Our Advisory Network
Ashley Bale
Digital Inclusion & Innovations Manager for Innovate Trust, Ashley has a passion for bridging the digital divide through assistive technology. He is leading transformative initiatives leveraging IoT solutions to enhance independence for individuals with disabilities. As the driving force behind award-winning projects like the ‘Insight’ app and intelligent personal assistants, my work has been recognised for significantly improving wellbeing and digital accessibility across the UK.
His leadership approach is founded on continuous learning and innovation, currently enhanced through my master’s studies in Leadership in Digital Transformation.
Ashley remains committed to creating inclusive digital ecosystems where technology serves as an equaliser, enabling everyone to thrive in our increasingly connected world.
Liz Hayward
Liz is an experienced HR, OD and L&D professional, currently HR Manager at Creo Medical Ltd.
Creo medical operates globally and employing within UK, US, EU and Asia Pacific regions. Creo Medical is a medical device company focused on the emerging field of surgical endoscopy, a recent development in minimally invasive surgery.
Over recent times, the team at Creo has expanded significantly and globally through a combination of organic growth and M&A to introduce additional experience into the design, manufacture, production and commercialisation of electrosurgical medical devices.
Liz has a background experience across a range of sectors, and also of leading her own consultancy.
Richard Houdmont
Richard worked in publishing for over 25 years. He then worked for CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) as Regional Director for Wales, subsequently adding Ireland and the Isle of Man to his portfolio. During that time he was a regular contributor to BBC Radio Wales’s Good Morning Wales programme and has written for a variety of newspapers and magazines.
Richard has extensive experience of committee work having been Chair of Literary Publishers (Wales) Ltd (1999-2006); a member of the Welsh Books Council Marketing Panel (from 1991, Chair 2001-2006) and Board member of Sgript Cymru – Contemporary Drama Wales (2000 – 2007). He was a Board member of Poetry Wales Press (2006 – 2021); a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Library of Wales from 2016 to 2020: and member of The Welsh for Adults Scrutiny Committee (2016 – 2023) which scrutinised the work of the National Centre for Learning Welsh on behalf of the Welsh Government.
He is currently an independent member of Amgueddfa Cymru’s Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. In his spare time, he plays badminton and tennis and is learning blues piano.
Gaynor Lewis MSC, FloL
An experienced leader with over 25 years in senior leadership roles, within the vocational education sector. Since retiring from The Institute of Leadership in 2024, she has been supporting senior team members and CEOs across a range of sectors – through executive coaching, action learning and leading change programmes.
Gaynor is a strong believer in the power of making ‘time to think’ and is a Founding Member & Co-Chair of the All-Wales Coaching Alliance (AWCA) sharing best practice and professional development for coaches across Wales.
Siân Rees
Dr. Siân Rees is an education and change consultant with over 13 years’ experience in higher education, previously as Associate Dean, Enterprise and Innovation at Cardiff School of Management and Head of Newport Business School. Prior to entering HE, she gained wide-ranging experience over more than 25 years in industry, performing key education and training, sales and IT senior management roles at UK and European levels for a variety of international IT and financial services companies, including Barclays Bank and Oracle.
Alongside her executive roles, Siân has built up significant experience as a non-executive director and trustee including roles at Cardiff University, Girlguiding Cymru, Institute of Directors Wales, Chartered Management Institute, Chartered Association of Business Schools (Small Business Charter), United World Colleges and Seren Publishing.
Specific Areas: Change leadership, organisational culture and knowledge capital.
