Following on from our successful debate series with Cardiff University, the Institute of Welsh Affairs proudly announces a new collaboration with another world-class Welsh University.
The IWA and Bangor University have begun a three-year partnership to deliver a series of virtual, in-person or hybrid events, which will contribute to influencing the public policy agenda across a range of issues, including:
- The perceptions and realities of North Wales and the region’s social, economic and political relationships with the rest of the country and beyond
- The porous boundary between North East Wales and North West England, and what it means for the migration of populations
- Investment, innovation, the Levelling Up agenda and pre-devolution alliances
Through discussions gathering researchers and professionals from the private, public and third sectors, we will explore North Wales’ socioeconomic landscape and help shape discussions about its future. This will be an opportunity to showcase new research about the region and generate opportunities for debates about its future. All events will be open to the public, and recordings will be made available on our website.
This page will be updated regularly with news and events organised as part of the partnership.
Taxing Twilight: The Health Economics of North Wales
The first event was a panel discussion taking place virtually on 31 March 2022 at 10am. The event explored what a declining working age population in North Wales means for future resilience both economic and social, and in terms of our health, wellbeing and well-becoming.
We were joined by:
- Prof Rhiannon Tudor Edwards – Professor of Health Economics, Bangor University
- Dr Sibani Roy – Founder, North Wales Regional Equality Network
- Ceri Cunnington – Community Facilitator, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog
- Mario Kreft MBE – Chair, Care Forum Wales
You can also listen to the event as a podcast. The chat from the event is available here.
The Power of Tourism: Valuing Visitors while Sustaining our Communities
Our second event, held in Bangor on 6 October 2022, was a debate around the pros and cons of a potential tourist tax in Wales. The discussion tackled issues such as second home ownership and the sector’s future sustainability.
We were joined by:
- Auriol Miller, Director, Institute of Welsh Affairs – Chair
- Dr Edward Jones, Lecturer in Economics, Bangor University
- Adrian Barsby, Deputy Chair, Wales Tourism Alliance
- Emyr Williams, CEO, Snowdonia National Park
- Dylan Williams, CEO, Anglesey County Council
- Annette Pritchard, Professor of Tourism Management, Leeds Beckett University
- Stephen Davies, CEO, The Welsh Whisky Company
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