Welsh Government Board meeting: 20 June 2025

• Andrew Goodall (Chair)
• Carys Williams
• Aled Edwards
• Mike Usher
• Mutale Merrill
• Judith Paget
• Sioned Evans
• Tracey Burke
• Andrew Slade
• Dom Houlihan
• David Richards (until 11:30)
• Lead Co-Chair of the Shadow Board
• TUS representative

In attendance

• Andrew Jeffreys
• Emma Watkins
• Sinead Gallagher
• John Morris
• Co-Chair of the Shadow Board

Apologies

• Emma Williams
• Nia James
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Champion 

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 during the meeting. The minutes of 09 May were agreed subject to minor amendments. No declarations of interest were received in relation to agenda items.

1.2 The Chair updated the meeting on the Board’s future work programme.

1.3 The Chair noted amendments to the Co-Chair arrangements for the Shadow Board and thanked Shadow Board members for their efforts.

1.4 The Chair noted the impact of global events on staff across the organisation and on communities across Wales.

1.5 The Chair fed back on the recent British Irish Council meeting.

2.1 The Chair welcomed Andrew Jeffreys and Emma Watkins to the meeting and invited them to update Board on the recent UK Government spending review and planning for the 2026-27 Welsh Government budget.

2.2 The Board discussed the challenge of developing a one-year budget for 2026/27.

2.3 Mike Usher asked if UK Government has any plans to revise the fiscal framework and Andrew Jeffreys confirmed that there are none at present.

2.4 The Board noted the announcement son investment in infrastructure at Port Talbot and the importance of capitalising on the opportunities.

2.5 The Chair noted the need for long term investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

3.1 The Chair welcomed John Morris to the meeting and invited him to present on AI in the Welsh Government, highlighting how the organisation is currently using the technology and setting out a number of strategic challenges for Board to consider. The presentation noted the emphasised the importance of ethical and inclusive AI use and the need for AI training and upskilling within the organisation.

3.2 Carys Williams noted the plans to establish an Expert Advisory Board on using AI to help transform public services and highlighted the importance of having a strategy for the organisation in place ahead of establishing the Board. Carys echoed the need to ensure staff are trained to maximise the benefits of AI.

3.3 The TUS representative noted the impact an increased use of AI in the organisation will have on job roles and emphasised the importance of taking a social partnership approach to developments. Mutale Merrill agreed and emphasised the importance of engaging with staff and managing the change to a greater use of AI. John Morris advised that AI tools being developed in-house are being co-produced with staff to ensure they meet the business need. Dom Houlihan reassured Board that the People Plan will reference the impact of AI on the capacity and capability of the organisation. 

3.4 Mike Usher referenced the Scan-Pilot-Scale approach outlined in the presentation and noted the challenge in moving from the pilot phase to rolling out at scale.

3.5 Tracey Burke and Judith Paget advised that teams across their Groups are already benefiting from using AI, for example to summarise and work through large volumes of written material. Tracey stressed the need for realistic ambitions and suggested that Welsh Government was best placed to be an early adopter of developments in AI rather than a leader.

3.6 The Chair of the Shadow Board noted enthusiasm across the organisation for greater use of AI but emphasised the need to ensure all staff are trained to benefit from it.

3.7 The Chair thanked all for their comments and noted the points raised.

4.1 The Chair welcomed Sinead Gallagher to Board and invited her to update on progress against Programme for Government commitments since the last Board meeting. 

4.2 Mutale Merrill noted the progress made and recognised the commitment and resilience of staff across the organisation. Andrew Slade agreed, noting the significant achievements that have been delivered.

4.3 Mike Usher noted the impact of competing demands outlined in the paper. Tracey Burke outlined the staffing challenges her Group has had to address.

4.4 Sioned Evans welcomed the disciplined approach to delivery and Carys Williams suggested that Board consider how the lessons learnt from delivering the current Programme for Government can be embedded ahead of the new Senedd term.

4.5 The Co-Chair of the shadow Board reflected on the morale of staff working on Programme for Government areas that will not complete before the end of the Senedd term and noted the additional matters the organisation has had to respond to, often as a result of global events, alongside delivering the Programme for Government.

4.6 The Chair thanked all for their comments and noted the points raised.

5.1 The Chair invited Dom Houlihan to update Board on addressing Risk 1.8 on the Corporate Risk Register (CRR), this risk focusses on meeting requirements on health, safety and wellbeing. The Chair noted that this item is the latest in the Board’s deep dives on the CRR.

5.2 Dom outlined steps taken to mitigate against the risk noting the overlap with other risks included in the CRR. Dom noted the need for continued action to strengthen the approach to health and safety and emphasised that all staff have a responsibility for health and safety.

5.3 The TUS representative noted that the steps being taken gave assurance, especially around governance. Board members echoed these comments

5.4 Dom reminded Board that performance on health and safety is reported in the Balanced Scorecard on a quarterly basis.

5.5 The Chair thanked all for their comments and noted the examples of good practice across the organisation. The Chair noted that work would continue towards achieving the target score on risk 1.8.

6.1 Mike Usher updated Board on the work of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee noting that membership is being refreshed and that the future work programme will have an increased focus on deep dives on specific topics.

6.2 Carys Williams fed back on the People and Remuneration Committee noting that Shadow Board will help to shape its future work programme.

7.1 No items of any other business were raised. Board will next meet on 25 July.