Biography Alun Thomas

Alun is Deputy Chief Executive of Hafal, Wales' leading charity for people with serious mental illness and their carers. Hafal is a membership-led organisation which supports over 1,300 people across Wales every day

Alun is a Registered Nurse and has worked in the NHS, developed a neurological rehabilitation service in the private healthcare sector, and is currently leading Hafal's development of a user-led in-patient facility run by the charity.

The focus of Alun's dissertation for his MA in the Ethics of Social Welfare was the importance of promoting autonomy and avoiding paternalistic relationships with people who have a serious mental illness in order that they can learn to make sustainable life choices when developing their recovery. This work and the ongoing empowerment ethos of the organisation has given Alun a passion for involvement in such work as the Braintrain IAB. Alun is also a member of the National Centre for Mental Health Advisory Committee and has held membership of the Nursing and Midwifery Council reference panel and the reference panel to the Chief Nursing Officer in Wales.

Alun recently achieved a first class LLB (Hons) degree with the Open University and is shortly commencing a PhD in law at Swansea University exploring how Welsh specific legislation might provide additional rights to patients. Alun previously gave evidence to both the both Welsh Affairs Select Committee in Westminster and the Welsh Government on the development of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure. He has represented Hafal at international meetings and conferences and has given numerous media interviews including on the BBC Politics Show and Good Morning Wales.