Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and
Welsh Language
Key interests and
achievements
His interests include economic
and community development, and education and skills. Jeremy lives in the
Swansea Valley in the Neath constituency and enjoys films, reading, cooking,
hiking, cycling, and following rugby.
Personal history
Jeremy was born and brought up
in Pontarddulais and as a Welsh speaker, he was educated at Ysgol Gyfun
Ystalyfera in the Swansea valley and New College, Oxford where he read law.
Straight after graduating, he taught law at Warsaw University in Poland.
Professional background
Jeremy practised as a solicitor
in London initially, and then held senior legal and commercial posts in media
sector businesses including ITV and with the US television network and film
studio, NBC Universal. After returning to live in Wales, he set up his own
consultancy working with international clients in the broadcast and digital
sectors. Jeremy has been a trustee and secretary of the social justice charity
the Bevan Foundation. He also has experience as a youth mentor and as an
adviser at free legal advice centres.
Political history
He was elected to the Welsh
Parliament, commonly known as the Senedd, for Neath constituency in May 2016,
he sits as a Welsh Labour and Co-operative party Member of the Senedd,
following the retirement of Gwenda Thomas AM. Prior to joining the Welsh Government
in 2017, Jeremy was a member of a number of parliamentary committees including
Economy, Skills and Infrastructure; Culture, Welsh Language and Communications
and the External Affairs Committee. He also chaired the Co-operative group of
Labour MS’s. Jeremy was appointed to the Cabinet as Counsel General in November
2017. Following the election of Mark Drakeford MS as Welsh Labour Leader and
First Minister in December 2018, he retained this role along with assuming the
new post of Brexit Minister. Prior to the 2021 Senedd election, Jeremy served
as the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, also leading the
work on Wales’ recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.