Kathryn Robson
Board Member
Kathryn Robson is Chief Executive of Adult Learning Wales, the National Organisation for adult community learning in Wales. She is committed to being an active upstander for anti-racism and equality. A firm supporter of lifelong learning opportunities for all, Kathryn is committed to driving forward the adult education and inclusivity agenda, giving greater accessibility to learning for communities across Wales.
Born and bred in North Pembrokeshire, Kathryn learnt Welsh as an adult and is focused on establishing bilingual services and increasing opportunities to access Welsh medium provision across Wales. Kathryn has worked in the post-16 education sector for 22 years and has developed many partnerships to help advance further education and adult community learning. Committed to championing opportunities for disadvantaged communities, Kathryn promotes community learning and advocacy through democratic engagement and a wide range of formal and informal learning; helping to advance active citizenship, skills, and economic development.
With a background in Human Resource Management spanning 28 years, Kathryn is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, and holds a Level 7 qualification in HR Management from Swansea Institute of Higher Education. She is committed to social partnership and has extensive experience in employee engagement and organisational development, across the public and private sectors. She was a member of the Wales Negotiating Committee Further Education (WNCFE) for six years, which saw the introduction of the national common contract for FE staff in Wales. She is a member of Colleges Wales Principals’ Forum as well as their Audit Committee and is also a member of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), Chair of the Third Sector Partnership Council’s Education Committee and Chair of External Reference Group undertaking a review of adult learning in Wales. Kathryn is actively involved in advancing race equality initiatives and is a Board Member and Trustee of Race Council Cymru.
Kathryn is an advocate for lifelong learning for all ages, she is Vice Chair of Governors at Cardigan Secondary School and a volunteer consultant at Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School, Pemborkeshire. Her appointment on Welsh Government’s Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Strategy Board took place in 2021, and she serves as a member of the Education Workforce Council following her Public Appointment by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language in February 2023 and was appointed to the Social Partnership Council by the First Minister in December 2023.