Geraint Talfan Davies
Encyclopedia
Geraint Talfan Davies is chairman and one of the co-founders of the Institute of Welsh Affairs
, an independent Welsh
think-tank. He is also chairman of Welsh National Opera
. A journalist
by training, he moved into broadcasting and was Controller of BBC Wales
from 1990-2000.
in 1943 to Mary Anne Davies (d. 1971) and Aneirin Talfan Davies
(d. 1980), a Welsh broadcaster
, literary critic and poet
.
Educated at Bishop Gore Grammar School, Swansea
and Cardiff High School for Boys, Davies went on to read Modern History at Jesus College, Oxford
, graduating in 1966. In 1967 he married Elizabeth Siân Vaughan Yorath, with whom he has three sons.
, where he became its first Welsh Affairs Correspondent. In 1971 he moved to The Journal
newspaper in Newcastle upon Tyne
, relocating to The Times
in London
in 1973 where he worked for a year, before returning to the Western Mail in 1974 as Assistant Editor.
In 1978, Davies moved into broadcasting, as the Head of News and Current Affairs with HTV Wales, becoming Assistant Controller of Programmes in 1982.
He returned to Newcastle in 1987, as Director of Programmes for Tyne Tees Television
. 1990 saw his return to Cardiff, at the start of his ten year stint as Controller of BBC Wales
, a position that included overall responsibility for the BBC
's television and radio operations in Wales, and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
. Davies retired from the BBC in 2000, at the age of 57. He was succeeded by Menna Richards
. His son, Rhodri Talfan Davies, was appointed Director of BBC Wales in 2011.
, the Wales Millennium Centre
and Welsh National Opera
.
He chaired Welsh National Opera (WNO) for three years, before his appointment in 2003 to the chair of the Arts Council of Wales
(ACW). His tenure at ACW was cut short in 2006 when he was sacked by the new Welsh Assembly culture minister Alan Pugh. He was then re-elected to the chair of WNO
. He is also a board member of the Wales Millennium Centre, a trustee of the Media Standards Trust
and vice chairman of the UK Committee of the European Cultural Foundation
.
In 2000 he was one of a group that formed Glas Cymru Cyf, with the aim of acquiring Welsh Water
with a view to turning it into a not-for-profit company. He is now a non-executive director of Welsh Water. He is also a member of the BT
Wales Advisory Forum.
He is an Honorary Doctor of the University of Glamorgan
, and an Honorary Fellow of UWIC and of the Royal Institute of British Architects
.
Davies has previously held numerous other positions:
Institute of Welsh Affairs
The Institute of Welsh Affairs is an independent, membership-based think-tank based in the capital of Wales, Cardiff, owing no allegiance to any political or economic interest group...
, an independent Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
think-tank. He is also chairman of Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
. A journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
by training, he moved into broadcasting and was Controller of BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
from 1990-2000.
Personal life and education
Geraint Talfan Davies was born in CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
in 1943 to Mary Anne Davies (d. 1971) and Aneirin Talfan Davies
Aneirin Talfan Davies
Aneirin Talfan Davies was a Welsh poet, broadcaster and literary critic.Talfan Davies was brought up in Gorseinon. During the 1930s Davies worked in London as a pharmacist before returning to Wales and settling in Swansea. He was the brother of Alun Talfan Davies, with whom he founded the...
(d. 1980), a Welsh broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, literary critic and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Educated at Bishop Gore Grammar School, Swansea
Bishop Gore School
The Bishop Gore School is a secondary school in Swansea in south Wales, founded on 14 September 1682 by Hugh Gore , Bishop of Waterford and Lismore...
and Cardiff High School for Boys, Davies went on to read Modern History at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, graduating in 1966. In 1967 he married Elizabeth Siân Vaughan Yorath, with whom he has three sons.
Career
Davies' career began in 1966 as a graduate trainee with the Western Mail newspaper in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, where he became its first Welsh Affairs Correspondent. In 1971 he moved to The Journal
The Journal (newspaper)
The Journal is a daily newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne. Published by ncjMedia, , The Journal is produced every weekday and Saturday morning and is complemented by its sister publications the Evening Chronicle and the Sunday Sun.The newspaper mainly has a middle-class and professional...
newspaper in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, relocating to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1973 where he worked for a year, before returning to the Western Mail in 1974 as Assistant Editor.
In 1978, Davies moved into broadcasting, as the Head of News and Current Affairs with HTV Wales, becoming Assistant Controller of Programmes in 1982.
He returned to Newcastle in 1987, as Director of Programmes for Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
. 1990 saw his return to Cardiff, at the start of his ten year stint as Controller of BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
, a position that included overall responsibility for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's television and radio operations in Wales, and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
. Davies retired from the BBC in 2000, at the age of 57. He was succeeded by Menna Richards
Menna Richards
Menna Richards OBE was the Controller of BBC Wales from February 2000 to February 2011.Her start in broadcasting was as a reporter and producer for HTV Wales in the current affairs department...
. His son, Rhodri Talfan Davies, was appointed Director of BBC Wales in 2011.
Notable positions
Geraint Talfan Davies has been involved with many arts, media and educational organisations, including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff Bay Arts Trust, the Wales International Film Festival, the Artes Mundi Visual Arts Prize, University of Wales Institute, CardiffUniversity of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
, the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
and Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
.
He chaired Welsh National Opera (WNO) for three years, before his appointment in 2003 to the chair of the Arts Council of Wales
Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales.Established by Royal Charter in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council , when it merged with the three Welsh regional arts associations...
(ACW). His tenure at ACW was cut short in 2006 when he was sacked by the new Welsh Assembly culture minister Alan Pugh. He was then re-elected to the chair of WNO
. He is also a board member of the Wales Millennium Centre, a trustee of the Media Standards Trust
Media Standards Trust
The Media Standards Trust was formed in 2006 to address concerns of a deterioration in journalistic standards at a time when the media were becoming enormously powerful while remaining largely opaque and unaccountable...
and vice chairman of the UK Committee of the European Cultural Foundation
European Cultural Foundation
The European Cultural Foundation is an independent foundation based in the Netherlands that has been operating across Europe for nearly 60 years. The ECF supports arts and culture in Europe via its activities, programmes, grants and online platforms...
.
In 2000 he was one of a group that formed Glas Cymru Cyf, with the aim of acquiring Welsh Water
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
with a view to turning it into a not-for-profit company. He is now a non-executive director of Welsh Water. He is also a member of the BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
Wales Advisory Forum.
He is an Honorary Doctor of the University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
, and an Honorary Fellow of UWIC and of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
.
Davies has previously held numerous other positions:
- Chair, Arts Council of Wales, 2003–2006
- Board Member, Wales Millennium CentreWales Millennium CentreWales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
(2000–2003) - Board Member, Artes Mundi International Visual Arts Prize
- Chair, Newydd Housing Association (now known as Cadarn Housing Association) (1975–1978)
- Chair, Cardiff Bay Arts Trust (1997–2003)
- Chair, Wales International Film Festival (1998–2001)
- Chair, Welsh National OperaWelsh National OperaWelsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
(2000–2003, 2006–present) - Governor, Welsh College of Music and Drama (1993–1997)
- Member of Management Committee, Northern SinfoniaNorthern SinfoniaThe Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
(1989–1990) - Member, Prince of Wales Committee (1993–1995)
- Member, Radio Authority (2001–2004)
- Trustee, Tenovus Cancer AppealTenovusTenovus is a British cancer charity committed to the control of cancer through: quality research, prevention/education, counselling and patient care.-History:...
(1984–1987) - Trustee, British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal (1987–1995)