Our Team
Neil Lewis – Manager 
(Part-time)
Neil joined us from Robert Owen Community Banking Fund where he worked as The Community Energy Fund Manager. This multi-award nominated fund helped develop around 20 community owned renewable energy projects across Wales, by loaning over £1.2 million. He previously worked with Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, advising SMEs in rural Carmarthenshire on energy and environmental sustainability.
He is a former Chairman of Abergwili Community Council and has a Masters Degree in Energy and Environment from The University of East London. Neil has worked previously as a Dentist and as Welsh Language Spokesperson for the Marine Conservation Society. His interest in clean energy comes from living his childhood on the edge of a very deep, open cast coal mine. Neil was also a Renew Wales Co-ordinator/Mentor. He has driven electric cars 120,000 miles across Wales and is therefore an expert on the lack of charging infrastructure.
Sioned Haf - Coordinator
Sioned has worked with Ynni Sir Gâr for the past seven years and is based in Llansadwrn in the Tywi valley. She has a doctorate from Bangor University on community energy in Scotland and Wales (and compared with other nations across the European continent). She has also worked on research projects with Anglia Ruskin University and European partners.
She has organised a number of projects and events to raise awareness of the potential of community owned renewable energy projects in contributing towards a sustainable and just local economy, and created a graphic novel and toolkit for schools to explore the sector in more depth (see Resources page). Sioned is also a director of DEG (Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig) in north-west Wales and former director of Community Energy Wales.
Lleucu Meinir - Communications and Community Engagement Officer
After completing a Welsh degree in Aberystwyth, Lleucu worked in the community with Cymdeithas yr Iaith for a year before beginning a period of 15 years working in the broadcast industry. She also organised music events voluntarily across Wales, created photography work and brought up her first born.
In 2011 she moved back to her home area to live in west Wales changing the emphasis of her work to be an educator and motivator in the rural communities of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire through the arts, the relevance of local history and in the field of well-being. Alongside this she ran her photography business, Lluniau Lleucu, and brought up her 4 children. Since 2023 Lleucu has been working as a Communications and Community Engagement Officer with the social company Ynni Sir Gâr.
Vanessa Bolton-Roe - Bwrlwm Project Officer
Vanessa joined Ynni Sir Gar in November 2023, bringing with her experience in teaching, events and community working. With an interest in sustainable living and having worked on Zero Waste projects for the last 5yrs, she was delighted to have the chance to make a difference on her own doorstep and focus her work in Llandovery and the surrounding area.
Currently working on Bwrlwm, she is exploring renewable energy and efficiency options for households, alongside supporting and developing sustainable projects such as swap events and upcycling.
Helen Morris - Pethau Pawb Project Officer
Originally from Llandeilo, Helen worked in hospitality and customer service before returning to university as a mature student. After graduating with a degree in Marketing, Helen was the Manager for Relate Cymru before moving to Chester and working for a charity that supported families at risk of homelessness. Helen returned home to Llandeilo and worked for Foothold Cymru for ten years, supporting young people to move into work, and helped set up the Tool Shed in Llanelli, the first tool lending library in Wales.
Jade is an experienced project manager and creative practitioner based in Llanelli. She brings a background in natural sciences, linguistics, and education to her role with Ynni Sir Gar along with has extensive experience in science outreach and community engagement, including her work with the Lightyear Foundation and Cardiff and Swansea Universities.
Carol Lewis - Office Co-Ordinator
Carol works part time as Office Co-ordinator, ensuring the appropriate processes and systems are in place to support the team. Carol also assists the team with the update of the website.
Over the years Carol has worked for many corporate companies, including Kraft Foods and American Express. Her previous roles have involved website management, communications, and community development.
Mari Arthur - Chair
Mari is currently a Partner at Afallen Cymru LLP and a free-lance marketing and communications consultant specialising in sustainability. Until early 2020 Mari was the Director of Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales, and has managed cross-sector projects, with recent focus on the utility sector, vulnerable customers, community engagement, sustainability and the environment.
Based in Trimsaran and Cardiff, Mari has been a Board Member at Ynni Sir Gâr since 2017, she is also a Board Member at Warm Wales and a school governor at Stebonheath School and Ysgol Y Strade Llanelli. Mari also currently sits on Dŵr Cymru’s Customer Challenge Group and Wales & West Utilities Customer Engagement Group and Chairs Dŵr Cymru’s Independent Environmental Advisory Panel.
Tom Defis - Treasurer
Tom has a been a Carmarthenshire County Councillor for Carmarthen Town West since 2012. He is on the Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee and Housing Review Panel (Substitute) for the county and is a school governor of the Welsh medium schools Bro Myrddin and Ysgol y Dderwen. He is also the Christian Aid coordinator for West Wales, an organisation that works to eradicate poverty and tackle the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.
Dai Lewis - Director
Dai Lewis is a Programme Manager at Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, where he leads research projects focused on developing internal capability and knowledge for the offshore renewable energy sector, as well as overseeing Supply Chain Development Programmes within the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership. Originally from Cardiff and now based in Carmarthen since 2019, Dai holds a doctorate in Materials Engineering from Swansea University.
Also a Director and Trustee for PLANED, Dai is passionate about supporting local development and people. He also serves as a school governor for Welsh Medium Primary school, Ysgol Gymunedol Peniel, and as a Welsh learner, is committed to supporting the language. Dai is excited to work with Ynni Sir Gar, eager to contribute to their range of innovative projects and support their growth in the community.