Delyth Jewell has been sworn in as an Assembly Member following the death of Steffan Lewis.
Ms Jewell became Plaid Cymru’s regional AM for South Wales East on Friday, February 8 after taking her oath.
She was born in Caerphilly and grew up in Ystrad Mynach, attending Ysgol Bro Allta and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni.
Ms Jewell said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to succeed Steffan Lewis as Welsh Assembly Member for South Wales East. Everything I do in my role will be to honour Steffan’s memory and to serve the people he represented so well.”
The new Plaid AM has previously worked as a parliamentary researcher in Westminster and has also worked with Citizens Advice and charity ActionAid.
Regional seats do not require a new election if one becomes vacant, but are instead allocated through the Additional Member System rather than the First Past the Post system that elects constituency AMs.
Regional AMs are elected from a list of candidates submitted by each political party, with Ms Jewell the second choice candidate on Plaid’s list in 2016, behind Mr Lewis.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “Whilst joining us under incredibly tragic circumstances, Delyth will be an asset to the Plaid Cymru group and shadow cabinet here in our Senedd.
“Delyth’s wide range of skills and talents will make her an exceptional Assembly Member and a champion representative – not just for South Wales East but for the whole of Wales.”