Mentoring and Knowledge event, 30 June 2026

Join Public Affairs Cymru for another innovative mentoring session with experienced policy and public affairs professionals.

Hear short talks from our mentors and take part in interactive small group discussions to gain career insights, practical advice and build connections.

The session begins with short panel discussion, sharing lessons from their careers. You will then have the chance to move between tables for small group conversations where you can seek advice, build connections and leave feeling inspired.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from leaders across politics, healthcare, communications and the third sector. We hope you will join us. Light refreshements will be available.

We will be joined by

Jess Blair - Director, ERS Cymru
Jess has been Director of ERS Cymru since 2017. She has led campaigns on votes at 16, increasing the size of the Senedd and deliberative democracy.

She was a member of the Welsh Government’s Innovating Democracy Advisory Group, and was also a member of the Expert Panel, which supported the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.

Prior to joining ERS, Jess was Policy and Projects Manager at the Institute of Welsh Affairs, a leading Welsh think tank. She was also Acting Director during 2016.

Jess is the Wales member of the UK Open Government Network Steering Group. She holds a Masters in Welsh Government and Politics from the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University.

Natasha Davies, Senior Policy Manager, Marie Curie Cymru
Tash is a policy and public affairs professional with around 12 years’ experience in Wales, with a strong track record of turning evidence into action.

She began her career at Chwarae Teg, where she held a range of roles including Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Research, helping to strengthen its evidence-led influencing work. She also led the Welsh Government-commissioned Gender Equality Review, which helped shape changes including the piloting of gender budgeting and gender mainstreaming.

She has also worked at the Senedd Commission and, since 2024, has been Senior Policy Manager for Wales at Marie Curie, where she leads policy work to improveend of life care and led the development of the charity’s 2026 Senedd manifesto, At Breaking Point.

Paul Smith, Policy and Public Affairs Lead ‑ Wales, Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Paul is currently the policy and public affairs lead for Wales for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and chairs the allied health professions coalition body - AHPF Cymru.

This a return to public affairs for Paul after spending six years working in the Senedd as the Chief of Staff to the Welsh Conservative Group, covering the leaderships of Paul Davies and Andrew RT Davies, the COVID pandemic, the 2019 and 2024 general elections and the 2021 Senedd elections.

Prior to working in the Senedd, Paul was the Public Affairs Manager for RSPCA Cymru having moved across from party political campaigning as the Area Campaign Director for South and Mid Wales for the Welsh Conservatives.

A qualified election agent, Paul’s experience is around translating regulation into accessible campaign opportunities, writing manifestos and developing policy positions for a Welsh and UK audience.