Who's Who
Suzy Davies
Chairman
Suzy Davies: As a distinguished public figure within Wales, Suzy needs no introduction. For many years as a Member of the Senedd she was the Tourism Cross Party Chair and in 2018 came close to winning the Conservative Party leadership contest. Her family own a tourism business in Mid Wales and she is a Welsh speaker. Suzy has a proven track record in advocacy and campaigning developed over many years. Her appointment is a considerable coup for the WTA and all members should feel confident and reassured for the future direction of both the organisation and tourism in Wales.
Suzy was born in Swansea and grew up in South Wales. A graduate of Exeter University and the University of Glamorgan. After a career in both marketing and management, she became a solicitor. She has trained as a mentor for young offenders and has mentored with Prime Cymru. Suzy has also been a trustee of a number of children's projects and volunteered with community support groups. She has written for various publications and was one of the founding board members of the Welsh International Film Festival.
Chairman
Suzy Davies: As a distinguished public figure within Wales, Suzy needs no introduction. For many years as a Member of the Senedd she was the Tourism Cross Party Chair and in 2018 came close to winning the Conservative Party leadership contest. Her family own a tourism business in Mid Wales and she is a Welsh speaker. Suzy has a proven track record in advocacy and campaigning developed over many years. Her appointment is a considerable coup for the WTA and all members should feel confident and reassured for the future direction of both the organisation and tourism in Wales.
Suzy was born in Swansea and grew up in South Wales. A graduate of Exeter University and the University of Glamorgan. After a career in both marketing and management, she became a solicitor. She has trained as a mentor for young offenders and has mentored with Prime Cymru. Suzy has also been a trustee of a number of children's projects and volunteered with community support groups. She has written for various publications and was one of the founding board members of the Welsh International Film Festival.
Adrian Barsby
Vice Chairman
Adrian having been a former Chair of the WTA is well versed in the issues and application required to be Vice-Chair. Adrian currently runs his own successful Consultancy business Barsby Associates and is an Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) teaching final year students since 2014. He runs the Competitive Marketing Strategies, CMI Apprenticeship Degree, Strategic Tourism Management, and ICE (Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship). Between 2011 – 2017 he had overseas assignments with The Savoy Educational Trust in partnership with MMU and La Fondation Pour la Formation Hôtelière running seminars for local SME’s and educationists. Barsby Associates has held preferred consultancy status by WRAP Cymru – providing consultancy to hotels, farm shops, food manufacturers, pubs, tea rooms and restaurants to identify and reduce/eliminate waste, assist with grant applications and recommend improved practices.
Vice Chairman
Adrian having been a former Chair of the WTA is well versed in the issues and application required to be Vice-Chair. Adrian currently runs his own successful Consultancy business Barsby Associates and is an Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) teaching final year students since 2014. He runs the Competitive Marketing Strategies, CMI Apprenticeship Degree, Strategic Tourism Management, and ICE (Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship). Between 2011 – 2017 he had overseas assignments with The Savoy Educational Trust in partnership with MMU and La Fondation Pour la Formation Hôtelière running seminars for local SME’s and educationists. Barsby Associates has held preferred consultancy status by WRAP Cymru – providing consultancy to hotels, farm shops, food manufacturers, pubs, tea rooms and restaurants to identify and reduce/eliminate waste, assist with grant applications and recommend improved practices.
Lisa Francis
Policy Advocate
Lisa Francis served a term as an elected member of the then National Assembly for Wales and was her party’s spokesperson for tourism, transport, culture and Welsh language, with further responsibility for developing the Assembly’s own procedural rules.
A Welsh-speaker and former proprietor of the Queensbridge Hotel in Aberystwyth, she was also a Director of Mid Wales Tourism and Tourism Advisor to Nominet UK. She has worked with an AM and MP, supporting them with research, media and constituents’ casework and, as a freelancer, offered bespoke advice to small tourism businesses caught up in the complicated interest rate swap scandal.
Policy Advocate
Lisa Francis served a term as an elected member of the then National Assembly for Wales and was her party’s spokesperson for tourism, transport, culture and Welsh language, with further responsibility for developing the Assembly’s own procedural rules.
A Welsh-speaker and former proprietor of the Queensbridge Hotel in Aberystwyth, she was also a Director of Mid Wales Tourism and Tourism Advisor to Nominet UK. She has worked with an AM and MP, supporting them with research, media and constituents’ casework and, as a freelancer, offered bespoke advice to small tourism businesses caught up in the complicated interest rate swap scandal.