Meet Our Board
Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL
Prior for Wales (Chair of the Board) and Chair of Honours & Awards Committee
For six years, Paul Griffiths chaired the Gwent Council for St John AmbulanceCymru, whilst also serving as a National Officer for the Police Superintendents’Association, having previously served as an active senior police officer. Paul has along history of commitment to voluntary and charitable causes including serving asa trustee for Police Care UK and the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, andvolunteering as a Telephone Friend with the Royal Voluntary Service. Paul wasawarded an OBE for ‘services to policing’ in 2021.
Caryn Cox CStJ
Chancellor (Vice Chair of the Board)
Caryn has over 30 years’ experience in health care and social care across the NHS,local government, World Health Organisation, the EU and within the private sector.In her current role as a consultant in public health in the NHS in Wales and England,with a specialism in communicable diseases/health protection, she played a keypart in the COVID-19 pandemic response in Wales and England. She has beeninvolved with St John for over 40 years, starting as a member of St John Ambulancein England in childhood. She has been a trustee of St John Ambulance Cymru since2017 and Chancellor since June 2023.
Rt Rev David Morris CStJ
Priory Dean and Chair of Pro Fide Committee
Originally from the Rhondda Valley, David has been an Anglican priest in Walesfor thirteen years. He was once the youngest priest in the Church in Wales andin 2024 became its youngest ever bishop, being appointed Assistant Bishop ofBangor, adopting the title of Bishop of Bardsey. A senior member of staff in theDiocese of Bangor, David has served as Diocesan Director of Ministry for the pasttwo years. David has been a chaplain within St John Ambulance Cymru for overten years and currently serves as Dean of the Welsh Priory. As Priory Dean, he isresponsible for nurturing and sustaining the Christian ethos of the organisationand providing pastoral care to all staff and volunteers through chaplaincy provision.David joined the Board in 2020.
Emily Bristow OStJ
As Senior Vice President at Blue Prism, Emily has worked with many majorcustomers to help make the most of their digital workforce. Previously, Emily wasthe UK Head of Intelligent Automation at the global IT consulting firm CGI beforejoining Blue Prism in June 2018. An MSc graduate, Emily has more than 10 years’experience across a variety of IT and operational roles. Emily’s first encounter withSt John Ambulance Cymru was when she joined the charity as a Badger in Gwent inthe 90s. Her involvement with the charity has now come full circle as she became atrustee in February 2021 and is board lead on digital and data development andcompliance.
Gillian Knight RGN, DipISM
Gill registered as a general nurse in 1994 and has held a varied range of seniornursing positions across care sectors and in the NHS primarily in cancer careincluding clinical practice, education, Cancer Services Coordinating Group, the WalesCancer Network and was appointed as a Nursing Officer for Welsh Government inJanuary 2018. Gill had worked within the Welsh NHS for over 27 years since movingto Wales from her native Ireland. She now supports the Chief Nursing Officer as anursing officer in the Welsh Government, providing professional advice for variouspolicy areas. Gill has worked with a number of third sector organisations as a nurseadviser to support nursing workforce developments in Uganda. In her spare time, Gillenjoys running, cycling and deep sea diving.
Helen Willson
Chair of Fundraising & Engagement Committee
Helen spent 15 years running the Museums and Heritage Service at Caerphilly County Borough Council where she was Principal Museums & Heritage Officer between 2007 and 2017. There, she was responsible for the successful management, development and delivery of the Museums & Heritage Service, its sites, staff and volunteers. With a passion for volunteering, Helen has given her time to support several charitable causes including the Cub Scouts and her local PTA. In her current role, Helen is responsible for leading on volunteering and participation for the National Trust in Wales and has brought her third sector expertise of volunteer-based charities to the Board since February 2021.
James O'Connor OStJ FCA CEnv MRSC
Chair of Audit, Risk and Governance Committee
James joined the not-for-profit sector in 2016 after over a decade with PwC, the world’s largest firm of professional advisors. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, James brings his experience of governance, risk management and stakeholder alignment to St John Ambulance Cymru where he has served as a trustee since early 2021. James is currently Director of Corporate Finance at Pobl Group, Wales’ largest housing association, where he oversees the strategic treasury approach for the loan and capital markets portfolio to fund the development of more homes for people in need. He is also a non-executive board member for other organisations supporting vulnerable people, collaborative development of energy-efficient new homes and effective use of heritage assets. James was installed as Bailiff of St Davids in 2024.
Professor Jean White CBE MStJ, RN, PhD, DSc, MSc, BN, RNT
Chair of Clinical Committee
Professor Jean trained as a general nurse in Swansea and originally practised as a theatre nurse in Wales and London. Jean has held positions in nurse education, at the Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Health Professions Wales and Welsh Government and was Chief Nursing Officer for Wales and senior adviser to Welsh Government between 2010-2021. She has worked with the ministries of several European countries and is an adviser to the World Health Organisation. Now retired from the civil service, Jean is a Visiting Professor of Nursing at University of South Wales; Independent Council Member at Bangor University; Panel Judge for the national St David Awards; Trustee of the South Wales Police Youth Awards; and in March 2023 she began a 12 months role as High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan.
Rhys Jenkins LLM
Rhys has practiced as Barrister at Colleton Chambers since 2019, focusing on Family Law and Civil Law across the South West. Beyond a busy practice and family life, Rhys enjoys giving his time to organisations close to heart. Rhys was a Trustee at Cardiff University and the Cardiff University Students’ Union from 2014- 2015. He also took on the role of Vice President Education during this time. Rhys was an Institutional Reviewer at the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) from 2015-17, reviewing user experience, academic rigour, and good governance. He was appointed on 24 June 2023.
Marc Penny
Chair of People Committee
Marc is Director of Improvement and Innovation for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board as well as holding voluntary roles as Trustee and Board Secretary of Brynawel Rehab. He is a highly experienced and passionate Operational Excellence, Business Transformation and Innovation professional having spent over 25 years leading change and transformation across public and not for profit organisations. Marc’s voluntary roles focus within Health and Care charities supporting the most vulnerable within society. He splits his time between South Wales where he lives and North Wales where his partner lives and works. Before becoming a Trustee, Marc was an Independent Member of St John Ambulance Cymru's People Committee.
Carol Jones F.C.C.A.
Chair of Financial Resource Committee
Carol became a St John Ambulance Cymru Trustee in late 2024.FCCA qualified with 36 years’ experience in finance-related senior managerialpositions within multinationals. Carol has a background of operating for many yearsas a board director managing financial compliance in global manufacturing andservice sectors. She has proven expertise in managing and leading staff throughcultural change incorporating lean practices and successful collaborative workingwith external stakeholders on projects throughout Europe. Carol brings a soundcommercial oversight of the charity’s finances.
Nyah Lowe
Nyah became a St John Ambulance Cymru Trustee in late 2024. She is the first youth trustee on the St John Ambulance Cymru Board of Trustees,presenting an opportunity for the Board to gain input from individuals of all ages.Nyah’s background is Student Voice and Advocacy gaining experience as thePresident of Undeb Bangor (Bangor University Student’s Union). She has experiencerepresenting and advocating for students and young people at national andinternational conferences and engaging with leaders at government level. She alsobrings experience of developing consultation practices that empower stakeholders toengage and take ownership of policy and strategy development.
