Anna L Prytherch - Head of Rural Health and Care Wales

Anna is Head of Rural Health and Care Wales, having commenced in post at the beginning of February 2017. Anna is a business post-graduate (BScEcon; MBA) who has recently submitted her PhD in Business and Management (Learning Networks and Knowledge Transfer in small Businesses). Anna has over 25 years senior managerial experience in private, public and third sector organisations, also having established a consultancy business that was recognised as one of Wales Top 100 start-up businesses in 2006. She is PRINCE2 accredited (Project Management) and holds a higher education teaching qualification, with experience of lecturing at FE and HE level. Prior to working for RHCW, Anna was manager of vocational learning across Ceredigion, working for the local authority. She has an avid interest in lifelong learning and continuous professional development and will be leading the research on education, training and CPD of health and social care professionals in rural areas. A fluent Welsh speaker, Anna was born and grew up in rural Mid Wales, being passionate about the area and its diverse and unique natural environment and culture.

Michelle Symes - Research and Development Officer

Michelle joined RHCW in November 2022 as a Research and Development Officer. Michelle joined RHCW from Bronglais Hospital (Dyfi and Ystwyth Wards) where she worked as a Ward Clerk, and Family Liaison Officer, combining this patient focussed work with research support within the Social Policy Department of the University of Birmingham. Prior to this Michelle had worked as a Postgraduate and Research Administrator within the Computer Science, Physics and Maths Departments at Aberystwyth University. Her interests are around healthcare systems, patient experience specifically relating to Dementia, and the accessibility of healthcare provision within the Mid Wales region.

Rebecca Gardner - Macmillan Rural Cancer Experience Researcher

Becky joined RHCW in July 2023 as the Macmillan Rural Cancer Experience Researcher. She has an MSc in Global Public Health from Queen Mary University, an ILM Level 5 diploma in Leadership and Management and a BA in Geography. Becky has previously managed a private dental practice, worked for a pharmaceutical company and in retail management; she has also been a Lay diagnostics committee member for NICE. Becky has been to school, university and raised a family in Mid Wales and feels passionately about the place, the people and the community. Becky will be researching the cancer experiences of people living with cancer in rural mid Wales, with the aim of uncovering any potential inequalities between the rural and urban experience.