YesCymru Director Barry Parkin's Bio - Now Available in English
This hidden bio is unavailable via the YesCymru website interface. Note, I found it via a Google search. Parkin doesn't speak Cymraeg, yet his bio is only available in that language. All other bios are bilingual. This in itself raises a few questions, but wait until you read the bio, which many members have not. Although a majority of the YesCymru membership speak Welsh, there are those who do not. Am posting this in the interests of transparency, in order to reveal who he really is to a wider audience. The Welsh version will appear at the foot of this English translation along with a link to its website URL.
The rest of the words in this blog post were authored by Barry Parkin. Translation by Google Translate. Key sentences highlighted in bold.
Applicant from outside Wales
SUMMARY: I have business and management experience at Company Director level which, in my opinion, will help YesCymru take the significant and important step of transforming from an Unincorporated Society to a Limited Company. My management experience within a fast growing environment will also help YesCymru to manage the high growth it has experienced, and to build on that growth.
WALES SITUATION: All growing organisations, especially those that grow rapidly, face problems. That has clearly been the case for YesCymru over the last few months and there will be further operational challenges for YesCymru in terms of maintaining that growth while transitioning smoothly from an Unincorporated Association (operating mainly outside Company Law) to Limited Companies (operating in accordance with Company Law). This is a crucial step in the growth of YesCymru.
As well as strong leaders who focus on planning, managing and promoting the campaign for independence for Wales, we need people with solid experience at Limited Company Board of Directors level to ensure that YesCymru is governed in accordance with Company Law, the Articles of Association and the Bylaws. Ideally, the background should be combined with practical management experience in a changing, high growth environment.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I have held positions at board of directors level with Anritsu Ltd (European subsidiary of Anritsu Corporation, Japan), Anritsu AB (Swedish subsidiary of Anritsu Ltd, operating across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland), and Byre Projects Ltd (my own business consulting company).
With Anritsu, I was the head of a €250,000,000 business in telecommunications equipment, and led a sales, marketing and remote service and software development team, a team of around 200 people in 11 countries across Europe. This was during a period of extremely high growth and I developed new management systems to cope with that growth. Working within a Japanese organisation and with Scandinavian customers, I learned the concept of continuous improvement; that is, despite the success of an organisation, a cell, and should, always improve in its operation. My role required me to deal face to face with government ministers (British and foreign) as well.
By running my own company, I gained practical experience of all aspects of the details of compliance with Company Law.
I joined the army aged 16 and trained initially as a technician, and later as a telecommunications engineer, serving in the Royal Signals for 11 years, including 4 years teaching electronics at a military college.
Following 3 years as a TV broadcast engineer at ATV Networks studios in Birmingham I spent 30 years in global sales, marketing and general management with British, American, French, German and Japanese companies.
In my first technology sales job, I received formal training in Contract Law, which was extremely useful to me when negotiating multi-million pound contracts, and which could be useful to YesCymru in future acquisitions.
In my management roles, I have always believed in fairness and justice when dealing with people, and in valuing the input of all team members. I believe that teams work best in a bottom-up organisational structure, where the contribution of each team member is valued.
MY COMMITMENT: If elected, I will endeavor to:
Ensure that YesCymru continues to focus on its one unconditional objective: Independence for Wales
Ensure that directors and members with different views work together harmoniously
Ensure good two-way communication between the National Governing Body and the local groups and members, so that the voices of local members and groups are heard and listened to.
Ensuring financial transparency by reporting regularly to the membership • Ensuring good governance and compliance with Company Law, the Articles of Association and the Bylaws.
Transferring my experience of governing a Limited Company to other directors, who may have their main strengths in other key areas. I also have knowledge and experience that the National Governing Body could use in the areas of corporate structure; budgeting and monitoring performance against budgets; acquisition; lobbying and advocacy; and training, as well as governance. The coming year will bring change to YesCymru as it comes of age. I believe that I can make a significant contribution to that change.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND: I am retired, I was born in England, but my mother's side of the family comes from Pembrokeshire (St. James and Newport); her father's family comes from the Valleys (Aberdâr/Mountain Ash). My mother was born in Merthyr Tydfil, where I still have family. My grandfather, a miner, moved the family to England to find work during the recession but we spent many family holidays back in Merthyr.
I have always been interested in languages and can do business in French, German and Spanish; while Chairman and Director of Anritsu AB, I learned enough Swedish to be able to read contracts. I can hold simple conversations in Dutch and Japanese.
Having retired, and with a very limited knowledge of the Welsh language for me to teach myself (my mother could only say "ychafi", which was often heard!), I set up a local Welsh self-help group U3A, using video recordings. Later I attended two week-long residential Welsh courses at the University of Wales, Lampeter and also evening classes at the London Welsh Centre. My level is probably “Foundation”, but close to “Intermediate”.
YESCYMRU MEMBERSHIP: I am a fervent believer in the cause of Welsh Independence, but living outside of Wales, I wondered if I could contribute meaningfully. However, since joining YesCymru in January 2020, I have been able to help by working closely with a number of YesCymru local group leaders, including dealing directly with Azets (YesCymru's accountants) and getting expert legal advice on the governance of YesCymru. The 10 supporters who nominate me come from all parts of Wales: from Gwynedd, through Mid and West Wales, to the Valleys.
Political Affiliation: Member of the Labor Party
Yr ymgyrch dorfol dros Annibyniaeth i Gymru. Mae croeso i bawb sy’n cefnogi annibyniaeth i Gymru ymuno â YesCymru.
Ymgeisydd o'r tu Allan i Gymru
CRYNODEB: Mae gennyf brofiad busnes a rheoli ar lefel Cyfarwyddwr Cwmni a fydd, yn fy marn i, yn helpu YesCymru i gymryd y cam arwyddocaol a phwysig o drawsnewid o fod yn Gymdeithas Anghorfforedig i Gwmni Cyfyngedig. Bydd fy mhrofiad rheoli o fewn amgylchedd sy’n tyfu’n gyflym hefyd yn helpu YesCymru i reoli’r twf uchel iddo brofi, ac i adeiladu ar y twf hwnnw.
SEFYLLFA YESCYMRU: Mae pob sefydliad sy’n tyfu, yn enwedig y rhai sy’n tyfu’n gyflym, yn wynebu problemau. Mae hynny’n amlwg yn wir am YesCymru dros y misoedd diwethaf a bydd heriau gweithredol pellach i YesCymru o ran cynnal y twf hwnnw wrth drosglwyddo’n esmwyth o Gymdeithas Anghorfforedig (sy’n gweithredu’n bennaf y tu allan i’r Gyfraith Cwmnïau) i Gwmnïau Cyfyngedig (gan weithredu yn unol â Chyfraith Cwmnïau). Mae hwn yn gam hollbwysig yn nhwf YesCymru.
Yn ogystal ag arweinwyr cryf sy’n canolbwyntio ar gynllunio, rheoli a hyrwyddo’r ymgyrch dros annibyniaeth i Gymru, mae angen pobl â phrofiad cadarn ar lefel Bwrdd Cyfarwyddwyr Cwmnïau Cyfyngedig i sicrhau bod YesCymru yn cael ei lywodraethu yn unol â Chyfraith Cwmnïau, yr Erthyglau Cymdeithasu a’r Is-ddeddfau. Yn ddelfrydol, dylai'r cefndir fod ar y cyd â phrofiad rheolaeth ymarferol mewn amgylchedd newidiol, twf uchel.
CEFNDIR PROFFESIYNOL: Rwyf wedi dal swyddi ar lefel bwrdd cyfarwyddwyr gydag Anritsu Ltd (is-gwmni Ewropeaidd Anritsu Corporation, Japan), Anritsu AB (is-gwmni Sweden i Anritsu Ltd, sy’n gweithredu ar draws Sweden, Norwy, Denmarc a’r Ffindir), a Byre Projects Ltd (fy nghwmni ymgynghori busnes fy hun).
Gydad Anritsu, roeddwn yn bennaeth busnes gwerth €250,000,000 ym maes offer telathrebu, ac yn arwain tîm gwerthu, marchnata a datblygu gwasanaeth a meddalwedd o bell, tîm o tua 200 o bobl mewn 11 gwlad ledled Ewrop. Roedd hyn yn ystod cyfnod o dwf eithriadol o uchel a datblygais systemau rheoli newydd i ymdopi â’r twf hwnnw. Gan weithio o fewn sefydliad Japaneaidd a gyda chwsmeriaid o Sgandinafia, dysgais y cysyniad o welliant parhaus; hynny yw, er gwaetha llwyddiant sefydliad, gell, a dylai, wella yn ei weithrediad bob amser. Roedd yn ofynnol yn fy rôl i mi ymwneud wyneb yn wyneb â gweinidogion y llywodraeth (Prydeinig a thramor) hefyd.
Trwy redeg fy nghwmni fy hun, cefais brofiad ymarferol o bob agwedd ar fanylion cydymffurfio â Chyfraith Cwmnïau.
Ymunais â'r fyddin yn 16 oed a hyfforddi i ddechrau fel technegydd, ac yn ddiweddarach fel peiriannydd telathrebu, gan wasanaethu'r Signalau Brenhinol am 11 mlynedd, gan gynnwys 4 blynedd yn addysgu electroneg mewn coleg milwrol. Yn dilyn 3 blynedd fel peiriannydd darlledu teledu yn stiwdios ATV Networks yn Birmingham treuliais 30 mlynedd ym maes gwerthu byd-eang, marchnata a rheolaeth gyffredinol gyda chwmnïau Prydeinig, Americanaidd, Ffrainc, yr Almaen a Japan.
Yn fy swydd gwerthu technoleg gyntaf, cefais hyfforddiant ffurfiol ar Gyfraith Contractau, a oedd yn hynod ddefnyddiol i mi wrth negodi cytundebau gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd, ac a allai fod yn ddefnyddiol i YesCymru wrth gaffael yn y dyfodol.
Yn fy rolau yn rheoli, rwyf bob amser wedi credu mewn tegwch a chyfiawnder wrth ddelio â phobl, ac mewn gwerthfawrogi mewnbwn holl aelodau'r tîm. Credaf fod timau’n gweithio orau mewn strwythur sefydliadol o’r gwaelod i fyny, lle mae cyfraniad pob aelod o’r tîm yn cael ei werthfawrogi.
FY YMRWYMIAD: O gael fy ethol, byddaf yn ymdrechu i:
• Sicrhau bod YesCymru yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar ei un amcan diamod: Annibyniaeth i Gymru • Sicrhau bod cyfarwyddwyr ac aelodau â safbwyntiau gwahanol yn cydweithio'n gytûn • Sicrhau cyfathrebu dwy ffordd da rhwng y Corff Rheoli Cenedlaethol a’r grwpiau ac aelodau lleol, fel bod lleisiau aelodau a grwpiau lleol yn cael eu clywed a bod gwrando arnyn nhw. • Sicrhau tryloywder ariannol trwy adrodd yn rheolaidd i'r aelodaeth • Sicrhau llywodraethu da a chydymffurfio â Chyfraith Cwmnïau, yr Erthyglau Cymdeithasu a'r Is-ddeddfau. • Trosglwyddo fy mhrofiad o lywodraethu Cwmni Cyfyngedig i gyfarwyddwyr eraill, sydd â'u prif gryfderau mewn meysydd allweddol eraill o bosibl.
Mae gennyf hefyd wybodaeth a phrofiad y gallai'r Corff Rheoli Cenedlaethol ei ddefnyddio ym meysydd strwythur corfforaethol; cyllidebu a monitro perfformiad yn erbyn cyllidebau; caffael; lobïo ac eiriolaeth; a hyfforddiant, yn ogystal â llywodraethu.
Bydd y flwyddyn a ddaw yn dod â newid i YesCymru wrth iddo dod i oed. Credaf y gallaf wneud cyfraniad sylweddol i'r newid hwnnw.
CEFNDIR PERSONOL: Rydwi i wedi ymddeol, cefais fy ngeni yn Lloegr, ond mae teulu ochr fy mam yn hanu o Sir Benfro (Tyddewi a Threfdraeth); mae teulu ei thad yn hanu o'r Cymoedd (Aberdâr/Mountain Ash). Ganed fy mam ym Merthyr Tudful, lle mae gen i deulu o hyd. Symudodd fy nhad-cu, glöwr, y teulu i Loegr i ddod o hyd i waith yn ystod y dirwasgiad ond treuliasom sawl wyliau teuluol yn ôl ym Merthyr.
Bu gen i ddiddordeb mewn ieithoedd bob amser a gallaf wneud busnes mewn Ffrangeg, Almaeneg a Sbaeneg; tra yn Gadeirydd a Chyfarwyddwr Anritsu AB, dysgais ddigon o Swedeg i allu darllen cytundebau. Gallaf gynnal sgyrsiau syml mewn Iseldireg a Japaneaidd. Wedi ymddeol, a gyda gwybodaeth gyfyngedig iawn o’r Gymraeg i mi ei ddysgu i mi fy hun (dim ond “ychafi” oedd fy mam yn gallu ei dweud, oedd i'w glywed yn aml!), sefydlais grŵp hunangymorth Cymraeg U3A lleol, gan ddefnyddio recordiadau fideo. Yn ddiweddarach mynychais ddau gwrs Cymraeg preswyl wythnos o hyd ym Mhrifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan a hefyd dosbarthiadau nos yng Nghanolfan Cymry Llundain. Mae'n debyg mai fy lefel i yw “Sylfaen”, ond y agos at “Canolradd”.
AELODAETH YESCYMRU: Rwy’n gredwr brwd yn achos Annibyniaeth Cymru, ond yn byw y tu allan i Gymru, roeddwn i’n meddwl tybed a allwn i gyfrannu’n ystyrlon. Fodd bynnag, ers ymuno â YesCymru ym mis Ionawr 2020, rwyf wedi gallu helpu drwy weithio’n agos gyda nifer o arweinwyr grwpiau lleol YesCymru, gan gynnwys delio’n uniongyrchol ag Azets (cyfrifwyr YesCymru) a chael cyngor cyfreithiol arbenigol ar lywodraethu YesCymru. Mae’r 10 cefnogwr sy’n fy enwebu yn dod o bob rhan o Gymru: o Wynedd, trwy Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, i’r Cymoedd.
Cysylltedd Gwleidyddol: Aelod o'r Blaid Lafur