ADVISORY COMMITTEE

25 years of Supply Chain Experience running production, logistics, engineering, R&D, Procurement and planning departments. More recently board member of FTSE250 company leading a £250M transformation program to turn around the performance of the Supply Chain and help lead the business as a top performing FTSE company. Over his career has been heavily involved in project management, leadership, HR, engineering and procurement. Lives in Crosswell.

Christopher Morgan, 48 years in industry, predominantly the IT sector. Founder and co-founder of several IT related limited companies and partnerships from recruitment, consulting to working with Government departments and advising Blue-Chip company boards worldwide. Held roles such as Head of computer services with responsibility for delivery of IT services to, at the time, the UK largest transport Co, multimillion cost center manager for BRS(NFC) now DHL. Co-developed the first fully web-based IT recruitment application and built a successful new business using that technology, customers included Smith-Kline Beecham now Glaxo, Novartis, Close Brothers, Lloyds Register of Shipping, Deutsche Bank (DB), Standard Bank. 30 years of successful sales leadership and cybersecurity specialism. Chair of a Scout Group managed a team of volunteers for 15 years, is a Beekeeper and loves Offshore sailing. Lives in Felindre Farchog

Simon has joined the directors of the Society as a Director and Treasurer (effective September 2023). Many will already know Simon from the Newport Boat Club and/or since he lives locally. A Welsh speaker, with an immense experience of financial matters and as a treasurer, and he also has an extensive banking background. We are delighted to welcome Simon to the team, none more so than Jessica, our retiring treasurer.

With a family background in small businesses, Jessica was co-founder and managing director of two clothing companies in Wales. The first, a designer knitwear company selling to international export markets employing 450 home knitters. The second, a womenswear and homeware retail company with 250 employees, an online business and 15 stores. She has experience in all aspects of a growing an SME, with particular expertise in both opening and running retail stores, developing and growing an online retail business, buying & merchandising, and branding & marketing. Trustee and treasurer of The Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery. Past trustee of the National Museum of Wales. Lives in Nevern. Retired treasurer.

Self-employed and runs an FCA authorised independent financial company (FRN 719951) that offers financial help and services to small independent retailers. I also have a portfolio of residential and commercial properties within London and in addition I have 30 years of experience in the online retail market. I have just recently moved from London, and I now live in Dinas Cross

Dr Brendan Blake.  BA, D.Phil (Oxon)  Has owned house in Newport/Tydrath for over 25 years and thinks Havards an essential facility. 30 years’ experience with IBM in technical consultancy, marketing and management.  Set up and managed IBM’s first ever European Technical Support Group for the Internet in the 1990s. Also more than a decade as a University researcher and lecturer – numerous papers accepted for publication including in Proc. Royal Society.  Runs own software business. Trustee and director of a charity for almost 10 years.

Hugh McCormick  A graduate in Economics from Cardiff University, Hugh has spent his career in marketing and market research, latterly running his own market research consultancy for UK and overseas private and public sector clients. With family links to Newport stretching back three decades, he now lives in Nevern. Havards has been a key source of DIY and household supplies over the last 30 years.

Jane Thomas Marketing, bookkeeping and retail experience in Bath, prior to various roles within Youth Football club while in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. After moving home to Bath, Jane became Shop Manager at Bathford Village Shop, which is one of the longest running Community Co-operative shops having opened in 2006. Jane and her husband moved to Dinas in 2022 to be closer to her mother, and Dinas is the birth place of her father and generations of his family before him.