programme one of the most popular in Wales for which he received a Sony Award in 1999.

Roy has also had a highly successful career in television - Network BBC and S4C - working both in the medium of Welsh and English. He has been presenter on a diet series with Barbara Dickson and a three times a week magazine programme.

After working for many years at the BBC in Cardiff, both on air and off, Ruth took the plunge last year and set up her own interior design/decorating business. She had, for many years, been steadily building a reputation for her fantastic designs in both fashion and interiors. She was so much in demand that she knew she had to make the choice. Giving up her safe and exciting position with the BBC was something she thought long and hard about, knowing she would miss the excitement of live broadcasting.

Ruth, the daughter of a Baptist Minister, was always particularly keen on environmental issues but, motherhood made her even more aware of our 'carbon footprint' and the reality of climate change. More and more clients had been really interested in using the Eco-friendly products Ruth would promote. It was no accident, therefore, that when Ruth finally decided to leave the BBC and set up her business, it was on the premise that only the safest of products would be used. 'Pink Hat' was incepted in early 2006.

Ruth Madoc is best known for her wonderful portrayal of Gladys Pugh in the classic comedy series 'Hi-De-Hi!' for which received a BAFTA nomination.

A graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she has covered every aspect of the theatrical and entertainment industry, making her one of the country's most sought after leading ladies.

Sara is one of Wales' best known and much loved television presenters. She was born in Wales but grew up and was educated in London where she studied her BA Hons in Medieval and Modern History.

Sara commenced her broadcasting career with Capital Radio in London where she co-wrote a drama documentary series on the history of London. The success of this led to County Sound in Guildford, where she presented a late night music show five nights a week. The offer of her own show followed with lots of music, chat and live phone-ins. She also produced and presented a 'Down Your Way' type programme which was a huge hit with the listeners of Surrey and Hampshire and the 'Sara Show' ended up being extended to three hours by the independent radio authority ILR.

Sarah is one of the most established and experienced Presenters in Wales. For twenty years she has worked for the BBC presenting live network programmes on BBC 1 and 2 as well as a wide range of television and radio programmes for BBC Wales .She currently presents BBC Wales's flagship news programme Good Morning Wales and produces a variety of documentaries for her own independent production company.

Sarah started out in journalism at Gwent Broadcasting just as the 1984 Miners Strike began. She was the radio stations sole reporter on the year long strike. She gained a huge amount of experience and won the trust of all sides of the dispute, leading politicians and communities. That trust then enabled her to break a host of exclusive stories across the UK.

Hugely popular and high profile in Wales, Sarra is one of the most talented, professional and attractive presenters around.

Sarra is currently the pitch-side reporter for Clwb Rygbi on S4C. She is also the presenter for Speedway on Sky Sports, Rugby World Cup and Celtic League Rugby for S4C/BBC. A lover of all sport and music, she was the presenter for Wakestock 2008 shown on both S4C and Channel 4. Most recently Sarra could be seen presenting 100% Rugby, 100% Fitness, Paparazzi and Bandit, a prime-time weekly youth music show plus Ceri Greu which is a children's art programme all for S4C.

Sean Fletcher is a sport presenter on BBC One, and the BBC News Channel.

Sean's story is one of seizing opportunities, from when he got his initial break on BBC Wales, to doing the 10 O'Clock News alongside Moira Stewart at short notice because the regular sport presenter was suddenly taken ill.

Sian Lloyd has been a familiar face on BBC Wales Television for more than ten years. She currently presents Wales Today and the two hour drive-time radio news programme, Good Evening Wales on BBC Radio Wales.

Dame Tanni Grey Thompson is Britain's most successful Paralympic athlete ever!

Born in Cardiff in 1969, Tanni was named Carys Davina. However, when her sister first saw her she called her "tiny" which stuck and became Tanni. Tanni was born with spina bifida but with the support of her parents she was always encouraged to be independent. Tanni attended her local primary school – at first using crutches and callipers and then a wheelchair. She progressed to St. Cyres Comprehensive School and subsequently obtained an honours degree in Politics at Loughborough University.

Wynne is one of the UK's leading tenors, having sung as a principal with all of the major opera houses and orchestras, including Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera and English National Opera..

Wynne Evans was born in Carmarthen, South Wales and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the National Opera Studio, London.