Welsh Government Board meeting: 12 September 2025

• Andrew Goodall (Chair)
• Carys Williams
• Aled Edwards
• Mike Usher
• Andrew Slade
• Judith Paget
• Tracey Burke
• Dean Medcraft
• Nia James
• Dom Houlihan
• Zakhyia Begum, Co-Chair of the Shadow Board
• TUS representative 

In attendance 

• Glyn Jones
• Kathryn Jenkins
• Lorna Hall
• Senior Equalities Policy and Delivery Manager 

Apologies 

• Sioned Evans
• David Richards
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Champion
• Mutale Merrill 

Secretariat 

• Permanent Secretary’s Office 

1.1 The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and noted the apologies received. Board consented to the use of Microsoft Copilot. The minutes of 25 July were agreed subject to minor amendment. No declarations of interest were received in relation to agenda items.

1.2 The Chair noted that Luke Yong has taken up his post as the First Minister’s Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister.

1.3 The Chair noted that the shortlist for the 2025 Welsh Government Staff Awards has been announced and thanked Board members for their input to the judging panels.

1.4 The Chair provided an update on planning for Exercise Pegasus. The Board will receive a report on lessons learned from the exercise in early 2026.

1.5 The Chair invited Dean Medcraft to provide an overview of the in-year finance position. Dean reported a generally positive financial position but noted that a number of risks remain. Mike Usher queried whether there had been any progress in the discussion with HM Treasury over increasing the Wales Reserve; Dean advised that the position remains unchanged.

1.6 The Chair noted the impact of recent tragic events on staff and ministers and provided an overview of the support available.

1.7 The Board discussed the impact of international and national events on community cohesion and on Welsh Government staff and noted the support available to staff.

2.1 The Chair welcomed Glyn Jones, Chief Digital Officer and Kath Jenkins Chief Security officer to the Board and invited them to present on the Corporate Risk Register entries for cyber risk and IT resilience. 

2.2 Glyn and Kath presented an overview of cyber risks faced by Welsh Government and the preventative steps being taken to address the threat. The presentation noted the challenge of keeping up with the rapidly evolving risk from cyber-attacks. Glyn observed that the risk and impact score are likely to remain high.

2.3 Carys Williams queried whether the organisation has a comprehensive register of its technical estate and how potential vulnerabilities associated with suppliers are addressed. Carys also suggested discussing risk appetite in relation to cyber risks at a future Board meeting. In response Glyn and Kath advised that the team has a good understanding of the technical estate but highlighted the importance of business continuity planning and understanding of critical business activities. Regarding suppliers, Kath noted that contracts include security clauses as part of their standard terms and conditions and stressed the role of the contract manager in making sure the terms are observed,

2.4 Mike Usher observed that the threat and impact of a cyber-attack challenges the organisation’s risk management arrangements and noted that the risk is likely to increase year-on-year. Given the proximity of the risk Mike suggested it should be viewed as an issue and not a risk.

2.5 Dean Medcraft noted the financial impact of a successful cyber-attack and Aled Edwards stressed the importance of investing in preventative measures to mitigate against the risk.

2.6 The Board discussed the importance of ensuring that all staff comply with mandatory IT upgrades and receive training on the ongoing threat of a potential cyber-attack. The Board noted the need to be mindful of staff with reasonable working adjustments.

2.7 The Chair thanked all for their comments and noted Welsh Government’s leadership role within the public sector in Wales on this matter. The Chair highlighted the importance of working with UK Government to combat the threat from cyber-attacks.

3.1 Lorna Hall outlined the organisation’s entry into a legally binding Section 23 agreement and Action Plan with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The action plan is ambitious and aims for sustained change, improved governance, and better support for staff, with a focus on culture and behaviour change

3.2 Mike Usher highlighted the importance of ensuring that appropriate resources are allocated to addressing the action plan. Mike noted that there is likely to be a degree of public interest in the agreement and suggested publishing a summary of the action plan.

3.3 Aled Edwards noted a number of distinctive Welsh initiatives addressing equalities issues including the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and stressed the importance of tracking compliance and identifying where Equality Impact Assessments have initiated change. Aled suggested that the Non-executive Directors could support the work on the action plan by bringing an external perspective.

3.4 On behalf of the Shadow Board Zakhyia Begum welcomed the action plan and observed that each completed Integrated Impact Assessment/ Equality Impact Assessment enhances the corporate knowledge of how policies impact on groups with protected characteristics. Shadow Board suggested developing short training videos for staff not regularly involved in undertaking impact assessments.

3.5 The Chair thanked all for their comments and asked that Board receive quarterly progress updates on delivery against the action plan.

4.1 The Chair invited Andrew Slade to update the Board on progress towards the Programme for Government commitment relating to the devolution of the Crown Estate.

4.2 Andrew highlighted the strategic and political complexities of devolving Crown Estate powers to Wales and noted the good working relationships with the Crown Estate.

4.3 Mike Usher asked whether plans to appoint a Welsh Commissioner to the Crown Estate is a positive step. Andrew replied that it is, and that discussions are ongoing on Welsh Government’s involvement in the recruitment process.

4.4 Aled Edwards highlighted the importance of leveraging opportunities for the benefit of communities in Wales.

5.1 No items of any other business were raised. Board will next meet on 24 October 2025.