Chair of Council at Aberystwyth University and Chair of the Chairs of the Universities of Wales
Emyr is originally from Benllech, Anglesey. He studied Geography and Economics at Reading University and achieved his Doctorate at the Department of Geography, University College Wales, Aberystwyth.
After an initial career with the National Farmers’ Union, Emyr joined the Welsh Office in 1991, and undertook a variety of roles including health, finance, culture and recreation, and economic development. Within the Welsh Government he was Chief Executive of the Wales European Funding Office, Director Social Justice and Regeneration, Director General Public Services and Local Government, and Director General Education and Skills. In 2012 Emyr was appointed Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales, and led the creation of the new environmental body for Wales which integrated the work of the previous legacy bodies. He retired at the end of 2017.
Emyr is Chair of Council at Aberystwyth University, Chair of the Chairs of the Universities of Wales, and serves on the CUC Executive Committee, Glas Cymru, the Teachers’ Pay Review Body for Wales, and has recently stood down as a Trustee of the Alzheimer’s Society
Emyr lives in Cardiff, is married and has two children. He is the author of numerous books and articles on local history.
