Ms. Mari James

Ms Mari James (Managing Director)

Mari James, GJW Cymru/Wales Ltd

Mari James

Mari James
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MARI JAMES

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mari James is Managing Director of GJW Cymru Wales.Mari is uniquely qualified to provide professional consultancy services on current Welsh developments having been centrally involved in the processes to establish the National Assembly for Wales after returning to Wales following a successful career in senior public affairs posts in London.Mari was a leading member of the National Assembly Advisory Group and the Assembly Preparations Group.Over a period of 15 months these 2 groups conducted a wide ranging consultation exercise among business groups, NDPBs, voluntary groups, local authorities and others.The resulting Final Recommendations of NAAG became the blueprint for the structures and procedures of the Assembly.The APG's responsibilities included the opening of the Assembly, Support for Members, Information Strategy and Systems, Building Facilities and Standing Orders.She was also Vice Chair of the successful Yes for Wales referendum campaign in 1997, being particularly responsible for liaison between political parties, chairing of daily press conferences, and was the campaign's main spokesperson on the media outside Wales.Mari also managed a series of ERDF funded economic development research projects in the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, University of Wales, Cardiff, and was editor of the quarterly CD-ROM, the Welsh Economy Database.Before returning to Wales, Mari was Chief Executive of Bethnal Green City Challenge Company and Vice President Public Affairs of Olympia & York Canary Wharf Ltd.In Olympia and York her particular responsibility was for relations with Government Ministers and Departments, local authorities, LDDC, and for the development, establishment and management of support projects on training and transport, in particular the Jubilee Line Extension and its Canary Wharf station.Mari was also Chair of the Tower Hamlets Further Education College for five years.Mari is a regular contributor on Welsh politics and government to radio and TV throughout Wales and UK network TV.Mari is not a member of any political party.In April 2001, Mari also became a Board Member of Clwyd Theatr Cymru.

Creditors will meet at the agency's office next Monday (20 March) with a view to winding up the company, led by director Mari James.

Senior media figures present included the Deputy Editor of the Western Mail; Mari James, Managing Director of GJW Cymru; Wynne Melville Jones, Chair Stratamatrix; Huw Jones, Chief Executive of S4C and Eleri Wyn Lewis, Head of Education and Learning, BBC Wales.

Mari JamesManaging director, WalesEmail: mjames@webershandwick.com

Mari JamesManaging director, WalesE: mjames@webershandwick.com

Mari JamesGJW Cymru/Wales LtdTel: 029 20 223928

Mari James, who was vice- chair of the Yes for Wales campaign, set up GJW Cymru Wales when the Assembly came into being in 1999.She had returned to Wales after a high-flying series of jobs in London, where she was chief executive of Bethnal Green City Challenge Company and vice-president public affairs of Olympia and York Canary Wharf.

GJW Cymru Wales was formally established as a company in December 2002, but has failed to file any accounts with Companies House, despite a deadline of October 2004 to submit the first set.Ms James denied a report in PR Week that the company was under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs after failing to make tax returns.

Ms James is not, however, leaving the public affairs scene.
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"There are numerous opportunities for Welsh business in working with the devolved system in Wales and Mari James and MJ Associates are ideally placed to assist businesses to take up these opportunities at a time when the Welsh economy is still growing."
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Ms James herself said, "Some organisations have still not taken on board the fact that the Assembly is a government entity and that Cardiff is an administrative centre.