91AV

Professor Louise Archer OBE (FBA, FAcSS, Ph.D) is the Karl Mannheim Chair of Sociology of Education at University College London (UCL). She researches educational identities and inequalities, particularly in relation to social class, gender and race/ethnicity. She has authored over 100 academic publications and directed numerous research projects, including 14 year, longitudinal ASPIRES study. Her research on inequalities in STEM participation spans primary, secondary, higher education and informal learning settings. Louise is passionate about participatory research-practice partnership working with educators and young people to improve equity in STEM. The impact of her research on STEM education policy and practice has been recognized by prizes from the British Educational Research Association (2019), the UK Economic and Social Research Council (2020) and the 2022 Royal Society Athena Prize for work supporting diversity in STEM. She was an original co-founder of the Athena SWAN Charter, now the main gender equality scheme across UK higher education. Her services to education were recognised in the King's 2025  New Year Honours.

Talk: Time to call the emergency plumber? What research evidence tells us about the state of the 'leaky' STEM pipeline and the factors shaping young people's participation in STEM.
 

Peter has helped build multiple high-growth biomedical businesses, commercializing innovative products for surgery, diagnostics and digital treatment pathways in multiple international markets and leading R&D, regulated product development and strategic business development.
He founded Romilly Life Sciences to help health, tech and pharma organizations implement evidence-led digital product strategy, including technologies such as artificial intelligence, supported by effective cross-sector collaboration frameworks and coaching.
He is also co-founder of Migration Biotherapeutics, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, Fellow and Chair of Sustainability and Net Zero at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Academy of Medical Sciences Future Leader in Innovation Enterprise and Research (FLIER) and sits on several NIHR advisory boards.

Title: Insights from the latest IET Skills Survey in Wales

Sophie is an education researcher based in the Education Data Lab at the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) at Cardiff University. She works with Administrative Data Research Wales to explore educational outcomes for young people, particularly around themes of attainment and subject choice.
Sophie’s research interests centre around young people’s educational experiences and outcomes. In particular, how different factors shape young people’s attainment, interest, subject choice and sense of future opportunities. She completed her PhD in Physics Education at Cardiff University in 2019. This work evaluated interventions to improve secondary school pupils’ engagement with the physics curriculum.

Title: Patterns and Predictors of Post-16 Science Participation in Wales
 

Laura is programme manager for education policy at the 91AV. She joined the RSC in 2020 following a 7 year career in the classroom as a chemistry teacher and head of department. Prior to this Laura completed her PhD in medicinal chemistry at the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London in 2012, and her PGCE in secondary science education from the University of Cambridge in 2013.
Laura oversees a number of curriculum, qualification and assessment policy initiatives which aim to ensure all young people experience chemistry curriculums and qualifications that are equitable and accessible, and which develop relevant key skills and knowledge needed to meet modern challenges. This includes recent campaigns on improving global perspectives and diverse representation in the chemistry curriculum, and influencing the ongoing curriculum reforms across the UK. Laura is currently looking at the potential role of digital skills in chemistry education following on from the RSC’s recent work on the future chemistry-using workforce.

Jonathan Giddy is a doctoral researcher and Science Lead Curriculum Tutor for the Open University’s Secondary PGCE program. Joining the Open University in 2020 at the inception of its part-time and salaried routes into teaching, Jonathan has been a key figure in supporting the reorganisation of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision in Wales. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and an active member of Advance HE and BERA.
Jonathan leads the Secondary Science program with a strong commitment to widening access to the teaching profession, diversifying the education workforce, and aligning with the Welsh Government’s aspirations for reformed, high-quality ITE. His research focuses on understanding the Curriculum for Wales from an ITE perspective, particularly the interplay of teacher pedagogy, identity, and agency.
Title: Shaping the Future of Chemical Sciences: The Role of the Curriculum for Wales in Addressing Emerging Green skill Challenges
 

With a career in education spanning nearly 30 years, Julia has held roles of teacher of science, CASE coordinator, Head of Science and Advisory teacher across three local authorities in Wales.  Julia has extensive experience in supporting teachers at all stages in their development. She has worked extensively in ITE as Senior lecturer in science for PGCE and PGDE with three university providers and organisations and as an external mentor for induction and the Masters in Educational Practice in Wales.  As a consultant she has worked for Welsh Government advising on science curriculum and assessment and their development and co-led on the national Developing Thinking and Assessment for Learning and Secondary PISA support programmes. She has also developed guidance, classroom resources and exemplification for the Literacy and Numeracy Framework as well as resources to support Scientific literacy for Welsh Government. Julia has worked across a number of wide ranging STEM projects in Wales, UK and Internationally as a lead designer, author, moderator, commissioner, reviewer and adviser. She previously held the position of Ofqual Science subject expert, has been involved as a subject expert in qualification reform and is an experienced examiner, reviewer and verifier for several UK Awarding Organisations. As well as an educational consultant, Julia is also a part-time project coach for Institute of Physics, leading on Whole school inclusion and equity using science capital development and teaching approach as a vehicle for this.

Title: No limits to aspiration! Building science capital to improve equity and inclusion

 

Peredur Owen Griffiths is a Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales East.
As a son of a church minister, Peredur has lived in a number of different areas of Wales including Denbigh in the Vale of Clwyd, Pumsaint in Carmarthenshire, Moelfre in Ynys Môn, Lixwm in Flintshire.
Upon leaving school he attended Sheffield University to study for a Control Systems Engineering Masters Degree. Whilst studying, Peredur became an employee of Abbey National. After graduating, Peredur was fast-tracked into being a Bank Manager for Santander, and was able to move back to Wales to complete his training. He worked in branches across south Wales, including Newport, Monmouth, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Barry, Tonypandy, and Cardiff.
After Santander, came Principality Building Society, where Peredur worked as a Business Development Manager for the residential mortgage arm of the business. Peredur left his career in banking to work in the third sector, initially for Christian Aid and then CYTUN (Churches Together in Wales). Prior to his election to the Senedd in 2021, Peredur was a community councillor within his region.
Peredur chairs the Finance Committee and sits on a number of other committees including  the Standards of Conduct Committee.
In his spare time, Peredur enjoys choral singing and is a member of the award-winning CF1 mixed choir.
Mae Peredur Owen Griffith yn Aelod Plaid Cymru o’r Senedd dros Ddywrain De Cymru.
Yn fab i weinidog eglwysig, mae Peredur wedi byw mewn nifer o wahanol ardaloedd yng Nghymru gan gynnwys Dinbych yn Nyffryn Clwyd, Pumsaint yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, Moelfre yn Ynys Môn, Lixwm yn Sir y Fflint.
Ar ôl gadael yr Ysgol, mynychodd Brifysgol Sheffield i astudio ar gyfer Gradd Meistr Peirianneg Systemau Rheoli. Tra'n astudio, daeth Peredur yn weithiwr i Abbey National. Ar ôl graddio, cafodd Peredur ei gyflymu i fod yn Rheolwr Banc i Santander, a llwyddodd i symud yn ôl i Gymru i gwblhau ei hyfforddiant. Bu'n gweithio mewn canghennau ar draws de Cymru, gan gynnwys Casnewydd, Trefynwy, Caerffili, Merthyr Tudful, y Coed Duon, Cwmbrân, y Barri, Tonypandy, a Chaerdydd.
Ar ôl Santander, daeth Cymdeithas Adeiladu'r Principality, lle bu Peredur yn gweithio fel Rheolwr Datblygu Busnes ar gyfer cangen morgeisi preswyl y busnes. Gadawodd Peredur ei yrfa ym maes bancio i weithio yn y trydydd sector, i ddechrau i Christian Aid ac yna CYTUN (Eglwysi Gyda'n Gilydd yng Nghymru). Cyn ei ethol i'r Senedd yn 2021, roedd Peredur yn gynghorydd cymuned yn ei ranbarth.
Mae Peredur yn cadeirio'r Pwyllgor Cyllid ac yn eistedd ar nifer o bwyllgorau eraill gan gynnwys y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad.
Yn ei amser hamdden, mae Peredur yn mwynhau canu corawl ac mae'n aelod o gôr cymysg CF1.
 

David Rees was first elected to the Senedd in 2011 for the constituency of Aberavon, and following his re-election in 2021 was elected Deputy Presiding Officer for the sixth Senedd Term. He is the current chair of the Senedd Cross Party Group (CPG) on Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) and chair of the CPG for Cancer and CPG for Steel and Metals-related Industries.
During his time in the Senedd, David has chaired the Health and Social Care Committee in the fourth Senedd and the External Affairs & Additional Legislation Committee. In the sixth Senedd, he chaired the Reform Bill Committee. As Deputy Presiding Officer of the Senedd, he currently chairs the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister and the Llywydd’s Committee. He also leads the Senedd delegation to meetings of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) and is Vice-President of the Senedd’s Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
David is a native of Port Talbot and still lives there with his wife, two children and five grandchildren. Prior to his election in 2011, David began his career as a secondary school teacher before moving into further education as a lecturer. He then moved into Higher Education lecturing in Computing before finally becoming Assistant Dean of Faculty at Swansea Metropolitan University. In addition to his employment, he has also held a number of posts in both the Labour Party and his trade unions.

Jo is a member of the Leadership Team and Director of Science and Communities at the 91AV (RSC). She has more than 25 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, focused mainly on scientific research, community engagement and strategy. She is also a Trustee of Leukaemia UK.
Prior to joining the RSC in 2017, Jo spent the majority of her career in two major biomedical charities, Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust. She was responsible for developing and evaluating Cancer Research UK’s first five-year research strategy. She also led a programme of change across their UK network of centres and transformed their brand and engagement with the research community.
Jo has a degree and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and is also a qualified Executive Coach.

Wendy is a Reader in science communication for Cardiff University, Head of the Physics Education Research Group and the Director of EDI. She delivers public engagement and communications training for researchers and has a research interest in how role models can be used to inspire young people.
 
She is the founding Director of Science Made Simple – an award-winning social enterprise that offers science shows across the UK and internationally. Since 2002 they have reached over a million people and have worked in over 38 countries. She was awarded an MBE for services to science and engineering communication in the Queen’s Birthday honours list 2017.
Title – “It ain’t what you do, it’s the person that does it…”
Sub-title - Why attributes and characteristics matter to diversify STEM
 

Dr Anita Shaw runs the education consultancy STEMpowered Learning.  She ran the Welsh Valleys Engineering Project (WVEP) for the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2017-2024 and is now a consultant for This is Engineering: Schools-Welsh Valleys.  She will talk about the WVEP’s Employer Engagement Strand, which developed long-term sustainable partnerships between its schools and local STEM industry,  providing pupils with authentic learning experiences, and look at how this model can be expanded to schools and industries Wales-wide.
Title: How can industry engage meaningfully with schools?