Ashok Ahir and Andrew Evans have been announced by the Welsh Government as the new NLW President and Vice President.
Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, has announced the appointment of a new President and Vice President for the National Library of Wales.
Ashok Ahir, Interim President of the National Library of Wales since September 2021, has been appointed as the new NLW President. ‘The National Library of Wales has an ambitious programme of work aimed at meeting the objectives of a new five-year strategy. I am looking forward to leading an excellent group of trustees at a time of tremendous opportunity. The Library is not only home to the nation’s memory, it also has a significant role to play as we review, reimagine and celebrate the diversity of the Welsh experience,’ said Ahir.
Andrew Evans has been appointed as the new Vice President. Evans is a consultant specialising in fundraising and business development for start-ups, charities and not-for-profits, particularly in the cultural sector. ‘I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to serve as Vice President of one of Wales’ great cultural institutions,’ he said. ‘I am very much looking forward to working with the Library’s dedicated staff as we seek to care for the Library’s unparalleled collection; one of the great treasures of Welsh heritage and culture. The next few years offer great opportunities to the Library to grow the number and diversity of visitors and readers and I am excited to be part of that journey.’
The pair will begin in their new roles on the 1st of April for a term of four years. Bowden explained that the new NLW President ‘will have a crucial role in ensuring the Library continues to deliver the findings of the Tailored Review and implement the Library’s five year strategic plan’.
Welcoming the appointment of the Ahir and Evans, Pedr ap Llwyd, Chief Executive and Librarian of the National Library of Wales, said: ‘I am already very much indebted to [Ahir] for his leadership and support as interim President during the last six months. This is an excellent appointment and the Library will benefit hugely from this appointment. We also welcome Andrew to the post of Vice President and look forward to working with him: we know of him as a very able person with wide-ranging skills, competencies and experiences in many areas from which the Library will certainly benefit.’
Find out more about the National Library of Wales here.
Header image: Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales
