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.
Schemes Officer: Bob MoleBob Mole has an English degree from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and part–trained as an accountant with the-then Peat Marwick Mitchell accountancy firm. He joined the South-east Wales Arts Association in Cwmbran in 1977 and in 1998 he joined the re-formed Academi. Bob is also a freelance tutor and part-time gardener. He has written three books of local sporting history.
Literature Officer: Hollie AldridgeNorthern 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.
Administrative Officer: Bethan Lloyd
Originally from Cilgerran, in Pembrokeshire. Bethan moved to the Cardiff in 2003 to study, and graduated in Welsh from Cardiff University. She went on to work for the Assembly for a period, before venturing back to Cardigan to work for a local paper. Following this, she took some time travelling the world. Bethan joined Academi in 2009.
Originally from Cilgerran, in Pembrokeshire. Bethan moved to the Cardiff in 2003 to study, and graduated in Welsh from Cardiff University. She went on to work for the Assembly for a period, before venturing back to Cardigan to work for a local paper. Following this, she took some time travelling the world. Bethan joined Academi in 2009.
Accounts Officer: Mary CassarMary 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 currently enjoys full membership. Mary is looking forward to applying for fellow membership in 2010. She is an active member of the AAT, enjoying the role of Secretary of the South Wales Branch. She has over two decades of accountancy experience, having worked in both public and private practice. Mary is fluent in Greek, and is currently learning Welsh.
Part-time Administrative Assistant: Bronwen PriceBronwen 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 has returned to Cardiff to study for a PhD in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age of western Britain. Her first published work is a chapter in Prehistoric Journeys (Oxbow, 2007).
South Wales Valleys Literature Development Officer: Louise RichardsBorn 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.
Project Support Officer: Branwen Haf WilliamsOriginally from Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, Branwen ventured down to Cardiff in 2007 to study an M.A course in folk studies. She studied Welsh and Drama at Aberystwyth University, and apart from the literature world, her main interest is music.
Project 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.
Write for Life Project Officer - Johanne Maggs
Johanne is originally from St George, Bristol and first arrived in Wales in 1999 to study a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport Science and Modern Languages at the University of Wales Newport. Having graduated in 2002 she found work as a teaching assistant in Bristol in schools as well as in a Young Offenders Institute where she embarked on a teaching career working with male offenders aged 15 - 18 as a Life Skills Teacher. Johanne achieved her PGCE the same year as she moved back across the bridge, but this time swapped the bright lights of the city for the vibes of the valleys.Johanne has previously worked as an Education Development Officer for Gwent ISSP and recently qualified as a Dyslexia Teacher. Joined Academi on 1st April 2009.
Johanne is originally from St George, Bristol and first arrived in Wales in 1999 to study a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport Science and Modern Languages at the University of Wales Newport. Having graduated in 2002 she found work as a teaching assistant in Bristol in schools as well as in a Young Offenders Institute where she embarked on a teaching career working with male offenders aged 15 - 18 as a Life Skills Teacher. Johanne achieved her PGCE the same year as she moved back across the bridge, but this time swapped the bright lights of the city for the vibes of the valleys.Johanne has previously worked as an Education Development Officer for Gwent ISSP and recently qualified as a Dyslexia Teacher. Joined Academi on 1st April 2009.
Literature Officer: Meleri Thomas
Meleri is from Crymych, Pembrokeshire originally. She graduated in Welsh from Aberystwyth University in 2009 and joined the Academi the following month.
Meleri is from Crymych, Pembrokeshire originally. She graduated in Welsh from Aberystwyth University in 2009 and joined the Academi the following month.
North Wales Fieldworker: Sioned Mair Jones
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.
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.