A Welsh politician, who has represented Ceredigion for Plaid Cymru as a Member of the Senedd since 1999, and has been the Presiding Officer of the Senedd since 2016.
Elin Jones was raised on a farm in Llanwnnen near Lampeter. She attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter Comprehensive School.
After graduating from Cardiff University with a BSc in Economics, Elin went on to study for an MSc degree in Rural Economics at Aberystwyth University, before working as an Economic Development Officer for the Rural Wales Development Board. She was also a director at Radio Ceredigion and Wes Glei Ltd, a television production company.
Elin was a member of Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992 until 1999 and she was the youngest Mayor of Aberystwyth during the 1997-98 term.
She was elected to the Assembly in May 1999 and, in the first term of the Assembly, was Shadow Minister for Economic Development. Following the Assembly election in 2003, she managed retained this portfolio until 2006, when she became Shadow Minister for the Environment, Planning and Countryside. Elin was also National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.
On 9 July 2007, the One Wales Government was formed and Elin was appointed Minister for Rural Affairs. She is now the Presiding Officer for the Welsh Parliament.
Interesting facts
- Elin is a member of Côr ABC in Aberystwyth, and has also been a member of the group Cwlwm.
- In 2009, Elin won the Farmers Weekly British Farming Champion award in addition to the Assembly Member of the Year award.
- Elin lives in Aberystwyth and enjoys music, movies and reading