Who we are
Staff members
Andy Rowland
As Managing Director of ecodyfi, Andy is responsible to the Board for all aspects of operation, including finance, compliance, development, communications, networking, and delivery of projects and services. When projects require dedicated staff, Andy helps the Board recruit them and manages them. Andy spent 14 years at the Centre for Alternative Technology in various roles, with jobs in nature conservation and community development before that. He has been a Community Councillor, school Governor and Clerk locally. He has a postgraduate certificate in rural community economic development and is bilingual.
Chris Higgins
As project manager of the 'Tyfu Dyfi' project, Chris's main responsibility at ecodyfi is ensuring timely reporting and delivery of project outputs to schedule.
Chris has degrees in Environmental Science, Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems; he spent 17 years working at the University of Edinburgh mainly leading European Union funded geospatial research projects. His aim is to use his wide experience and varied skillset to help ecodyfi make the Dyfi Valley a thriving, healthy, caring, place; renowned for sustainable living.
Sian Davies
Sian is the Trywydd Iach – Social Prescribing Officer that is being run in partnership by Ecodyfi and Coed Lleol. She started her role in January 2021, which involves working with local GP surgeries and organisations to offer free outdoor activities to improve people’s health & well-being. Sian is passionate about making well-being practices and green spaces accessible to all, and interested in the link between spending time in nature and how it can boost our personal & planetary health in many ways. She is a qualified Yoga instructor, and enjoys practicing embodied movement outdoors in various landscapes, and she also has a daily routine of going out in all weathers for a walk.
Mona Lewis
Mona works on the Trywydd Iach project leading on healthy travel options. She is passionate about cycling as it offers her freedom in the open air and it improves her physical fitness and wellbeing. Mona is a member of the Ramblers and enjoys exploring different areas with good company. Her previous roles have been in education and community development. Mona works on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday mornings.
Email: mona@ecodyfi.cymru
Freya Pryce
James Cass
Arfon Hughes
Arfon is the Communication officer for Tyfu Dyfi. He started working for ecodyfi as admin officer in December 2019, and was responsible for supporting ecodyfi projects and day-to-day work. He is a former Rural Housing Enabler with housing associations and county councils in North West Wales and he has also worked as a peripatetic teacher in Powys and as the Co-ordinator of Menter Iaith Maldwyn (Language inititaive). his interests include rural community development, the Welsh language, Welsh traditions, folk music and Welsh history. He also likes walking and being outdoors.
Ecodyfi board members
Ecodyfi Board members – description of interests and experience
Nicola Ruck, Chair
Machynlleth. Fair trade, tourism, health, woodlands.
Nicola Ruck worked for 35 years in British and international health services management and teaching. She moved to Machynlleth to get back to her family roots. Nicola helped to achieve Fairtrade Valley status for the Dyfi Valley, was on the Action Group for the Bronglais Hospital campaign, and was a member of the Montgomeryshire/Powys Community Health Council 2012-2022. She is currently a community representative on the Rural Health and Care Wales stakeholders group, and involved in the Trywydd Iach project. She manages continuous cover woodlands and has an eco-friendly holiday business.
Märit Olsson, Treasurer and Company Secretary
Corris. Accountancy, supporting African communities.
Märit manages the finances for ecodyfi. She has worked in accountancy for over 20 years and specialises in not-for-profit organisations. In her spare time she manages the Machynlleth based charity Hazina that supports work in Tanzania.
Iwan Pughe Jones
Glantwymyn
Guy Pargeter
Taliesin. Communications, business, forestry, law.
John Cantor
Machynlleth. Renewable energy, heat pumps, repair and re-use, community.
Martin Ashby
Eglwys-fach. Books, bikes, appropriate technology.
Ann MacGarry
Machynlleth. Education for sustainable development and global citizenship, young people, sustainability, overseas development.
Andy Rowland
Derwenlas. Community, appropriate technology, sustainability.