Gwilym Hughes
The president of the Cambrian Archaeological Association for 2024-25 is Gwilym Hughes, Head of Cadw, Welsh Government. Brought up in Radyr and Creigiau, near Cardiff, he read archaeology at Southampton University, and then worked as a field archaeologist and heritage manager in Wales, northern Italy and Zimbabwe. His four years Zimbabwe included excavation and conservation at the Great Zimbabwe and Khami world heritage sites. On returning to the UK he headed the Field Archaeology Unit at Birmingham University directing excavations throughout the UK.
He then became Director of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust leading the team in excavation, conservation and research in the south-west of Wales. At this time, the spectacular discovery of the Roman fort at Llandeilo led to excavation for the National Trust. After 7 years, he then moved to Cadw as Chief Inspector and subsequently Head of Cadw.
This varied career has given him a wealth of experience in all aspects of the historic environment from survey, excavation, conservation and site development. During his tenure at Cadw, several notable developments were completed including, groundbreaking new legislation for the historic environment of Wales, innovative developments at the World Heritage Sites at Harlech and Caernarfon Castles and the inscription of the Slate Landscape of north-west Wales as a World Heritage Site. In addition, the 13th century native Welsh castle at Caerwgle came into State care along with, recently, Llys Rhosyr, in Anglesey, an important royal court of the Princes of Gwynedd.