Appointment of members to the Tackling Poverty External Advisory Group

18th April 2012

Statement of information / Datganiad gwybodaeth:

The Tackling Poverty External Advisory Group is an advisory panel. The Terms of Reference for the group are:

• To provide expert, evidence based advice to the Welsh Government on the implementation and further policy requirements necessary to deliver the Tackling Poverty action plan in Wales.
• To consider and comment on the progress of the Welsh Government in the attainment of its tackling poverty targets as set out in Programme for Government and the tackling poverty action plan.

The Welsh Government is responsible for appointing members and membership will run the term of the current government, from 1 May 2012 to May 2016.

Following public advertisement, a total of 24 applications were received for the member vacancies.  Twelve applications were short-listed and invited to attend an interview.  The interview panel comprised of:

• Eleanor Marks, Director of Communities Division (Panel Chair)
• Kate Cassidy, Director for Communities and Social Justice
• Chris Gittins, Tackling Poverty Unit

Each panel member scored candidates individually and then discussed their marking in order to arrive at a consensus on their overall suitability for appointment and a recommendation.

The panel has recommended the appointment of the following candidates for a period of four years:

‘Expert’ Members
• Sean O’Neill – Child Poverty
• Dr Malcolm Fisk – Older People
• Fran Targett – Welfare Rights and Advice
• Prof David Egan - Education
• John Puzey – Housing
• Stephen Doughty - Generic Poverty

Members of the group each cover different areas of expertise relevant to tackling poverty in Wales.

The Welsh Government is committed to making appointments to public bodies, whether paid or unpaid, by fair and open competition.