The RYA Cymru Wales Board

The RYA Cymru Wales Board operates within the governance of the Association. Its role is to supervise the management of the Association’s business and to discharge the responsibilities of the directors under the Companies Act. 

The Chair and Senior Independent Director of RYA Cymru Wales and the Chief Executive sit alongside a further three directors who are appointed on the basis of personal competencies and a further four through an open recruitment process.

The Board’s main duties are to:

• Develop long term Strategic Plans 
• Approve the Annual Operating Plan
• Approve operating budgets
• Supervise risk management and safety matters for the Association. 

Its workings are reported to the members and stakeholders of the Association through the Directors’ Report in the annual report and accounts document and at the Annual General Meeting. RYA Cymru Wales is a Company Limited by Guarantee and is managed by a Board of Directors. The Board meets formally 4 times a year to look at the strategic direction of the RYA Cymru Wales. The Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Board and is managed by the Chair.

Current Board of Directors

 (As of 1st January 2025)

• Sian Reynolds  Chair  
• Brian Oulton  Director (Senior Independent Director)
• Ffion Lloyd Director (Equality Champion) 
• Stephen Tudor  Director 
• Nicola Stubbins  Director (Safeguarding Champion)  
• Jon Frost   Director 
• Andrew Williams  Director
• Andrew Pulford  Director 
• Janet Viney  Director (Performance and UK Anti-Doping Champion)
• James Stuart, Interim CEO

Additionally, Laurence Roberts acts as the Company Secretary

Committees

The main function of the committees is to agree and oversee the implementation of RYA Cymru Wales policy in their respective areas. Responsibility for day-to-day management of each area rests with the RYA Cymru Wales's professional staff.

Regional Committees (North, South and South West)

RYA Cymru Wales Regional Committees are sub-committees of the Board and form essential components of the structure of the sport in Wales. Regional Committees provide an essential conduit through which Board and staff can engage with volunteers, members, clubs and participants. The general purpose of the Regional Committees is to oversee effective implementation of the RYA Cymru Wales strategic goals and objectives. 

Performance Committee

To act as a high-level strategic committee to support and advise the RYA Cymru Wales Performance Manager on the Welsh performance programme to achieve ambitious strategic outcomes for the organisation.

Audit & Risk Committee (not yet implemented)

The A & R Committee is responsible to the Board for (i) the financial controls and policies that are employed by RYA Cymru Wales, (ii) ensuring that the terms and conditions of any awards of funding from public bodies and other partners are properly observed and (iii) identifying and managing risks to the business of RYA Cymru Wales (iv) the integrity of the annual financial reporting to the Board and its membership (v) the review of governance requirements and policies.