Following the June 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (also known as Cardiff Capital Region, or ‘CCR’), the Committee confirmed its leadership, portfolio focus and strategic priorities for the next year.
Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby has been voted back in as CCR’s Chair for 2026/27, following the CJC’s inaugural year as a public body and its focus on bringing sustainable, inclusive economic growth to the region.
She will be joined by two new Vice Chairs, with Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, Leader of Newport City Council and Cllr Christopher Weaver, Leader of Cardiff Council taking up the mantle and ensuring that CCR continues as a trusted, capable partner across government and business.
Cllr Brocklesby said of the changes: “I am delighted to be voted as Chair for another year and being part of the CCR story, so that our incredible region is seen for what it is – an innovator, a collaborator and a convener – and what it can deliver for the future of the region.
”We begin this CJC year with changes to the make-up of our Committee, with new members joining and I would like to extend my thanks to both Andrew Morgan OBE, former Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, and Huw Thomas, former Leader of Cardiff Council, who has now become a Member of the Senedd, and we wish them well in their future endeavours.”
With the new Committee, each member is given portfolios of special interest, which are spread across the ten Leaders, which supports the CCR team to deliver the programmes, funds and projects that drive the organisation’s strategic direction seeking to create a stronger, fairer, greener region. The portfolios and the responsible Leaders are:
- Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby – Research, Innovation & Investment Partnerships
- Cllr Christopher Weaver – Regional Policy & Promotion
- Cllr Dimitri Batrouni – AI, Data, Skills & Productivity Investment
- Cllr Anthony Hunt – Governance, Resources & Assurance
- Cllr Lis Burnett – Connectivity & Major Projects Delivery
- Cllr John Spanswick – Energy & Power
- Cllr Ann Crimmings – Spatial Development
- Cllrs Stephen Thomas & Brent Carter – Northern Valleys
- Cllr James Pritchard – Local Growth & Economic Inclusion
Kellie Beirne, CCR’s Chief Executive commented: “I want to extend a huge thank you to the CJC for their support in the last year and their continued support with the new Committee. We have evolved since our new legal status two years ago and our remit has expanded considerably in that time, with statutory duties and millions of
pounds that our funds distribute to catalyse growth and drive economic wellbeing for the region.
“The appointments following this year’s AGM reflect the changing societal, business and technological changes and challenges facing our region and our organisation, so I look forward to continuing to work with the Committee to make South East Wales somewhere we can all live, work and thrive now, and in the future.”
To read more about the CJC and its members, click here.
