STEPHENS REAPPOINTED AS CHAIR OF S4C

CULTURE Secretary, Tessa Jowell, has announced that Elan Closs Stephens CBE has been reappointed as Chair to the Board of S4C.
She will be reappointed from April 1, 2002, until March 31, 2006.
Jowell said: “The Chair of S4C is a major public position in Wales, and the next few years will see S4C continue to take up the challenge of digital broadcasting and increased commercial opportunities. I am very pleased to announce that Stephens has agreed to serve a further term of appointment. Her dedication and understanding of Welsh affairs will continue to be a major bonus for S4C in their aim of enriching both the public and cultural life of Wales.”
Stephens was appointed as Chair of S4C on April 1 1998. She is Professor of Communications and Creative Industries in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She is also Vice President of Quality Placement, an organisation that seeks to find work placements for young people. Her other positions include membership of the Court, Council and Policy Committee of the National Library of Wales, and also of the British Film Institute and British Council Wales.
Stephens has been actively involved in broadcasting regulation as a member of the Broadcasting Council for Wales (1984-89) and as a member of S4C (1990-95). Previously she has been a member of the Welsh Language Board, and Vice Chair of the statutory board, a body set up to promote the use of the Welsh language. Stephens was educated at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, and was an Open Scholar in English at Somerville College, Oxford.
Jowell also announced the appointment of two new Members to the Board of S4C, Eira Davies and Dr Chris Llewelyn. Their appointments will run from 1 November 2001 until 31 October 2005.
Davies is Managing Director and founder of the publishing company Infonet. She was previously Director of Champion FM and Marcher Coast, two North Wales radio stations. Mrs Davies also has a strong background in education, having been a teacher, and lecturer in Welsh.
Dr Chris Llewelyn has been Head of Research and Consumer Policy at the Welsh Consumer Council for 6 years. Prior to that he taught and researched in the field of International politics at Swansea. He lives near Ammanford. (CD)