The chief executive of a not-for-profit organisation has been named as the First Minister's preferred candidate to be the next future generations commissioner. If successful Derek Walker would be in the £95,000-a-year role between 2023 and 2030. The Welsh Government's Equality and Social Justice Committee meet next week to discuss who will replace current Sophie Howe, who has been in the role since 2016.
Mr Walker is currently CEO of Cwmpas, which was previously known as the Wales Co-operative Centre, and describes himself as having "extensive experience" of leadership roles in the third and public sectors. A briefing ahead of the meeting describes him as the First Minister's "preferred candidate". Mr Walker has also been an agent for the Labour Party in the Butetown area of Cardiff.
It has been reported that there were 55 applications for the role with 10 recommended for interview. That was whittled down to five by the Assessment Advisory Panel.
In February this year incumbent Ms Howe told the Senedd her office's £1.5m annual budget was not sufficient and creates "an impossible task". Her comments led the Welsh Conservatives to call for the role to be scrapped, saying it is "wasting taxpayers' money".
Ms Howe, whose annual report for 2021-22 said she has expenditure of £1.7m including £1.2m in staffing, told a meeting of the Senedd equality committee this week that she receives the least funding of all Wales' four commissioners. Read more here. The commissioner's role is described as being a "guardian of future generations", helping public bodies and those who make policy in Wales to think about the long-term impact their decisions have.
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