Champions for Wales honoured

Mar 1 2008 by Rin Simpson, Western Mail

ONE of Wales’ top business entrepreneurs, two Nobel Prize winners and the Lord Mayor of London were today honoured by First Minister Rhodri Morgan for their contribution to Wales’ promotion across the world.

Nobel Prize-winning scientists Sir Martin Evans – the first scientist to identify embryonic stem cells – and Sir John Houghton, whose research into climate change won him the coveted award, were named as Champions for Wales alongside Admiral Group chief executive Henry Engelhardt and top lawyer and current Lord Mayor of London David Lewis.

In addition, Sir Terry Matthews, was installed as Champion during a ceremony attended by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones in New York on Thursday.

The five men join Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and chief executive of Sony; Martin Coles, president of Starbucks Coffee International; and Sir Emyr Jones Parry, former UK ambassador to the United Nations and now chairman of the All-Wales Convention.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan presented each of the four new Champions with a special certificate, thanking them for their contribution to the promotion of Wales through their international success and national pride.

He said, “I’m delighted that such highly respected and talented figures in the fields of science, business and law have agreed to become Champions for Wales.

“Their outstanding work is acknowledged throughout the world. They have promoted Wales internationally through their quite exceptional achievements and through their great pride in the country they came from or where they are based.

“Key individuals who are real leaders in their chosen field can make a huge difference in the way that Wales is seen by the outside world.

“That is not just true of sport. It is just as true in the worlds of business and science. These four are at the top of their professions and have world-wide reputations, and I am honoured to announce that they are our latest Champions.”

David Rosser, director of CBI Wales, welcomed the announcement, saying the names were “suitable figures indeed”.

He said, “Recognising excellence in Wales and the achievements of Welsh people is a great thing to do.

“The CBI would particularly welcome that business leaders and scientists are being recognised by the First Minister.”

Speaking about Wales’ other success stories, namely TV shows Doctor Who and Torchwood, which are filmed in South Wales, Mr Rosser added, “The achievements of Welsh people in culture and entertainment has been welcomed and had helped put Wales on the map, but it’s excellent to be able to show that Wales has talent outside those areas, which is what this list is doing.”

Ashley Drake, director of the Wales University Press, which recently published the definitive Encyclopedia of Wales, said, “This is a very good initiative that should be supported.

“It shows to young people in Wales that you can succeed and be Welsh, it’s not a barrier, it’s actually an advantage.

“It’s good that the National Assembly has chosen leaders in the world of business and science because they’re taking the message of Wales to the world through their work.

“It shows Welsh people can succeed in business and can have international reputations in science.

“One of the revelations of the encyclopedia is the wealth of talent that Wales has produced in the world of science – some of the major breakthroughs have been Welsh.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if these names crop up in later editions of the encyclopedia.”