Siân Gwenllian

Personal history.

I live in Y Felinheli where i grew up. I went to school at Bangor and then to Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities. I marries Dafydd Vernon from Penygroes in 1988 but sadly, he died of cancer in 1999 and I raised our four children on my own. The youngest at the time was three, and the oldest was eight. All four are now adults and two live in Y Felinheli. My Mum lives in Pen Llŷn - a place that is very close to my heart. 

Professional background.

After graduating with a degree in geography, I followed a postgraduate course in journalism and worked in news, current affairs and public relations. I worked for the BBC, ITV, Golwg and as a press officer for Gwynedd Council. The journalistic skills I learned during that time are invaluable to my work as an Assembly Member. 

Political background.

I joined Plaid Cymru and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg as a school pupil. At college, I was a passionate campaigner for the Welsh language, for women's equality and against all forms of injustice. I was elected Deputy President of the Aberystwyth Guild of Students in 1977. I was a community councillor and school governor and active in many community initiatives before being elected to Gwynedd Council in 2008. I was the cabinet leader on finance and then education, children and young people. Subsequently, in 2016 I was elected to the Senedd to represent the people I grew up with in Arfon and I count it a great privilege to this day.

Main Duties.

• Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru'r Shadow Cabinet, and Business Organiser/Chief Whip
• Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
• Director of Communications on Plaid Cymru's Executive
• Member of the Senedd's Committee for Children, Young People and Education, Finance Committee and the Senedd's Business Committee
• Co-chair of the Senedd's Women's Cross-Party Group

An interesting fact about you?

I have a Welsh red sheep dog called Mali.