Main interests and achievements
Elin has lived in Llanwnnen, Cardiff, Aberystwyth and now Aberaeron.
She enjoys music and the arts. She has sung in various choirs and was a member
of the close harmony group, Cwlwm, for many years. Elin is also passionate
about Welsh heritage and culture. She helped co-ordinate the Cranogwen statue
at Llangrannog, the conservation of the Cofiwch Dryweryn wall and was part of
the organizing Committee for the historic Welsh women's peace petition.
Elin was chair of the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod 2022 and continues to
serve on the National Eisteddfod’s Management Board and is a member of the
Gorsedd.
Personal history
Elin was born in 1966 and grew up on a farm in Llanwnnen,
near Lampeter. She attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter
Secondary School. After receiving a BSc in Economics from the University of
Cardiff, she was awarded an MSc in Rural Economics from the University of
Aberystwyth.
Professional background
Elin worked as Economic Development Officer for the Rural
Wales Development Board, was a director at Radio Ceredigion and the television
production company Wes Glei Ltd.
Elin was a member of Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992
until 1999 and she was the youngest Mayor of Aberystwyth during the 1997-98
term. Elin was National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.
Political history
Elin was elected to the Assembly in May 1999 and, in the
first term of the Assembly, was Shadow Minister for Economic Development.
Following the Assembly election in 2003, she retained this portfolio until
2006, when she became Shadow Minister for the Environment, Planning and
Countryside. On 9 July 2007, the One Wales Government was formed and Elin was
appointed Minister for Rural Affairs. Two years later, Elin won the Assembly
Member of the Year award, and the Farming Weekly’s ‘UK Farming Champion’ award.
In 2016, Elin was elected as Presiding Officer (Llywydd) of
the National Assembly. In her role as Llywydd, Elin has led on establishing a
Youth Parliament for Wales, extending the voting franchise for Welsh elections
to 16 and 17-year-olds, changed the name of the National Assembly to Senedd
Cymru, and overseen Senedd reform. At the last Senedd election in 2021, Elin
was elected for a second term to the role of Llywydd of
the Welsh Parliament.
