The British Council have announced Mitch Theaker as the new Director for British Council Wales.
A South Wales native and Welsh speaker, Mitch has built a career spanning local government, national politics and international diplomacy. Most recently he served as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, where he focused on tackling violence against women and community cohesion.
Prior to this he was a Special Adviser to the former First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, working on a number of policy areas, such as International Relations, Arts, Culture and Tourism, and Social Justice, including navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following his role with the First Minister, Mitch served as the Welsh Government's first diplomatic representative to India, acting for Wales on the global stage and establishing deep-rooted artistic, cultural and economic connections that continue to this day.
Mitch takes up this key role at British Council Wales as it continues to grow its international programmes in education and the arts, creating opportunities for Welsh schools, universities, and cultural organisations to engage globally.
This work builds on the British Council's wider mission, supporting peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
David Thompson, Director, Director UK & External Relations, British Council, says of Mitch's appointment:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mitch as the British Council's new Country Director in Wales. At a pivotal moment for Wales' international profile and as the Welsh government looks to update its international strategy, the experience that Mitch will bring to the role will prove invaluable.
“With the British Council set to become the UK's National Agency for Erasmus+, and with a whole host of exciting new opportunities for internationalising Wales in the pipeline, I look forward to working alongside Mitch and our sector and Welsh Government partners to make the years ahead a Welsh international success story.”
Speaking about his new role, Mitch says:
“Joining the British Council is an absolute privilege. Over the years I've seen first-hand what they deliver for Wales and the UK overseas, and I've long thought how fantastic it would be to be a part of that mission. I look forward to building on the impressive work the team in Wales has already established, and to ensure our efforts to promote international ties go from strength to strength.”
Mitch's appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process, which saw applications from across all areas of industry. He succeeds the current Director, Ruth Cocks, who moves to a new post within the organisation.
