In Her Words: Women Leading Wales

In Her Words: Women Leading Wales

Celebrating the women shaping Wales today — and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.

This year, The Professional Development Centre has been delighted to launch In Her Words: Women Leading Wales, an inspiring series of initiatives and events celebrating the achievements, experiences and leadership journeys of women across Wales.

Hosted by Pamela Heneberry, in partnership with the University of South Wales, the series brings together monthly conversations, mentoring opportunities and networking events to shine a spotlight on women making a difference across a wide range of sectors.

Through open and thought-provoking conversations, women leaders share their personal stories, the challenges they have overcome, the lessons they have learned and the insights they have gained throughout their careers. Their experiences offer encouragement, inspiration and practical advice for the next generation of women aspiring to lead.

At its heart, In Her Words is about more than celebrating individual success. It is about creating opportunities for women to be heard, challenging structural barriers to leadership and helping build a more inclusive, prosperous and equitable Wales.

Meet the women leading the way
We are proud to celebrate the women who have contributed to the series, each bringing a unique perspective, wealth of experience and powerful story to share.

Claire Parmenter
Former Deputy Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police and now Director of Professional Practice at the University of South Wales’s Hydra and Innovation Centre.

Carol Shillabeer
Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, having previously led Powys Teaching Health Board.

Leanne Wood
Welsh politician, activist and former leader of Plaid Cymru, with a longstanding commitment to social justice and community representation.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP
Labour MP for Gower and the constituency’s first female MP. A former Wales international rugby player, she won nine caps and competed in the 1998 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Lowri Norkett
Former Welsh international rugby player and international netball player, bringing experience of high-performance sport and teamwork.

Kelly McGuffie
Head of Leadership and Management at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and a veteran of the British Army.

Professor Louise Bright
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Engagement and Partnerships at the University of South Wales and founder of the Wales Women in STEM Network.

Julie Richards
Director of the Royal College of Midwives in Wales, representing the interests of midwives and advocating for maternity services.

Rhian Mannings MBE
Founder of the charity 2wish, established following devastating personal loss to support families affected by the sudden death of a child or young adult.

Zena Hall
Life coach supporting women in technology to rediscover who they are beyond their job titles and reconnect with their confidence, identity and purpose.

Sioned Evans
Director General of the Corporate Services and Inspectorates Group and Chief Operating Officer of the Welsh Government.

Shavanah Taj
Former General Secretary of TUC Cymru and the first person of colour to hold the role. She has since been elected to the Senedd.

Tori James
The first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest, and a member of the first all-female team to complete a 360-mile race to the Magnetic North Pole.

Building a future where women lead
Every leadership journey is different. Yet the stories shared through In Her Words demonstrate the importance of resilience, authenticity, opportunity, supportive networks and the courage to challenge expectations.

By bringing these experiences into the open, we hope to encourage meaningful conversations, strengthen connections between women across sectors and inspire others to see leadership as a possibility for them, too.

We would like to thank all the women who have shared their stories, and the University of South Wales for its partnership and commitment to women’s leadership development.

Because when women share their stories, they create opportunities for others to lead.

In Her Words: Women Leading Wales — celebrating leadership, inspiring change and shaping the future together.