People of the Senedd

David Rees MS

David Rees MS

Senedd Constituency Member

Welsh Labour

Welsh Labour Group

Aberavon

Deputy Presiding Officer

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Detailed information: David Rees MS

Biography

Key interests and achievements

David is a strong advocate for good relationships between workers and their employers and as such believes that trade unions have an important role in supporting working people.  He is a member of both Unite and Unison and was previously also a member of the Universities and Colleges Union during his educational career. His academic interest in the application of computing led him to become a member of the British Computer Society and a Chartered Engineer during his time as an academic.

His political interests include the future of manufacturing in Wales, the provision of health services, education, economic development & regeneration including the opening up of more tourism opportunities within the South Wales valleys and improving public services within local communities.

Personal history

David Rees is a native of Aberavon and was educated in local primary and comprehensive schools. Upon completing his A-levels he attended University College Cardiff (now Cardiff University) for both his undergraduate studies and his PGCE. He has always lived in Port Talbot and now lives in Cwmafan, Port Talbot, with his wife. They have two adult daughters, both of whom attended local Welsh medium schools, and five grandchildren.

David has an honours degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from Cardiff University, as well as a post-graduate teaching qualification and a master’s degree in Computer Science.

Professional background

David started his education career as a teacher of mathematics and computer science in Cynffig Comprehensive School, Kenfig Hill, before becoming a lecturer in computing at Afan College. He then moved into higher education as a senior lecturer in Computing and prior to his election to the National Assembly in 2011 he had progressed his career to become an Assistant Dean of Faculty at Swansea Metropolitan University (now part of UWTSD).  During his time at Swansea Metropolitan University, David was chair of the Joint trade union committee and a lay member of the Welsh regional committee of UCU (NATFHE) representing members across the institution.

David has continually shown an interest in educational governance and has been a staff governor at Swansea Institute of HE (as it was known then) and Afan College (as it was known then) plus a parent governor at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera.

Political history

David was first elected to the National Assembly for Wales as the Labour Assembly Member for Aberavon in 2011, succeeding Dr Brian Gibbons. During the fourth Assembly term David chaired the Health & Social Care Committee and also sat on the Enterprise & Business Committee, the Environment Committee and the Children, Young People & Education Committee.  He also chaired cross party groups (CPGs) on Science & Technology, Mental Health and Industrial Communities.

In 2016, David was re-elected to represent Aberavon in the Senedd.  During the fifth Senedd, David chaired the External Affairs & Additional Legislative committee and also sat on the Finance Committee, the Health, Social Care & Sport Committee and the committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister.  He continued to chair the CPGs on STEMM and Mental Health and also chaired CPGs on STEEL, Nursing & Midwifery and Cancer, whilst being a member of several others.

In 2021, David was once again re-elected to represent his home town in the sixth Senedd, and was subsequently elected as Deputy Presiding Officer.

Since joining the Labour party in 1982 he has held a number of positions within the Labour Party in Wales, as well as in his trade unions.

Before being selected to represent his home constituency in 2011, David was the Labour Party’s candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire in the 2003 National Assembly election and a list candidate for South Wales West in the 2007 election.

Membership

Terms of office

  1. 05/06/2011 - 04/05/2016
  2. 05/06/2016 -
  3. 05/08/2021 -

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Calendar events: David Rees MS