The Institute of Directors in Wales’ new chair is looking forward to working with members and Welsh businesses throughout 2017, towards achieving common goals and objectives.

Abersychan-born Jean Church, has begun her three-year tenure in the role and has extensive experience in working across multi-site retail, manufacturing, legal and research sectors as well as specialist distributors in both private and public sectors.

She said: “The promotion of enterprise is critical in the further development of our economy. As a diverse region here in Wales in terms of business activities, sectors and geography, the opportunity to actively participate in creating a genuine business influence across Wales on behalf of our members will be a key driver.

“The central mission of the IoD is to represent the views of members to government, campaigning for the big decisions that will deliver the business environment we need in order to thrive.

"We need to ensure we have an efficient and effective way of gleaning our members’ views on those decisions pertinent to Wales."

She was non-executive director of n-energy and, until recently, managing director of 2Win Consulting Limited. She will continue to work closely with Robert Lloyd Griffiths, director IoD Wales, to contribute towards the group’s continued growth.

She has managed the implementation of UK and international BPO programmes and has significant experience within MD, non-executive and senior executive roles.

Before establishing 2Win Consulting Ltd in 2008, Jean, who is a commercially astute and motivational leader, was head of offshore services with Countrywide Property Lawyers. She was panel adviser and practitioner with Investors in People, has held LEA school governor roles in Torfaen in both local primary and secondary schools and is co-founder of TOPS - A Winning Leadership Approach.

She is mother to three daughters and is an appointed IoD council member. S

he has extensive experience of creating business process outsourcing programmes and said: “I will engage with academia and business networks to influence and support continued professional development for leaders and directors across Wales. Our members have access to a wide range of benefits that encompass professional development and qualification, practical research and policy papers and not least the phenomenal experience of our diverse membership. I will work to encourage the sharing of that experience and knowledge throughout Wales.”

Jean sits on the Superfast Broadband Business Exploitation Advisory Panel, which informs Welsh Government on the broadband needs and infrastructure requirements of Welsh businesses.

The Institute of Directors was founded in 1903 and obtained a Royal Charter in 1906. The IoD is a non-party political organisation with approximately 35,000 members in the United Kingdom and overseas. Membership includes directors from right across the business spectrum – from media to manufacturing, professional services to the public and voluntary sectors. Members include CEOs of large corporations as well as entrepreneurial directors of start-up companies.