Cymraeg

Academi Wales

Summer School 2026 - more information

Speakers

Andy Ayim MBE

Andy Ayim MBE is a British-born husband and father of two, recognised as one of the world's leading voices on intentional life design and human-centred leadership. He partners with global brands like Google, Uber, Tesco, Stripe, Nando's and high growth SME’s, helping leaders build psychologically safe environments where people can connect authentically and contribute meaningfully.

Renowned for his clear, actionable guidance, Andy's work spans emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and scaling startups. His talks combine humour, storytelling, and research-backed insights, leaving audiences feeling empowered, emotionally aware and ready to make tangible changes in their lives and organisations.

With a global perspective shaped by living and working across four continents, Andy dedicates his life to helping people tune into their inner compass and align how they live, work, and lead with who they truly are. Based in Essex, UK, Andy balances his professional pursuits with family life, investing and mentoring.

Emmanuel Gobillot

Described as ‘the first leadership guru for the digital generation’ and ‘the freshest voice in leadership today’, Emmanuel has advised organisations across the globe on developing leaders, establishing teams, and changing cultures.

One of Europe’s most sought-after leadership speakers, he is the author and co-author of 8 UK and US bestselling books. 2024 saw him released a fully updated version of his seminal book ‘The Connected Leader’ published by De Gruyter, along with a new book ‘This is Not a Leadership Book’ published by Routledge which sealed his place as one of the world’s foremost management thinkers. His new book ‘Alive Inside – Unlocking your leadership advantage in the age of AI’ will be released in Jan 2026.

For over 20 years his work has been based on his mantra – ‘there must be a better way and together we can find it’.

A French national, Emmanuel moved to the UK in 1985. He holds an International Baccalaureate from the United World College of the Atlantic, a MA (Hons) from the University of St. Andrews and a Diploma in Management Science from the Nottingham Trent University. A father of two, now adult, children (Charlotte and George) Emmanuel lives in London with his wife Katherine Thomas. 

Tanya Sullivan

Sailor and motivational speaker

Tanya is no stranger to high-pressure environments. A highly successful hospitality leader turned professional sailor, Tanya brings over three decades of experience in managing people, risk, and pressure - both in business and at sea. She has skippered multiple Ocean crossings and Rolex Fastnet campaigns, and competed in some of the world’s most prestigious sailing regattas. Tanya knows what it means to lead when the stakes are high. 

Drawing on years of experience guiding crews through storms and setbacks, and celebrating extraordinary moments of teamwork and triumph, Tanya brings powerful lessons from the ocean into the workplace—offering practical, humorous, and deeply human insights into teamwork and resilience. 

Tanya’s talks are rich with real-life experiences and practical wisdom, highlighting how courage, collaboration and clarity can carry us through uncertain waters.

Derek Walker

Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Wales is the only country in the world with a Well-being of Future Generations Act and the role provides advice and support to government and public bodies to take a longer-term view on policy decisions. The commissioner’s job is to protect and promote the needs of future generations.

Derek Walker is the second ever Future Generations Commissioner, having started the role on March 1, 2023, when he called for ‘urgent and transformational change’ in Wales.

Previously he was chief executive of Cwmpas, the UK’s largest co-operative development agency. Derek spent 12 years as CEO, working to support people and communities to create jobs and strengthen communities, and changed the organisation’s focus to development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations.

Derek began his career as policy officer for London Councils, in London and Brussels. He has also worked as Head of External Affairs at the Big Lottery Fund (Wales), as Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Wales TUC and was the first employee of Stonewall Cymru.

Derek grew up on a farm near Cwmbran and is a keen runner and tennis player, loves to read and is a Welsh learner. He now lives in Cardiff with his partner Mike and has two grown-up children. His ambition while at Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School was to be a journalist and he has a Masters degree in International Journalism from Cardiff University. He’s happy how life has turned out and says being the guardian of the interests of people not yet born is the greatest privilege.

Ceri Witchard

Director, Academi Wales

Ceri became Director of Academi Wales in April 2024. Prior to this, she spent over 20 years in the public sector in Wales, leading operational and policy teams, and developing and delivering training programmes in a variety of contexts.

After initially joining the civil service as a specialist, a patent examiner within the Intellectual Property Office, she later moved on to work on copyright policy, business support and training.
 
From there she moved to Companies House, where she was a member of the Executive Board leave strategy and policy, and also being the Regulator of Community Interest Companies.
 
In 2018 she joined Welsh Government, leading on environmental policy, before taking on her current role at Academi Wales.

Applying for Summer School - the process

Submitting your application

We have a limited number of places on this programme, which will be awarded through a competitive selection process. It's important that you submit strong objectives and outcomes which align to both you and your organisation.

To ensure that the delegate group benefits from a relevant mix of experience we use several criteria to sift applications including motivation for applying and how applicants will apply the learning to benefit themselves, their organisation, and the wider public service, consideration is also given to sector and regional representation.

Places will be awarded to those applicants who provide strong objectives for participating in the Summer School and can evidence their return on investment.

Please answer the following questions in your application:

  • Personal Objectives - Please succinctly describe your current leadership role and responsibilities (100 to 150 words)
  • Departmental/Organisational Objectives - What are your learning objectives for Summer School? (100 to 150 words)
  • Personal Outcome Statement - How will Summer School help address the challenges in your work? How will you apply the learning? (100 to 150 words)

Learning objectives

Learning objectives are statements that describe significant and essential learning that learners have achieved and can reliably demonstrate after Summer School. In other words, learning objectives identify what you will be able to do by the end of the programme.

Learning objectives should:

  • Reflect essential knowledge, skills or behaviours
  • Focus on results of the learning experience
  • Reflect the desired outcome from the event, not the means or the process
  • Be a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 150 words

Example of what is appropriate in an application

As Head of Service, my focus is on creating collaboratively developed and effective public services. To achieve this, I aim to enhance stakeholder and team engagement through improved skills and insights into effective engagement techniques. This goal is integral to my personal development plan and will contribute to my performance evaluation.

Following Summer School, I will review my learning with my manager and seek support for implementing actions. I’m particularly interested in Emmanuel Gobillot's insights on employee engagement and well-being, given the challenges my team faces in meeting business objectives.

By the end of Summer School, I intend to create an action plan, utilising learned tools, good practices, and peer support to translate the week’s learning into action. In July, I’ll share my experiences and action plan with the Chief Executive to ensure alignment and impact.

Example of what is not appropriate in an application

I expect to improve my engagement skills at Summer School by taking part in various learning opportunities and listening to the speakers.

It is important for me to have these skills to enable me to do my job.

The Summer School programme looks really interesting and a number of the sessions should help me with my learning and development.

Personal example

Example of what is appropriate in a personal example

Attending Summer School will help me gain a clear understanding of my engagement skills, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. This clarity will empower me to create a focused personal action plan based on the insights I acquire during the programme. 

Over the following 12 months, this plan will guide my efforts to track and enhance these skills, enabling consistent progress. Furthermore, my development will be discussed and evaluated as part of my regular development review process with my manager. These discussions will help assess my achievements, refine my approach, and ensure alignment with both my professional and personal goals.

The combination of Summer School and my personalised action plan will be instrumental in achieving meaningful growth, supporting my journey towards improved engagement skills and broader career development.

Example of what is not appropriate in a personal example

I would like to attend Summer School so I can become a more engaged leader.

Organisational example

Example of what is appropriate in an organisational example

As a result of attending Summer School, I will be able to use a variety of tools and techniques to better engage others in the process of service development and delivery, encouraging stakeholders, communities and key individuals to feed into this and own the results. This is particularly relevant for my work with emergency teams in Mid Wales, considering how we can develop a more responsive, cohesive service relevant to the communities within the region.

In July, I will provide my team with a session to share the tools and techniques learnt at Summer School and build these into our team plans for taking forward our key business objectives.

Example of what is not appropriate in an organisational example

I want to get better at engaging others and Summer School will hopefully give me the skills to do this.

Please note

  • There are limited places available for this event which will be offered through a competitive selection process and places will be awarded to those applicants who provide strong objectives for participating in the Summer School and can evidence their return on investment.
  • Demonstrating return on investment has never been more important than in today’s climate. Return on investment is not simply about financial gain. It's the sustainable impact of the learning for both you and your organisation and how this links to services provided for the people of Wales. It is particularly relevant for those who are working through challenging times and seeking to make significant improvements to their organisational outcomes.
  • Summer School places are limited as the demand for places each year exceeds our capacity.

Delegate fees

How much does it cost?

£600 + VAT. This includes:

  • Access to the full Summer School learning programme.
  • Accommodation (nights of Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 June 2026). Please note this is basic student accommodation.
  • Breakfast, lunch and evening meal during the event.

You must meet any personal incidental costs, such as travel to and from the event, newspapers, bar bill and so on.

Please note: if you accept a place at Summer School and then withdraw from the programme, your organisation may be required to pay the full cost.

Bursaries

We are offering a limited number of bursaries to cover up to 100% of the delegate cost of Summer School 2026. We encourage applications from underrepresented, minoritised, and disadvantaged groups.

To apply for a bursary

Please provide evidence that you meet the eligibility (50 to 100 words). Your response needs to align to the criteria below:

  • You are part of an underrepresented, minoritised, or disadvantaged group within your organisation.
  • The size of your organisation.

How do I pay? What information is required?

Billing for Welsh public service and third sector applicants

Academi Wales is part of Welsh Government. You must provide the following details in your application:

  • Full name of organisation paying your delegate fee
  • Name and address of billing contact
  • Email address of billing contact

Supplier: Welsh Government
Supplier address: Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ

To confirm your place, you must provide us with a copy of your purchase order (PO). We will invoice your organisation for your delegate fee after Summer School.

Payment can also be made by business credit card via GOV.UK Pay.

If you need further details on the invoicing requirements please contact our finance team at AW.Business@gov.wales.

Billing for Welsh Government applicants

Academi Wales is part of Welsh Government. You must provide the following details in your application:

  • Branch finance manager email address

To confirm your place, your branch finance manager must provide the following details to AW.Business@gov.wales:

  • Profit centre / Cost centre
  • WBS code
  • Your 6-digit staff / payroll number

We will issue a journal transfer to collect your delegate fee after the event.

Please note: not providing the appropriate finance information could put your delegate place at risk.

If you need further details on the journal transfer requirements, please contact our finance team at AW.Business@gov.wales.

Prepare for Summer School

Timetable

Tuesday 23 June

  • 9:30am to 11:30am: registration and accommodation allocation
  • 12:00pm: lunch
  • 1:00pm: programme begins

Friday 26 June

  • 13:00pm: programme ends

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, you will only get the full benefit of this opportunity by attending every day of the 4 days of Summer School.

  • We encourage delegates to see the course as residential. However, if you live locally you may prefer to commute to and from your home. Please let us know as soon as possible if you don't need accommodation.

  • There are no childcare or crèche facilities available at the University. Delegates are expected to make their own childcare arrangements.

  • Meals and refreshments are included within the programme (alcohol, bar or café purchases are not covered).

    • Breakfast: between 7:00am and 8:30am
    • Dinner: 7:00pm

  • We will gather this information as part of the application process. Please advise as directed if you have medical or specific dietary requirements. For dietary preferences, please note that the University serves a variety of food. There is also a supermarket within walking distance of the campus.

  • Please be aware that because of the location, mobile phone and internet signals may be patchy and could be affected by weather conditions.

    Wi-Fi is available.

  • Smart casual.

  • We will be taking photographs and seeking feedback and quotes throughout the event and the materials produced may be shared on our website and social media or used for future Academi Wales event marketing and training purposes. You will have the opportunity to agree or disagree to be featured in these materials when you complete the application form.

  • Summer School is delivered in English. However, delegate information and materials are provided bilingually, and simultaneous translation will be available in the plenary room. If you would prefer to join a Welsh-speaking facilitation group, please state this in your application.

  • You must complete any pre-work set; this will be available on the delegate hub.

  • Successful delegates will be invited to enrol onto the Summer School delegate hub. This is a secure closed site and can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device. The hub will provide the opportunity to share important information leading up to the event, have discussions and network with your fellow delegates.

    It is important that you log onto the hub to receive regular updates and key information about the programme. We recommend you click the 'Subscribe' button, and select the 'As they happen' option to ensure you get the latest information as it is shared.

    You will require an up to date web browser such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome to access the hub.

Travel

Travelling to Lampeter (external link)

Trains - Transport for Wales (external link)

Bus Timetables (external link)

Car sharing

Once the delegate list is confirmed, with your approval we'll share contact details. You can then make your own car sharing arrangements for travel to and from the event.

Contacts

If you have any other questions, please email us.