Special Advisers: register of interests
Record of special advisers’ interests as at December 2025.
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Introduction
Special advisers are required to ensure that no conflict arises, or could be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.
Interests must be declared to the Head of Cabinet Division as part of the appointment process. The personal information which special advisers disclose is treated in confidence. All special advisers have submitted a completed declaration of interests form, including nil returns in instances where there was no actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest. Where relevant to the role, and to help manage a perception of conflict or to explain how a conflict is being managed, interests will be published on an annual basis.
The Head of Cabinet Division has considered these returns and deemed that the following relevant interests should be made public.
Sarah Dickins
Register entry
- Trustee of Peak Cymru. Ms Dickins is recused from involvement in matters relating to the work or funding of the Trust should they arise.
- Family ownership of a sheep farm in South Wales. Ms Dickins is recused from involvement in matters relating to the development of agriculture policy.
- Partner is Director of Miller Research UK Ltd. Ms Dickins is recused from any involvement with matters relating to her partner’s business or its clients should they arise.
- Partner is Vice Chair of Homemakers recycling charity. Ms Dickins is recused from any involvement with matters relating to the charity should they arise.
- Partner is a Board member of Abergavenny Food Festival. Ms Dickins is recused from any involvement with matters relating to the charity should they arise.
- Community Councillor for Skenfrith Ward. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct.
- Family member is Associate Director of Portland Communications. Ms Dickins is recused from any involvement with matters relating to Portland Communications or its clients should they arise.
- Family member works for Leukaemia UK. Ms Dickins is recused from any matters involving Leukaemia UK should they arise.
Madeleine Brindley
Register entry
- Member of the Ramblers. Ms Brindley is recused from involvement in matters relating to the work or funding of the association should they arise.
Philippa Marsden
Register entry
- Community Governor for Cwm Gwyddon Primary School.
- Trustee of Newport Harriers Athletics Club. Ms Marsden is recused from involvement in matters relating to the work or funding of the Trust should they arise.
Mary Wimbury
Register entry
- Trustee, UK Mathematics Trust. Ms Wimbury is recused from involvement in matters relating to the work or funding of the Trust should they arise.
- National Executive, Cooperative Party. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct.
- Family member is Action for Children Ambassador. Ms Wimbury will declare an interest and recuse herself from matters related to the organisation, should they arise.
- Family Member is President of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services. Ms Wimbury will declare an interest and recuse herself from matters related to the organisation, should they arise.
Haf Davies
Register entry
- Family member works for the National Trust. Ms Davies will declare an interest and recuse herself from matters in the specific area of her family members work for the National Trust as required.
- Family member works for the Church in Wales. Ms Davies will declare an interest where the need arises and then take the appropriate action to recuse herself should that be required.
Jackie Jones
Register entry
- Local Councillor, City and County of Cardiff. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct.
- Board Member, European Women Lawyers Association. Ms Jones is recused from involvement in matters relating to the Board should they arise.
- Patron, European Movement. Ms Jones is recused from involvement in matters relating to the Movement should they arise.
- Executive, Labour Movement for Europe. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct and Ms Jones is recused from involvement in matters relating to the Movement should they arise.
- Trustee, Safer Wales. Ms Jones is recused from involvement in matters relating to the work or funding of the Trust should they arise.
- Women’s Officer, Cooperative Party Council in Wales. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct.
- Candidate for Senedd Election in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf constituency. This role is to be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SpAd Code of Conduct. Ms Jones will ensure this role is undertaken separately to her contract with the Welsh Government, and take action to recuse herself from matters affecting her prospective constituency should they arise.
Nadila Hussein
Register entry
- Director of Ffair Jobs CIC. Ms Hussein will not undertake active work for the organisation while working as a Special Adviser. She will recuse herself from any discussions relating to the organisation should they arise.
Victoria Solomon
Register entry
- No relevant interests to publish.
Kirsty Keenan
Register entry
- Secondary employment supporting a Member of the Senedd. This role is to be undertaken in line with the SpAd Code of Conduct. Ms Keenan will ensure that there is no conflict between the 2 roles, and the secondary employment role does not cover areas worked on in her Special Adviser role.
Luke Young
Register entry
- Seconded from Citizens Advice. Mr Young will declare an interest and take action to recuse himself from all matters relating to the organisation while employed as a Special Adviser.
- Former Member of Samaritans Cymru Nation Board and Samaritans Strategic Advisory Board. Mr Young will declare an interest and take action to recuse himself from matters relating to the organisation if required.
- Director of Clear Red Campaigns Ltd. Company is not currently trading and Mr Young will not undertake any business activity for the company or receive any income while employed as a Special Adviser.
Tal Michael
Register entry
- Family Member is a retained firefighter in Mid and West Wales. Mr Michael will declare an interest and take action to recuse himself where required in matters relating to Firefighter terms and conditions, and Mid and West Fire Service.
- Family member is Action for Children Ambassador. Mr Michael will declare an interest and recuse himself from matters related to the organisation, should they arise.
- Family Member is President of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services. Mr Michael will declare an interest and recuse himself from matters related to the organisation, should they arise.
Victoria Evans
Register entry
- No relevant interests to publish.
David Hooson
Register entry
- No relevant interests to publish.
Stephen Jones
Register entry
- No relevant interests to publish.
Membership of Trade Unions
Special Advisors are entitled to hold trade union membership in a personal capacity, but care must be taken to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest with their portfolio roles. SpAds are therefore required to consider the need to declare an interest and recuse themselves, where deemed necessary, from discussions with their Trade Union which relate to Welsh Government policy in their area.
