The Mid Wales Sports Partnership has announced the appointment of its first ever Regional Director.

Gemma Cutter is to take up the role in January, having spent the last 20 years working in Wales’ sports sector.

Ms Cutter, who lives in Tregaron, will lead the new organisation, which covers Ceredigion and Powys, and will engage with existing and new stakeholders and partners, driving innovative and collaborative partnerships.

"I’m thrilled to be appointed as the first Regional Director of the Mid Wales Partnership," he said.

"It’s an incredible opportunity to help drive positive change and make a lasting difference across our beautiful region.

"Physical activity plays a powerful role in enhancing wellbeing, and through this partnership, we’ll strengthen regional collaboration with individuals and organisations that share our vision. At the heart of our work will be inclusion and a focus on people’s abilities, and I’m confident that together we can create meaningful, lasting change."

Ms Cutter says the move is “a return to her roots” having started her career at Ceredigion County Council before joining Disability Sport Wales in 2017 as Performance Pathway Senior Officer and, later, as Head of Active Pathways.

This news follows the appointment of Brecon’s Sherrie Woolf as chair of the Mid Wales Sports Partnership chair back in July.

Ms Woolf added: “Gemma brings an incredible wealth of regional knowledge and more than 20 years of expertise in the sports sector, with a strong emphasis on inclusion.

"Her leadership will be instrumental as we work to promote sport and physical activity in Powys and Ceredigion, with inclusion at the heart of everything we do."

The way in which community sport and physical activity opportunities are planned, delivered and funded across Wales is being transformed through the creation of five Sport Partnership.

Designed to overcome ongoing and stubborn inequalities in participation in sport and physical activity, the partnerships – Mid Wales, Central South, West Wales, North Wales and Gwent - will help transform Wales into an active nation where everyone can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport.