Charlotte Davies reflects on what she’s learnt from speaking to communities across Wales about public appointments, how they align with the work of voluntary organisations, and why more people should consider applying.
COULD A PUBLIC APPOINTMENT BE FOR YOU?
Before I joined the Public Appointments Team, I’ll be honest – I didn’t fully understand what a public appointment was or how significant they are to life in Wales.
Like many people, I had never heard of them, and then, when I did my research, I assumed public board members were experts, senior professionals or people with years of leadership experience behind them. I imagined that public boards were made up of people who already knew how government worked and had a long list of qualifications after their name.
Since taking up this role, I’ve discovered that the reality is much more interesting.
Over the last few months, I’ve reached out to community groups, businesses, charities and networks across Wales about public appointments. One thing keeps coming up in almost every conversation: people don’t see themselves in these roles.
And that’s a problem.
WHAT IS A PUBLIC APPOINTMENT?
Public appointees sit on boards that oversee public bodies in Wales.
Public bodies are organisations that make decisions affecting all of us, covering everything from health and housing to culture, education, transport and the environment. One of the biggest surprises for people I meet is just how many different boards there are. Health Boards are some of the most familiar, but public appointments also include organisations such as Arts Council of Wales, the National Library of Wales, Natural Resources Wales, Sport Wales, National Museum Wales and the Welsh Revenue Authority.
Whatever your interests are, there’s a good chance there’s a board somewhere in Wales working on an issue you care about.
Board members bring an independent perspective, help these organisations make good decisions, and influence the direction of services that make a real difference to people’s lives.
In short, they help make sure public bodies are working effectively for the people of Wales.
WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS
Public bodies serve communities across Wales, and their decisions shape services that people rely on every day.
This is directly relevant to the voluntary sector. Voluntary organisations work closely with people who use public services and often understand, first-hand, how decisions affect communities. Their insight should be represented on the boards making those decisions.
WCVA’s manifesto calls for the voluntary sector to be recognised as an equal partner and for a communities policy that puts people and communities at the heart of decision-making. Including voluntary sector voices on public boards would be a positive, practical step towards that aim.
Boards with a wider range of lived and professional experience are better equipped to understand the challenges facing the communities they serve. Different perspectives support stronger discussion, better decisions and more effective public services.
For voluntary organisations, public appointments offer an opportunity to bring community knowledge into the room and help shape a fairer, healthier and more resilient Wales.
YOUR EXPERIENCES MATTER
Many people assume they need previous board experience or specialist expertise. In reality, many boards are looking for people with a mix of skills, experiences and perspectives.
Whether you’ve volunteered, run a business, raised a family, supported your community, built a career in the public, private or voluntary sector, or championed a cause you care about, you may have more to offer than you realise.
In my role, I meet people every day who could make a real difference to a public board – people supporting young people, promoting the Welsh language, advocating for disabled people, helping local voluntary groups, running businesses or championing rural communities.
What boards often need most is a fresh perspective and people who understand the communities they serve.
‘Helping people recognise their potential is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.’
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
It’s normal to wonder whether you’ve got the right skills, knowledge & experience. Many of the board members I meet felt the same before they applied.
The difference is that they took that first step.
And that first application could be the start of something bigger than you think.
- You don’t have to be an expert.
- You don’t have to tick every box.
- You just have to take the first step.
The next opportunity to make a difference might be closer than you think.
FIND OUT MORE
Charlotte Davies is the Outreach Lead in the Welsh Government Public Appointments Team.
To find out more:
- Visit the Public Appointments Website.
- View vacancies.
- Sign up to receive vacancy alerts and learn more about how the appointments process works.
- Read the candidate guidance pages.
- Join one of our free ‘Demystifying Public Appointments’ workshops or candidate information sessions.
book here to join a public session on the 12 January 2027
book here to join a public session on the 9 April 2027
- We also offer bespoke workshops, email us here to book a bespoke session