Our Team
Simon Hobson
Simon Hobson spent much of his childhood on his Welsh grandparent’s dairy farm, developing a love of Wales and a fascination for nature and earth sciences. He was a professional cyclist, living and racing across Europe, before gaining an honours degree in Mining Engineering from Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall. Simon has since lived and worked in many countries across the world. He writes on Wales and is a bridge between Wales and its global diaspora.
Simon has been host to all five species of the Plasmodium parasite - better known as malaria.
Daf Smith
Daf Smith is a design engineer in the high-voltage energy sector. He is a second generation member of the Welsh diaspora, brought up in Wiltshire, now living in Warwickshire. He has lived in Cardiff where he studied for a degree, and has family links in Powys and Pontypridd. His involvement in New Wales is driven by a wish to bring to light the best progressive and practical policies that will improve the daily lives of people in Wales. He has a keen interest in sports, environmental sciences, engineering, and languages.
Daf originally trained to be a Zoologist and was part of an early study into the benefits of using Welsh ponies for conservation grazing in Bannau Brycheiniog.
Daf originally trained to be a Zoologist and was part of an early study into the benefits of using Welsh ponies for conservation grazing in Bannau Brycheiniog.
Iestyn ap Rhobert
Iestyn ap Rhobert has his roots in rural Carmarthenshire but came to Cardiff to study. Since graduation, he has successfully owned and operated two training companies and currently works in the education sector.
He is an experienced campaigner of over 20 years and is interested in challenging apathy and disengagement. He champions critical thinking and political empowerment - especially in non-partisan politics. He is a passionate believer in democracy both at home and abroad and is unashamedly pro Welsh devolution and self-determination.
In a previous life, he studied fine art and his dream is to see a Welsh MOMA established in his lifetime. He has strong connections with cultural activists in other Celtic countries and has worked with democracy campaigners from many European nations.
He is an experienced campaigner of over 20 years and is interested in challenging apathy and disengagement. He champions critical thinking and political empowerment - especially in non-partisan politics. He is a passionate believer in democracy both at home and abroad and is unashamedly pro Welsh devolution and self-determination.
In a previous life, he studied fine art and his dream is to see a Welsh MOMA established in his lifetime. He has strong connections with cultural activists in other Celtic countries and has worked with democracy campaigners from many European nations.
Nigel Cousins
Nigel Cousins is a graphic designer from Swansea. After many years working and living in Bristol he noticed that the economic gap between these two cities had been widening Swansea suffering whilst Bristol thrives.
In the wake of the pandemic he became increasingly interested in politics and looked to use his skills to help promote, inform and encourage people to think about how we can improve our situation in Wales. His mission is to increase awareness, give confidence to those who wish to speak out and dispel the myth that as individuals we have no power. He hopes that through New Wales / Cymru Newydd he can help achieve these goals.
In the wake of the pandemic he became increasingly interested in politics and looked to use his skills to help promote, inform and encourage people to think about how we can improve our situation in Wales. His mission is to increase awareness, give confidence to those who wish to speak out and dispel the myth that as individuals we have no power. He hopes that through New Wales / Cymru Newydd he can help achieve these goals.
Gwern Gwynfil
Born and raised in the small market town of Tregaron, Gwern is very proud to have an entry in the Welsh Wici! He loves Cymru, family (he has five children), swimming, writing, and speaking his mind without fear or favour. He yearns for a Wales that has the opportunity to fulfill its potential and the freedom to succeed (or fail) in this shared national goal.
Left entirely to his own devices he would write, read, pontificate, swim, and drink Japanese whisky (but not all at the same time). He is, unusually, both a cat and dog person - also tropical fish. He believes very firmly that with ambition, bravery, and confidence, Cymru can become a positive influence in the world with an impact far above its perceived capability and capacity. We have the history, the resources, the skills, and the passion for this - but we must harness it with vigour and intent.
Left entirely to his own devices he would write, read, pontificate, swim, and drink Japanese whisky (but not all at the same time). He is, unusually, both a cat and dog person - also tropical fish. He believes very firmly that with ambition, bravery, and confidence, Cymru can become a positive influence in the world with an impact far above its perceived capability and capacity. We have the history, the resources, the skills, and the passion for this - but we must harness it with vigour and intent.