The event took place on Thursday 24 October at HMS Cambria in Cardiff Bay, and was attended by members of the armed forces community, partner organisations, employers and other key stakeholders.
The keynote speaker was Professor Simon Denny PhD, former Executive Dean at Northampton University, and lead author of the independent report on the positive impact of the cadet forces in Wales.
Cadet speakers included Sergeant Instructor Ehsan Iqbal of Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force; Petty Officer Jessica Flynn of Swansea Sea Cadet Corps, and Cadet Warrant Office Ioan Osbourne of No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets.
Other speakers were Lieutenant Colonel Dafydd Evans, Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion the Royal Welsh, who outlined the battalion’s involvement in Exercise Steadfast Defender, and Simon Ellis, Partner and Head of the Military Department, Hugh James Lawyers, who offered his perspective as an employer.
There was also a special presentation made on behalf of the Ulysses Trust for the Prince of Wales’ Expeditionary Award winners 2023, in recognition of the group’s trip to South Africa.
The first RFCA for Wales chairman, Brigadier Russ Wardle OBE DL, and Chief Executive Colonel Dominic Morgan OBE, gave an update on the past year, reflecting on the secretariat’s achievements. They also detailed the outputs of RFCA for Wales’ 4 key pillars: cadets, reserves, estates and engagement.
The event was compered by ITV News presenter Andrea Byrne.
