Meet the team
Emma Watkins: Regional director, CBI Wales
Emma Watkins is director of the CBI in Wales and is responsible for managing the CBI’s relationships with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders, acting as the figurehead for the CBI in Wales. She is responsible for member recruitment and retention, as well as our commercial events programme.
Emma is a director of the Wales Social Partners Unit, which has been established to help business organisations interact with the Assembly. She is a member of the Secretary of State for Wales’s Business Advisory Group, and the Welsh Government’s Council for Economic Renewal, as well as a number of other bodies. She is a business opinion columnist for the Western Mail, and regular media commentator and speaker.
Emma has been with the CBI since 2003, during which time she has been head of public services policy, principal policy adviser in the CBI’s Brussels office, and head of policy for the CBI in Wales. Before joining the CBI, Emma worked as a political researcher for two members in the National Assembly for Wales during its first four years. Originally from St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Emma holds an MSc Econ in the European policy process, and a BSc Econ degree in politics and modern history, both from Cardiff University.
Email: emma.watkins@cbi.org.uk
Ian Price: Assistant regional director, CBI Wales and South West
Ian's role is recruitment of new members and retention of current members for Wales and the South West. He also runs the Enterprise Forum in Wales and monitors SME procurement in the public sector. Ian has responsibility for schools engagement for members in the South West and runs a series of regular private member dinners in both Wales and the South West. Prior to joining the CBI, Ian was a director of Acorn Recruitment for 10 years and before that served in the RAF.
Email: ian.price@cbi.org.uk
Leighton Jenkins: Assistant director - policy, CBI Wales
Leighton Jenkins is assistant director - policy at CBI Wales, where he is responsible for working with CBI members to develop devolved policies, building strong links with all levels of government on behalf of Welsh businesses, and representing the voice of business in Wales. Born in Bridgend, Leighton studied at King's College London, gaining a law degree and a theology diploma, he then went on to study at Cardiff University gaining a master's degree in European policy. He is also a Trustee of Chwarae Teg.
Email: leighton.jenkins@cbi.org.uk
Jennifer Strong: Regional executive, CBI Wales and South West
Jennifer provides research, briefing and policy input for member engagement in the South West and Wales. She also supports the policy development function and the analysis of key policy responses. Jennifer develops and maintains communication channels with members and stakeholders including the Wales and South West websites and the Wales update. Jennifer studied politics, social philosophy and applied ethics at Cardiff University and previously worked at the Welsh Assembly Government.
Email: jennifer.strong@cbi.org.uk
Amanda Buckley: Regional Executive of Events, CBI Wales and South West
Amanda is responsible for the planning and execution of a programme of CBI commercial events across Wales and the South West. From initial planning to making sure that all elements come together on schedule on the day, Amanda manages sponsors, speakers and the marketing and publication of all events. Amanda worked for the CBI covering maternity in 2008, she then returned as a permanent member of the team in 2010, having previously worked as a TV production co-ordinator for BBC Entertainment.
Email: amanda.buckley@cbi.org.uk
Emma Georgiades: Regional Administrator, CBI Wales and South West
Emma arranges the CBI Wales and South West Council Meetings, acts as PA to the directors, provides administrative support to the team, gives support for member meeting preparation and follow up, is responsible for non-commercial events and ad hoc meetings and is office manager for the Cardiff office. Emma joined the CBI after her job at RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Wales.
Email: emma.georgiades@cbi.org.uk
