Guest Speakers

Dr Alister Scott is head of countryside management at the University of Wales Institute of Rural Sciences in Aberystwyth. His key research priority, in terms of consultancy and academic journal publications, is rural sustainable development, in particular, issues to do with town and country planning, public participation and rural development. In September he will be taking up a new post as Senior Research Officer at Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen.

Dr. Doris Pokorny is the deputy director of the Bavarian administration unit of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. She has worked with the unit since the biosphere was designated in 1991 and her PhD, on environmental quality objectives and standards for a sustainable land use, concentrated on the Rhön Biosphere Reserve as a case study. Since 1992, she has made major contributions to the UNESCO international biosphere reserve network, giving presentations and carrying out advisory work in North and South America, Israel and Australia, as well as in many European countries.

Engelbert Ruoss is the Scientific Director of the Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Switzerland. He represents Switzerland in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere International Co-ordination Committee and is president of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Quality Economy Task Force. In addition to lecturing at the Management Centre of St. Gallen in Switzerland and at the University of Basel Institute for Protection of Nature, Landscape and Environment in Switzerland, he represents the Swiss Academy of Sciences of the International Scientific Committee for Alpine Research (ISCAR) and is a member of the Foundation Board, 'Foundation for Urban Development and Sustainability UDS', the 'National Biodiversity Forum' of the Swiss Academy of Sciences and the Swiss National UNESCO Commission.

Sir John Houghton was professor in atmospheric physics in Oxford, then was Chief Executive of the UK Meteorological Office. From there he became the first chairman of the IPCC's (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) scientific assessment. He continued to be involved as co-chairman of that IPCC Working Group until early 2002.

Aled Owen Griffiths is the Co-Chair of the ecodyfi board of directors. A farmer from Cwmlline, he is a former chair of the YFC in Wales and works for the NFU.

Alison Edwards is the Special Area of Conservation Officer for Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau for Gwynedd Council, since September 2003 having completed a Masters Degree in Marine Resource Management in Orkney.

Andy Bell is the Biosphere Co-coordinator and Countryside Service Manager for NDCCS. He was responsible for leading the re-designation and extension for the BBBR. The work of NDCCS also includes management of the North Devon AONB, the Southwest Coast path and the development and promotion of the Tarka Trail which is a 180 mile route in the area.

Andy Jeffrey is the the General Manager of Outward Bound Wales in Aberdyfi. Having worked as a Group Instructor and then the Bosun for the Outward Bound Sea School in the mid nineteen seventies, Andy then spent sixteen years in the Fleet�Air Arm before returning to the outdoor industry in 1993.� Initially he worked for the Outward Bound Trust of South Africa before returning home a year later to continue work as a freelance outdoor instructor and technician.� In January 1996 he was appointed to his current position, in the town where�he was born.

Andy Rowland is the Manager of the Dyfi Eco Valley Partnership (ecodyfi), where he has worked since June 1998. Trained as an agricultural botanist, he also worked for 14 years at the Centre for Alternative Technology.

Andy Swash is the Environmental Advisor to the European Wildlife Division of Defra and has recently taken up Chairmanship of the UK MAB committee.

Charles Arch is a smallholder from Pennal, a consultant for Menter a Busnes and a director of ecodyfi, where he has a specific interest in local horticultural development. He worked for the agricultural training board for 25 years and has been the chief commentator at the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd since 1977.

Chris Edwards is the District Forest Manager for the Coed y Mynydd Forest District. He came to the district after experience as national Operations Manager and is actively involved in a number of community partnership projects, including the new Dyfi mountain biking trails and the development of Ceinws camp.

Cyril Evans is the Communities First Facilitator for the Dyfi Valley, based in Machynlleth. He worked for 21 years with Wool Producers of Wales, in Dinas Mawddwy and also has experience as a Youth Worker.

Nerys Wyn Davies is the Senior Biodiversity Officer for Gwynedd Council, where she has worked for 5 years. Her main role involves the development of Natur Gwynedd, the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Gwynedd.

Pete Frost is the Senior Community Action Officer for the Countryside Council for Wales, based in Bangor. He is a member of Urban Forum of the UK Man and the Biosphere Committee.

Peter Jones is Manager of the Machynlleth based visitor attraction, Celtica, Chair of the Dyfi Valley Tourism Growth Area Steering Group and an advocate of the many benefits Welsh language and culture can offer. He has been involved with initiatives, both locally and abroad, to raise peoples' awareness of the varied cultures from small nations and their potential contribution to a modern and sustainable environment.

Teresa Walters is the Tourism Officer for ecodyfi, where she has worked for 3 years. Currently she works on the Dyfi Valley Tourism Growth Area project, which promotes investment in tourism that is sustainable and that meets the requirements of an action plan produced by local people.

Tom Brown is a smallholder from Melinbyrhedin, a permaculture teacher and an experienced mediator. In recent years he has been a director with ecodyfi and Elemental Earth, which works to connect people to the environment through arts and land-based projects.

Mike Bailey is Senior Reserve Manager for the Dyfi and National Nature Reserve (NNR) and lead officer for Dyfi Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI), a post which he has held since 1990.

Dick Squires is area reserve manager for the RSPB and covers the RSPB reserves at Ynys-hir, Ramsey Island, Cargafallt Common, Mawddach Valley, Gwenffrwd,Dinas and Cwm Clydach. He has worked for the RSPB for 30 years at various RSPB reserves in the UK including Morecambe Bay, Leighton Moss, Titchwell, Geltsdale and Ouse Washes.

From a farming background Arfon Hughes graduated at Bangor University with a BA in Communications. Since then he has gained a PTCE and is currently coordinator of Menter Maldwyn. He is also a member of PAVO board of directors, Chair of Bro Ddyfi Communities 1st, involved with Dinas Mawddwy Regeneration Group and is studying for a certificate in Community Development at Bangor University.

Allan Wynne Jones is the Diagnostic Business Adviser with Antur Dwyryd Llyn for the four Business Eye centres in Gwynedd.�He also operates a cultural tourism programme for Menter y Busnes.�He has a background in tourism and marketing and works as a consultant and lecturer in these fields and in culture and language.