Written Statement: Chair to the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust: Preferred Ministerial Candidate

Following an open public appointment process, conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, Phil Berrington was deemed appointable for the role of Chair at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and placed on the reserve list. I am therefore pleased to confirm that I have selected him as my preferred candidate for the role of Chair of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust.

Section 7.10 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments allows Ministers to appoint candidates found appointable from a previous public appointment campaign where they consider the new role is sufficiently comparable to that of a previously advertised role; and the candidate has been found appointable within the last two years.

This appointment is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Senedd, which is scheduled to take place in September 2026 (date to be confirmed). Following the hearing, I will make my final decision on the appointment and update Members accordingly.