Jane Davidson

Infobox Politician
name=Jane Davidson AM

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birth_date =birth date and age|df=yes|1957|3|19
birth_place = Birmingham, England
office = Assembly Member
constituency=Pontypridd
term_start =1999
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successor = (incumbent)
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party = Labour

Jane Davidson, AM (born in Birmingham, 19 March 1957) is the Labour Assembly Member for Pontypridd and the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government. She lives in Gwaelod-y-Garth with her husband and three children. She is also the Welsh Vice-President of the Ramblers' Association.

Educational background

Davidson studied at Malvern Girls' College; the University of Birmingham (BA Hons English); and then took a PGCE at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Professional career

Formerly a teacher (1981-84), Davidson taught English, Drama and PE, firstly in Cardigan County Secondary School, then Pontypridd.

She has spent much of her life working with young people in the voluntary sector, both as Development Officer for the Youth Hostel Association in Wales (1984-87) and as a Youth and Community Worker (1987-90). Davidson was also a Researcher to Rhodri Morgan MP (1991-96); and Welsh Co-ordinator, National Local Government Forum Against Poverty (1994-96).

Political career

Local Government

Davidson spent 10 years as Labour city councillor in Cardiff (1987-96), was Welsh Co-ordinator for the National Local Government Forum followed by being Head of Social Affairs for the Welsh Local Government Association, before becoming Assembly Member for Pontypridd in 1999. National Assembly

Was Deputy Presiding Officer before being appointed to the Cabinet of the Welsh Assembly Government on 16 October 2000 as Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning & Skills. In the first Cabinet of the Third Assembly she was appointed Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development (31 May 2007) until a coalition cabinet was agreed with Plaid Cymru, and she became instead Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (19 July 2007).

References

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13012.stm BBC Website September 1999]

External links

* [http://www.janedavidson.org.uk/ Jane Davidson's personal website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/janedavidson Jane Davidson's MySpace page]
* [http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetm/janedavidson?lang=en= Biography at the Welsh Assembly Government]

Offices held