Trustee & Chair Lesley Hodgson

Lesley Hodgson picture

Dr Lesley Hodgson is a Project Consultant and works with various cultural communities within Merthyr Tydfil. Lesley serves on a number of bodies throughout Merthyr Tydfil and South Wales. She has served as Chair of the Merthyr Tydfil Migrant Workers Forum, Vice-Chair of the Merthyr Tydfil Multi Agency Diversity Forum and from 2012 -2018 was a Council Member for the Arts Council of Wales. She is Founder and Secretary of the Polish Community of the Valleys Association.

About her involvement in Global Village she says,
“I’m really proud to be a founder member of Global Village. Being involved in Global Village is hard work but its very, very rewarding. I have responsibility for performers and workshops and there’s nothing quite like seeing everything coming together on the day and I really enjoy watching the performers from the side of the stage. There’s so much culture to share! If you’d like to be part of Global Village as a performer or workshop provider then please don’t hesitate to contact me via the contacts page.”

Trustee  – Judith Mulry

Judith Mulry picture

Judith Mulry is the Equality Manager at The College Merthyr Tydfil.  She also represents the College on the Merthyr Tydfil Multi-Agency Diversity Forum and the Migrant Workers Forum. About her involvement in the Global Village she says,
“I’ve been involved with the Global Village since its inception in 2005. As a committee we meet throughout the year to ensure the event’s success, but to see the marquees going up and experience the buzz of excitement on the day is worth all the hard work.  I have responsibility for the food vendors, giving the opportunity for visitors to taste local produce as well as foods from other countries.  If you think your food business could support our aim of promoting culture and celebrating diversity, then I’d love to hear from you.”   

Trustee  – Geraint Owens
Geraint Owens picture

Trustee & Treasurer- Chris Davies

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Chris Davies currently works for Disability Wales. Chris is a Governor of Greenfield Special School, a Director of 3G’s Development Trust and Joint Chair of Merthyr People First. He is a qualified Social Worker with a background of working in the community and voluntary sectors. Between 2008 and 2012, he is an independent Councillor at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

About his involvement in the Global Village he says:

“ I am very proud and pleased to be involved with and a trustee of the Global Village which brings together the diverse communities that live in Merthyr Tydfil borough in a celebration of community life. . I have responsibility for Health & Safety ensuring equipment logistics, stewarding, traffic management and car parking is in place, and the event goes ahead without any hitches. We are always on the look-out for new volunteers to join the team. You would be very welcome, come and join us – a really enjoyable time is had by all….!!”

Former

Trustee & Chair – Karen Dusgate

Karen Dusgate picture

Karen was Chief Executive of Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association; she has been a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Wales Committee since 2009. Karen chaired the Merthyr Tydfil Multi Agency Forum and the Global Village Festival Committee until 2014.

Like the other members of the Festival Committee, Karen was most proud of the way everyone comes together on the day to ensure it is such a success. Karen said, “It really is a tremendous effort by all of the committee members and volunteers – no one is paid and this makes it all the more special – everyone just pitches in.”

Karen still intends to be part of future Global Village Festivals as a volunteer.