Bethan Sayed has been appointed Head of Oxfam Cymru and will lead the charity’s programme addressing poverty and inequality across Wales and internationally.
The former Plaid Cymru member brings political, campaigning and coalition-building experience from Wales to the position.
Sayed entered the Senedd in 2007 as its then-youngest female member.
Her previous work includes strengthening political participation and action on the climate crisis with Climate Cymru.
She has also run advocacy workshops for organisations and public services throughout Wales, alongside campaigning on social justice, including Palestinian rights.
Born in Aberdare, Sayed is the daughter of poet Mike Jenkins.
She grew up in Merthyr Tydfil, where both parents participated in the anti-apartheid movement during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Her brother is Channel 4 News reporter Ciaran Jenkins.
Sayed has said that hearing Desmond Tutu address apartheid while Nelson Mandela remained imprisoned was a significant early influence on her.
In 2006, Plaid Cymru selected Sayed as its lead candidate for the South West Wales Regional list, and she was elected in May 2007.
She initially served as the party’s Child Poverty and Culture spokesperson within its National Assembly group and sat on the Communities and Culture, Audit and Petitions committees.
Her association with Oxfam began while studying, when she gathered petition signatures for the charity at Glastonbury Festival.
Sayed said poverty, inequality and injustice arise from political decisions and are not unavoidable.
She intends to support families in Wales’s Valleys, those confronting the global climate crisis and other communities seeking justice.
Her approach will centre on amplifying grassroots voices, strengthening collective power and backing bold, feminist and community-led action, with the aim of advancing fairness in Wales and elsewhere.
Oxfam’s Chief Influencing Officer Jean McLean said Sayed had built a career around bringing people together to achieve ambitious change.
McLean cited her experience of diverse coalitions and alliances, as well as her commitment to empowering communities, as reasons for her appointment and said she was expected to have a significant impact.
Since beginning the position, Sayed has met Oxfam Cymru colleagues and teams covering campaigning, racial justice, gender justice, humanitarian response and influencing.
Her work will include supporting communities, campaigners and partner organisations pursuing social, economic and climate justice in Cymru, while developing Cymru’s role in the wider international effort against poverty and inequality.
Sayed is due to appear for Oxfam Cymru on S4C’s political panel and discussion programme Y Byd yn ei Le at 9pm on 22 October.