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As the new year begins, I am delighted to step into the role of Chief Executive at the Design Commission for Wales.

Having worked with the Commission for more than 11 years, I bring continuity to the organisation alongside a fresh perspective. My background is in urban design, and I am deeply committed to the role that good design in the built environment plays in creating the conditions for people and the planet to thrive. There is significant opportunity ahead for us, working with our partners and colleagues across Wales, to make a positive and lasting impact.

I would like to thank our outgoing Chief Executive, Carole-Anne Davis, for 23 years of exceptional leadership. From establishing the organisation in 2002 to growing and refining its role, she ensured that the Commission became and remains a credible and influential voice for design in Wales. Much has changed since those early days. When the Commission was founded, the first camera phone had just been launched,  I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here made its TV debut and petrol averaged just 71p per litre.  We also didn’t have Technical Advice Note 12 on design and no requirement for Design and Access Statements. While the impact of these planning tools can be debated, they have undoubtedly transformed how we talk about design and broadened understanding beyond aesthetics alone.

Regardless of policy requirements, we must continue to raise expectations for design quality in Wales, from how public projects are funded, through briefing and appointment of design teams, to reviewing proposals as they evolve, and monitoring how places perform over time. Placemaking, now firmly embedded in Welsh planning policy, reminds us that places are never “finished”. They constantly change and evolve, and placemaking is therefore an ongoing process. The same is true of the Commission’s role in promoting good design: it is never done.

The context in which we operate continues to change. The challenges we face today are different from those of 20 years ago, as are the people working in the industry. New priorities, technologies, emergencies and societal expectations require us to adapt what, how and where we build. In response, the Design Commission for Wales, working with its partners, must continue to inspire, educate, challenge and collaborate. Our core purpose, however, remains constant: to promote good design in the built environment across Wales, helping to make Wales a better place for everyone.

Our core services – training and events, client support and design review – remain available to all who would benefit from them. Over the coming year, we will place particular emphasis on affordable housing, smaller sites within existing settlements, transport opportunities and skills. We will also be delivering a programme of events and re-engaging with all local authorities to strengthen relationships and reinforce the support we offer as the national body for promoting excellence in the built environment.

I look forward to working with the Commission’s team, board, panellists and partners in the year ahead. If you would like to find out more about our work or engage with any of our services, please contact us.