New older people’s commissioner for Wales confirmed by First Minister

Wales’ new older people’s commissioner has officially been confirmed as Rhian Bowen-Davies, First Minister Vaughan Gething has announced.

Ms Bowen-Davies will take over the role from the outgoing Helena Herklots, who has served since 2018.

She will officially take up the post in September.

Ms Bowen-Davies was Wales’ first national adviser on domestic abuse in 2015 and, in recent years, chaired domestic homicide reviews with some cases involving older victims.

A fluent Welsh speaker and a former police officer, Ms Bowen-Davies described herself as an effective communicator who is resilient, determined, brave and bold.

She described her appointment as an “honour and a privilege” and said: “Working with and on behalf of older people, I’m looking forward to increasing awareness and understanding, upholding and promoting rights and addressing inequality.

“Together we will ensure our voices are heard at a local, regional and national level to realise the vision to make Wales an age-friendly nation.”

In her new role, Ms Bowen-Davies will be tasked with promoting awareness of the rights and interests of older people, and challenging discrimination against older people.

Her role also includes promoting best practice in the treatment of older people, and renewing legislation affecting their interests.

The job has existed since 2008, when Wales became the first country in the world to appoint an older people’s commissioner.

The job comes with a range of legal powers to help safeguard and promote the interests of the elderly.

The First Minister praised Ms Bowen Davies’ “extensive experience in shaping policy and driving forward improvements” – and said she would be a “strong advocate for older people”.

Mr Gething continued: “Our shared vision is of a Wales that enables people to live and age well, where ageism does not limit people’s potential in their later years.”

He also thanked the outgoing Ms Herklots, whose work, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, “enabled the voices of some of the most marginalised people to be heard and to influence policy for the better”.