Our Board
Paul Peters
DIRECTOR OF THE CYBER RESILIENCE CENTRE FOR WALES
Paul has been a police officer for over 25 years spending most of his career as a detective. Paul joined the Metropolitan Police Force in April 1995, and over the next fourteen years he served on various units and boroughs. In 2009 Paul transferred to South Wales Police and was posted to the Major Crime Investigation Team where he took on the role of Senior Investigating Officer for murders and other serious and complex investigations.
In 2014 Paul transferred to Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit that covers the three Southern Wales police forces where he was responsible for leading investigations by the Economic Crime and the fledgling Regional Cyber Crime Unit. During that time, Paul worked closely with businesses across Southern Wales to raise awareness of the cyber threat and secured funding from Welsh Government to implement Protect initiatives across Wales.
Paul also spearheaded a partnership collaboration to create a Cybercrime Prevent package involving education, awareness and law enforcement support across Wales.
Professor Simon J.Gibson CBE DSc. DL
CHAIRMAN OF THE ALACRITY FOUNDATION
Simon is Chairman of the Alacrity Graduate Entrepreneurship Foundation and Chief Executive of Wesley Clover Corporation, a global technology investment fund. Before joining Wesley Clover, he was co-founder, President and CEO of Ubiquity Software Corporation, a pioneer in the development of media protocols and service platforms for the internet. Prior to creating Ubiquity, he was a founding member and VP of Global Marketing for Newbridge Networks Corporation. Both companies were listed on the Stock Exchange and resulted in successfully Corporate acquisitions.
Simon is Chairman of a number of technology companies and the Celtic Manor Resort. He is a Regent of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford and a Professor at the Swansea University School of Management. He is an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University and was awarded a Fellowship at the University of Wales. He is the recipient of an Honorary DUniv from the University of South Wales, a DLitt from Bangor University and holds a DSc from Swansea University. Simon is currently Chair of the Burns Delivery Unit, a government sponsored group overseeing the major transport infrastructure developments in South Wales. He is a Trustee Director of the British Deer Society.
Simon was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to industry and to the community in South Wales in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours list. In the 2018 New Year’s Honours list he appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the economy of Wales. Simon is a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gwent. He resides in the beautiful County of Monmouthshire.
Craig Gillespie
PUBLIC SECTOR OPERATIONS SPECIALIST CHAINALYSIS
Craig is part of the Investigations and Special Programs team at Chainalysis where he works with law enforcement government agencies and various other organisations.
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Prior to joining Chainalysis, Craig was a Police Officer with South Wales Police for 15 years, last serving as a Detective Inspector leading Tarian Regional Organisation Crime Unit's Cyber Crime Unit. Craig was instrumental in building law enforcement's cyber crime capability within Wales, working closely withe cyber security community Wales.
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Craig has been involved in cyber crime investigations since 2015; responsible for a number of high profile cyber crime and dark web investigations that led to criminal convictions and significant cryptocurrency seizures in Wales. Craig has also worked closely with numerous SMEs across Wales, promoting cyber security advice and practices.
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Outside work Craig is a self confessed geek and loves anything technology related, he is also a keen indoor (virtual) cyclist.
Jeff Cuthbert
POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR GWENT
Jeff Cuthbert who is Police & Crime Commissioner for Gwent and the Welsh PCC's lead for cyber.
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As PCC for Gwent, Jeff brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role, operating also as the deputy lead of both the APCC Portfolio Group on Police Technology and Digital and the APCC Portfolio Group on Business Enablers. Starting his political career back in 2003 serving as Deputy Minister for Skills followed by Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Jeff’s leadership qualities will help bolster the WCRC’s positioning even further.
Pam Kelly
CHIEF CONSTABLE OF GWENT POLICE AND NPCC LEAD FOR CYBER IN WALES
Chief Constable Pam Kelly joined Gwent Police in 2017 as the Deputy Chief Constable from neighbouring Dyfed-Powys Police. ​
Much of her 25 years of service has been within the Criminal Investigation Department, dealing with covert policing, public protection and professional standards.
Pam started her career in policing serving as a volunteer in the Special Constabulary before becoming a Regular Officer in Dyfed-Powys Police in 1994.
Pam has a strong operational background, having performed the role of Senior Investigating Officer for approximately 10 years, predominately investigating murder, manslaughter, rape and serious organised crime cases across Wales and beyond. ​
Throughout her career, Pam has worked as a Superintendent in a Neighbourhood Commander role and a Chief Superintendent in a Territorial Policing Commander role across the four counties of Dyfed Powys, before becoming the Assistant Chief Constable in Dyfed Powys for just over two years.
Pam was appointed Deputy Chief Constable for Gwent Police in July 2017 and since July 1st 2019, she has been carrying out the role of Chief Constable.
Jason Davies
ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLE OF SOUTH WALES POLICE
Jason Davies joined the Police in January 2001 serving the communities of Neath Port Talbot. In 2003 he moved into the Criminal Investigation Department within which he served as both Detective Sergeant and Detective Inspector, completing the Senior Investigating Officer Development Programme.
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In 2009 he transferred to Swansea where he worked as Head of Intelligence and Organised Crime, specialising in covert policing as a Senior Investigating Officer. In 2014 he was appointed the Chief Inspector Operations within Swansea City Centre, describing one of his proudest achievements as leading the bid for the City’s inaugural “purple flag accreditation” for safety in the night-time economy, and being the operational lead on the implementation of the Swansea Help Point in conjunction with South Wales Police and Crime Commissioners team.
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Jason went on to serve as Head of CID and Public Protection in Pontypridd and Merthyr, before being promoted to Superintendent and heading up the forces Justice Services portfolio. More latterly, he was the force’s Head of Public Protection before his promotion to Detective Chief Superintendent – Head of Crime, in November 2019. A position he describes as being the ultimate privilege as a detective.
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During his service Jason has managed several serious and complex investigations and has held strategic responsibilities in several local and national policing functions including, crime prevention, Citizens in Policing, Domestic violence, serious acquisitive crime, and drug related harm. He is an accredited Strategic Firearms Commander, and Multi Agency Gold Commander (Wales).
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Jason is passionate about policing the communities of South Wales, the area from which he originates and still resides with his family today. In his down time, he enjoys keeping fit, deep sea fishing, and watching sport.
Seb Phillips
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND RESOURCES FOR NORTH WALES POLICE
Having worked in both the private and public sector, Seb brings to the role a wealth of experience in financial operations and leadership across numerous businesses. Starting his career on the Royal Mail’s finance graduate scheme, Seb then took on the position of Finance Tutor with BPP Ltd.
Following this, he relocated to North Wales, where he worked within several high-profile organisations including the North Wales Police for the first time as Benefit Realisation Accountant, where he focussed on driving value from the various change projects and programmes taking place. After several years operating as a Finance Director in the private sector, he then re-joined the force in 2019 where he now works as Director of Finance & Resources.
Simon Tee
MANAGING PARTNER AT KILSBY WILLIAMS
Simon qualified as an associate chartered accountant (ACA) with Deloitte in Newport and joined Kilsby Williams on inception in 1991. He became a partner in 1998 and is now a managing partner of the firm. He has helped many businesses in achieving a financial advantage over their competitors, assisting them in their growth stages and acts for many clients by offering unique solutions on audit, accounting, tax and fundraising issues.
In his spare time, Simon is a director of Welsh Cycling, enjoys all the disciplines of triathlon and is a keen researcher of local history.
Leanne Connor
BUSINESS MANAGER AT THALES EBBW VALE
Leanne was first appointed as the business manager for NDEC (National Digital Exploitation Centre) in January 2019 and was the first local hire following a 26-year career in local government, predominantly in the field of economic development and regeneration.
Previous experience includes managing inward investment opportunities, supporting new and existing SMEs, managing a portfolio of business properties and a key part of team responsible for the redevelopment of the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale, which is now the home of the growing Thales Ebbw Vale site.
Starting her career in human resources she gained a CIPD postgraduate qualification, followed by a course of study in Regional and Local Economic Development via Sheffield University.
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The establishment and growth of Thales in Ebbw Vale has enabled Leanne to transfer her knowledge, skills and passion for regeneration and business development into an increasingly important and growth industry, whilst providing the opportunity for further personal development and growth.
Robert Howell
HEAD OF IT AT MONMOUTHSHIRE BUILDING SOCIETY
Rob joined the Monmouthshire Building Society in 2000 as an IT Support Technician, progressing his career to become IT Manager before taking up his current position as Head of IT in 2017, where he has led and embedded numerous digital change and improvement projects.
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Graduating from Aberystwyth University in 1999 with a degree in Software Engineering, Rob has dedicated his career improving the use and implementation of information technology in a financial services environment.
Rob is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and keeps himself up to date with the challenges and solutions associated with cyber security in a fast moving, digitally enabled world.