Officers
Academi Chief Executive: Peter FinchAuthor, poet and literary entrepreneur. For many years ran Oriel, the Arts Council of Wales’ bookshop in Cardiff. Author of many books including Food (Seren), How to Publish Yourself (A&B) and Real Cardiff (Seren).
Deputy: Lleucu SiencynOriginally from Talgarreg, Cardiganshire. A graduate of English Literature from New College, Oxford. After brief periods travelling South America, she worked as researcher and scriptwriter for Welsh television companies. Formerly Literature Officer at the Arts Council of Wales before joining the Academi in 2002.
Events Manager: Hollie Aldridge
Northern girl Hollie is originally from Wigan in Lancashire. Enticed by the seaside town of Aberystwyth she studied English Literature at the university, graduating in 2005. She then moved to the bright lights of Cardiff to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on their post graduate Arts Management course. Hollie joined Academi in April 2006
Business Manager: Elinor RobsonOriginally from Llandysul, Ceredigion. She gained a degree in French from Sussex University, Brighton and also spent a year studying at Toulouse le Mirail University in France. She completed an MA in Literature in European Cultures at Cardiff University. After working for the National Assembly and as a Library Assistant at Cardiff University, she joined the Academi in 2004.
Personal Assistant to Chief Executive: Elin WilliamsSoon after completing her degree in Law with Welsh at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2004, Elin moved to Cardiff and decided that it was with the Arts she belonged. She previously worked at Wales Millennium Centre before joining the Academi in 2005.
Gwen hails from Llanfairpwlletc. Before joining the Academi as Gwynedd Literature Promoter in 2002, she has worked as an actress, performing on stage and screen. A writer of plays, poetry and prose, she published her first novel for young people in 2001, Sgribls Hogan Flêr (Lolfa) and is currently working on her next novel.
Literature Officer: Petra BennettBorn and raised in Cardiff. Educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari. Graduated in German and Librarianship from University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She enjoys travelling, especially to Berlin, is interested in photography, and is a keen reader of Welsh, English and German literature. Her latest passion is opera.
Accounts Officer: Mary Cassar
Mary returned to full time education as a mature student to obtain a Business Studies Degree. Having successfully completed the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Professional Exams in 2005, she was awarded fellowship membership in 2010. She is an active member of the South Wales AAT Branch. She has three decades of accountancy experience, having worked in both public and private practice. Mary is fluent in Greek, and is currently learning Welsh.
Schemes Officer: Bronwen Price
Bronwen was born and brought up in Somerset, but her father’s side of the family is from Cardiff. She gained an Archaeology and Anthropology degree from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and went on to study for an MA in European Prehistory at Cardiff University. After a few years teaching A Levels, she returned to Cardiff to study for a PhD in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of western Britain, which she recently passed with no corrections. Her first published work is a chapter in Prehistoric Journeys (Oxbow, 2007), with more forthcoming.
South Wales Valleys Literature Development Officer: Louise Richards
Born in Windsor, but with family in Wales, Louise decided to return to the Fair Country in 1995. With a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from Exeter Arts College, and a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education, she began a fulfilling career in Bookselling, Libraries, Literature and Arts Development. She joined Academi in August 2007.
Schemes and Data Manager: Elena SchmitzOriginally from Osnabrueck in North Germany, Elena came to Cardiff in 2004 as part of her degree ‘Master In British Studies’ at Humboldt University, Berlin. Prior to this she gained an MA in English Linguistics/Literature and Communication Studies at Essen University and has worked for various arts organisations in Cardiff, including Wales at the Venice Biennale of Art and Wales Arts International. She was Chapter’s Visual Arts Officer for two years before joining Academi in December 2008.
Meleri is from Crymych, Pembrokeshire originally. She graduated in Welsh from Aberystwyth University in 2009 and joined the Academi the following month.
Sioned graduated in Welsh at Aberystwyth University before moving to Cardiff to work with the National Eisteddfod. She then moved back to north Wales to work with the Academi in 2009. Her interests include literature and poetry.
Write for Life Project Manager: Sarah RichardsBorn and bred in Swansea, Sarah graduated from Cardiff University in 2008 with a BSc in Psychology. Since then Sarah worked for the National Probation Trust as a Research Co-ordinator before leaving the Trust in March 2010. Sarah is a volunteer for the mental health agency MIND and joined the Academi in May 2010.
Brought up on a farm near Monmouth, Sarah moved to Cardiff in 2004 to study English Literature and Cultural Criticism at Cardiff University. Since graduating she has worked in the library at the Cardiff School of Art and Design, delivered community arts workshops and organised the marketing and publicity at publisher Leaf Books. Alongside literature she is fascinated by folk tales, enjoys cycling and loves to learn new crafts. Sarah joined the Academi in May 2010.
Administrative and Schemes Officer: Catrin Davies
Originally from Tregaron, Ceredigion. A graduate of Fine Art from Kingston University. Catrin moved to Cardiff at the start of 2010 and worked as a guide for the Artes Mundi exhibition before joining the Academi later in the year.