Posted on 18 June 2013
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, Director: Centre for Enterprise and Innovation Education at the University of Wales, has been awarded an OBE for “public and political service” in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
A leading economist and figure in the Welsh academic community, Professor Jones-Evans has held senior posts in various universities and business schools since 1996, publishing more than 100 academic articles within refereed journals and academic books.
He is the founder of the Wales Fast Growth 50, the annual barometer of entrepreneurship within Welsh business, and has taken roles as an adviser to Government, currently serving as a member of the Business Advisory Panel for the Secretary of State for Wales.
As part of his work with the Welsh Government, he is currently leading a review into access to business finance for SMEs in Wales, and has also been asked by Leighton Andrews, the Minister for Education, to be part of a working group that is examining online digital learning and how the Welsh Government can support the higher education sector in this growing field.
Speaking about receiving the award, Professor Jones-Evans said:
"I am naturally proud to receive this honour as a Welsh academic and I hope it recognises the work that myself and colleagues have been undertaking to support entrepreneurship and innovation within the higher education sector over the last two decades“
Professor Jones-Evans has undertaken various public policy roles, including acting as special adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee, and has been a member of the boards of Finance Wales, the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the IoD in Wales.
He is visiting professor of entrepreneurship at Turku University in Finland and has worked as a consultant for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Union (EU) and other economic development bodies. He also served as vice president (UK) for the European Council of Small Business and led the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project in Wales for eight years.
Outside of his work as an economist, Professor Dylan Jones-Evans also recently led the successful campaign to secure a star for Richard Burton on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.