Meet Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru

Based near Cardiff since 2023, having chosen to pursue personal and professional interests, and enjoy speaking more Welsh, Llyr is “fresh” from a distinguished 35+ year career in the cable industry, mostly with Pirelli/Prysmian. He brings world-class commercial insight and energy. Llyr has lived and worked in Italy, Australia, Hungary, Germany and the UK, occupying leadership roles, ultimately as Global Senior Vice President for Prysmian’s Multimedia business unit. Prior to this he was SVP of New markets, Regional CEO Oceania, Regional CEO Eastern Europe, and Country CEO.

Llyr has a B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, a M.Phil. in Optical Fibre Technology, and an MBA. He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Chartered Engineer. 

Rebecca leads work on planning and communities at Regen, a not-for-profit centre of energy expertise. She holds a PhD in environmental planning and has expertise in community engagement and the social acceptance of renewable energy. She is a chartered town planner and is an expert in the planning system for renewable energy. Previously Rebecca worked as a senior lecturer in environmental planning where she designed and led masters level teaching on renewable energy.

With 27 years at CEO/Chairman level under his belt, David has vast experience of renewable energy development. His impact, progressing utility level work with SWALEC, and in fast growing private companies, including high performing, environmental Ventus Venture Capital Trust, have led to honours and awards. These include an honorary doctorate from the University of South Wales, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Renewable Energy Association, Ernst&Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, and Welsh Supergrowth Award 2018. He has raised £2.3 billion for renewable energy projects serving 1.3 million homes and saving 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ per annum. Formerly an advisor to UK Government, he now continues to support industry, innovation and well-being in Wales, via Cardiff Universities Industrial Advisory Bord, as NED for Sero, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and as Trustee of Kidney Wales.

Chris runs a utility scale solar PV business with interests in England and Wales. Prior to this, he was CEO of an African renewable energy company. He has a broad range of experience from over 35 years of working in the energy sector.

Earlier in his career he held executive roles at Powergen and Scottish Power, where he had day-to-day responsibility for all the company’s UK generating sites totalling over 6000MW of capacity. He subsequently served as an Executive Director at the Environment Agency with corporate responsibility for driving Performance and Innovation. He went on to found a company which developed marine renewable energy projects.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Aston University in 2015 in recognition of his work in the renewable energy sector.

Chief Executive of a regional older person’s charity, Connor’s background is in public administration and public service. Years of volunteering have instilled in him the power of process – exemplified by effective emergency response, as a volunteer station officer with HM Coastguard; and the power of people. He is trustee of Ategi, a charity dedicated to empowering community-driven solutions to address complex social challenges. Connor is a passionate advocate of the positive change-making potential of renewable energy, for its mitigating effect on the climate crisis and for communities. He will encourage Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru’s focus on the well-being of individuals and communities and is keen to explore how we can contribute to addressing issues of poverty, inequality and lack-of-agency. Connor’s approach to delivery is collaborative and inclusive.

Richard has worked in the renewable energy industry for eighteen years, developing large, complex infrastructure projects across England and Wales. Before joining Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru Richard, working as a consultant, was Director of the Welsh Government Renewable Energy Developer Programme which carried out an estate wide feasibility study, identified a potential portfolio of projects and supported the establishment of Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru. Richard was raised in Mid Wales and is a fluent Welsh speaker.

Catrin’s focus at Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru is delivering benefits, now, and long term. Catrin will seek a broad and inclusive range of community voices and stakeholder perspectives, to shape projects and inform programmes.

Born in Eryri, Catrin studied geology. In a career spanning three decades (so far), and hyper-local to international spheres, she has been involved in natural resource exploration, extraction, and ultimately, better, fairer ways of working with nature.

Previously Head of Stakeholder Engagement for Offshore Wind at Vattenfall, Catrin brings insights from different regimes regulating development across Europe. Her work in Cymru, ranges from designing dialogue informing the Well Being of Future Generations Act, to the establishment of the Pen y Cymoedd Community Benefit Fund.

Catrin lives with her family in Powys

Simon’s role is to lead Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru’s development activities, setting out a clear development strategy for a portfolio of projects on the public estate. His passion is working with local supply chains and communities to sensitively design large scale renewable energy projects that are commercially viable and deliver maximum social, economic and environmental value, to host communities and to Wales as a whole. 

Simon grew up in Swansea. He studied geology and worked in the Oil & Gas sector as an offshore engineer before returning to university to complete an MSc in Renewable Energy & Resource Management at the University of South Wales in 2006. Since then, he has worked within the renewables sector, primarily onshore wind and solar development across Wales and the UK.

He lives in Cardiff with his young family.

Daniel has worked in the Welsh renewables sector for over 15 years.

For more than 10 years, Daniel has worked as an environmental consultant, supporting private and public sector developers with prospective onshore energy generation projects and electricity transmission / distribution projects. In addition, Daniel spent five years working as a Development Manager for an independent renewables company, RES UK & Ireland Ltd, focussing on the delivery of large-scale onshore wind projects in Wales and England.

As part of Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru’s Development Team, Daniel will be responsible for the successful delivery of renewable energy projects across Wales from inception until handover to the construction team.

Daniel has lived in Wales for over 20 years and is currently based outside Cardiff with his young family.

Mark's role is to manage the delivery of Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru’s development projects through the planning process.  

Mark grew up in Aberystwyth. He studied City & Regional Planning in Cardiff University graduating with a BSc (Hons) and Diploma in 1996. He has been a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 1997. Mark's career started in the Planning Departments of two Local Planning Authorities in Wales before working in the private sector as a planning consultant for over 20 years based in Cardiff.  Mark has secured planning consent for a wide range of development projects in Wales, including renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

He lives in Monmouthshire with his family.

Steve joined Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru in May 2024. A chartered accountant, with commercial and not-for-profit experience, Steve is responsible for the effective management of Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru’s finances.

Following several years in NHS and Welsh Government finance functions, Steve moved to Community Housing Cymru. Here, he was integral in establishing a Welsh Bond, a vehicle employed to attract finance into Wales increasing the provision of homes for the people of Wales, supporting regeneration, and enhancing local communities. Before joining Trydan, Steve was a leader in the finance team of Drive, a large social care charity, operating across South Wales.

Steve is originally from West Wales and now lives on the outskirts of Cardiff.

Russell provides technical leadership and geospatial expertise to Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru. With over 20 years’ experience of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data management and spatial analysis, including automation, he will ensure we apply and enhance industry best practice throughout our portfolio and programmes.

Russell has worked across a range of industries including water, environmental consultancy and engineering/design.  Highlights include providing technical leadership on significant national-scale projects for clients such as the Welsh Government, High Speed Two Ltd. and the Environment Agency, alongside many other smaller projects across the UK.

He lives in Cardiff with his young family.