David Gilbert Chairperson Expand David joined the Board of Trustees in 2009 and became Chairman in 2013. David retired from the role of Deputy Chief Executive at Carmarthenshire County Council in 2015 after 12 years with the Authority. He had also worked in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Local Authorities since moving to Wales in 1992. He is a Board member of Swansea Bay City Region and recently joined the Advisory Board of the Port Talbot Enterprise Zone. In 2012 David was awarded an OBE for services to Regeneration and Skills in West Wales. Originally from Hereford, he is still a season ticket holder at Hereford FC and a regular at Llandovery RFC.
Dafydd Jones Morris Expand Dafydd Jones-Morris joined the Board of Trustees in 2012. A former paramedic and regional operational director within the Welsh Ambulance Service, Dafydd brings to the Board almost 40 years of experience in pre-hospital care. He was part of a working group which coordinated the implementation of a consultant-led service at the charity's Caernarfon airbase. Heralding from Bangor, Dafydd is passionate about his local community and is a member of the Welsh Highland Railway Society, a male voice choir, and is Chair of the Community Council.
Jim Wagstaffe Expand Jim Wagstaffe joined the Board of Trustees in 2013. Jim has worked in Human Resources and management roles for more than 30 years. His experience extends from private sector manufacturing to the public sector and NHS, and now runs his own HR and Management consultancy. He chairs Wales Air Ambulance's HR committee on the Board. Jim lives in north-east Wales, where he enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering as a school governor. He is a fan of the North Wales Crusaders Rugby League.
Owain Davies Expand Owain is Managing Director of Amcanu Ltd, a specialist designer and manufacturer of Acoustic Attenuating Enclosures and sheet metal solutions. He is also a qualified helicopter pilot and served as a helmsman on the lifeboat at Burry Port for nearly 25 years. Owain is a council member of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) in Wales and Chairman of the Enterprise Forum for the SME Sector (Small to Medium Enterprise). He became a Wales Air Ambulance Trustee in 2017, sits on the Charity’s Aviation Sub Group and is Director of Cardiff Heliport.
Mark James Expand Mark is one of only two of the original Trustees still involved with the Charity. Professionally, he is a freelance Broadcaster, Writer and Television Director; his work includes directing outside broadcasts for ‘Crimewatch Roadshow’ for BBC One and eight years reporting on the World Rally Championship for BBC TV and Radio. Besides his involvement with WAAC, Mark has been a Community First Responder for the Welsh Ambulance Service since 2009 and was part of a Coastguard cliff rescue team for over thirty years. Mark is a Welsh speaker and frequently gives media interviews on behalf of the Charity.
Stephen Ley Expand Stephen joined the Board of Trustees in 2020. He retired from his role as a Partner at Deloitte LLP in 2021, after more than 23 years with the firm. He was the global co-leader for payments and for several years led Deloitte’s technology risk practice. Stephen has served on the boards of a number of other charities and regularly advised boards during his professional career. Stephen lives in Pembrokeshire with his family where he a local tour guide, photographer and writer. He is enjoying learning and practicing Welsh.
Amanda Burdge Expand Amanda joined the board of Trustees in 2020. She is a member of the Charity's Finance Sub Committee and in this role helps to set the strategic direction and oversee the organisation’s finances and investments. Amanda is a Partner at Quantum Advisory, an independent financial services consultancy based in Cardiff. An experienced investment professional, she is Head of Investment for the business and oversees the investments of pension schemes across the UK. She also sits on the Regulation Committee for the Pensions Management Institute, ensuring the regulatory strategic objectives of the Institute are being delivered and remain appropriate. A Welsh learner, Amanda also enjoys walking and reading in her spare time.
Louise Church Expand Louise joined the board of Trustees in 2020. Louise is an experienced health and safety professional with over 16 years of experience gained from working within a research led HE institution with a diverse portfolio of H&S hazards, and other large organisations. Louise also owns her own health, safety and wellbeing consultancy through which she works with a broad range of SMEs and larger organisations. In addition, Louise works for NEBOSH (an awarding organisation for professional qualifications in health, safety and environmental management) and volunteers for a charity working with vulnerable and homeless people in Swansea.