Explore Play Wales
We are delighted to announce the following keynote speakers will be joining us at our National Conference – Play policy, research and practice: Getting it right for children, taking place on 16 October 2025:
Dawn Bowden MS
Minister for Children and Social Care
Born and educated in Bristol, Dawn moved to south Wales in 1989 and rose through the ranks of her union to become the UNISON Cymru/Wales Head of Health, a position she held up to her election as a Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney in May 2016.
In May 2021, Dawn was appointed Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport and Chief Whip then in March 2024, she was appointed Minister for Social Care. In the last Senedd term Dawn served on a number of committees, including the Children, Young People and Education Committee.
In September 2024, Dawn was appointed Minister for Children and Social Care. The Minister’s responsibilities include:
- Early years, childcare and play policy, including the Childcare Offer and workforce
- Children’s and young people’s rights and entitlements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Children and young people’s advocacy, including complaints, representations and advocacy under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
Robyn Monro Miller AM
As a beneficiary of a happy, healthy childhood, Robyn has made her life’s work advocating the same for all children. Her career has spanned 35 years, encompassing senior leadership roles in education, local government, children’s services, and the not-for-profit sector.
Robyn is passionate about achieving reform that enhances policy and planning for Australia’s children. She served on successive Ministerial Advisory Councils and played a significant role in the reform of the school age care sector in Australia between 1996 and 2018.
Robyn is currently CEO of Play Australia and since 2017 President of the International Play Association (IPA World). Robyn has represented IPA on the UN working group for the development of the General Comment on Article 31, and the global working group for the International Day of Play campaign. She is currently undertaking a Churchill Fellowship to examine governments with recognised play initiatives to support children’s health and wellbeing that she hopes will shape a national agenda for play in Australia.
Professor Philip D. Jaffé
Philip is professor emeritus at the University of Geneva and the founding director of its Centre for Children’s Rights Studies. In 2018, he was elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and is currently its Vice Chair, serving a second mandate.
In 2025, he was appointed Chair of Child Helpline International. A clinical and forensic psychologist trained in Switzerland and the USA, he remains a practicing clinical (licensed psychotherapist) and forensic psychologist, as well as a court-appointed expert witness.
His main missions: being an impactful science practitioner and toggling between theory and practice focused on human rights.
Dr David Dallimore
David is an independent policy advisor and research. While he has worked on projects across health, social care and civil society, his main interest has always been in early childhood education and care, children’s play and children’s rights.
David is an advisor to the Welsh Government, a Fellow of the Senedd Research Service and is the Chair of Early Years Wales. Since 2019 he has been analysing Play Satisfaction Survey data on behalf of Play Wales.
Conference bookings close on 30 September 2025 – book now to avoid disappointment.