Project Staff

Vanessa joined the Cost-of-Living Crisis Project team in June 2024.

Vanessa has lived in Aberporth for the majority of her life, raising her family in this picturesque coastal village.

With a strong foundation in business and finance, Vanessa’s career began at Lloyds Bank where she worked for 12 years.

She has over 25 years of experience working with Community and Town Councils; Vanessa has served as the Clerk to Newcastle Emlyn Town Council and is currently the Clerk to Aberporth Community Council. Working as a clerk provides valuable experience in local government operations, administration, and public service; the role offers a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the local community.

Vanessa’s versatile career also includes roles such as WRVS Food Services Manager and Credit Union Operations Manager, these varied experiences have provided her the ability to manage diverse responsibilities and support her community effectively.

In her spare time, Vanessa is passionate about teaching swimming and surf lifesaving, sharing her skills and fostering a love for the water in others.

Rachel joined One Voice Wales in June 2021 as the Local Places for Nature Officer.

Rachel’s background is in secondary education, working as a teacher for pupils with additional learning needs for 19 years at Swansea Council.

Rachel has a BSc in Biochemistry, postgraduate qualifications in secondary science education, additional learning needs, behaviour management, and has also completed her MSc in Environmental Conservation and Management.

Rachel’s love of the environment and wildflowers, along with her experience as a community councillor, was the catalyst behind the decision to change career direction and join One Voice Wales.

Rachel has previously been involved as a volunteer for dog rescue charities, grazing animal conservation and is a founding member of the Gower seal group.

Rachel lives on the Gower peninsula near Swansea.

Growing up in Gower, Rachel has always had a passion for biology and geography and exploring the natural world.

Rachel lives with her husband and three children and in her spare time enjoys hiking, walking her two dogs, cooking, and paddle boarding.

Rachel is a Welsh learner and is passionate about increasing the use of the language in the sector.

Emma joined the One Voice Wales team in November 2023.

In her role as the Cost-of-Living Crisis Project Manager Emma leads a programme funded by the Welsh Government aimed at assisting Community and Town Councils in addressing the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

Emma was born and brought up in Abergavenny and after living away she returned there to raise her family 18 years ago.

Emma has worked in project delivery and marketing in the private sector for 15 years and ran her own retail business in Abergavenny where she worked closely with the Town Council and other groups to deliver business, community, and charitable initiatives.

For ten years prior to joining One Voice Wales, Emma was a Business Adviser on the Welsh Government Business Wales service supporting over 1500 SMEs to start, grow, and develop their businesses.

Outside of work, you’ll find Emma walking her dogs on the hills of Bannau Brycheiniog and the Black Mountains.

Angela has made North Wales her home for the past 25 years, where she lives with her husband and two teenage children. Angela was originally born and raised in Dudley in the West Midlands.

As a qualified broadcast journalist, Angela worked in media before taking up the position of Tenant Participation Officer at Salisbury District Council where she thrived on the challenge of empowering tenants to tackle housing related issues.

For the past 20 years working alongside her husband, she has gained a wealth of knowledge in corporate sales and the private sector as the owners of a successful family portrait business.

Angela has always been keen to support local groups and charities and served as a school governor at her children’s primary school for many years.

Angela has recently joined Rhyd-y-Foel and Llanddulas Community Council as a Community Councillor where she continues help tackle issues affecting residents in the community.