Age Cymru appoints new president

At the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff today, Age Cymru announced the appointment of Dr Bernadette Fuge as its new President.

Dr Fuge, who was the charity’s chair of trustees between 2005 and 2017, has a wide range of experiences in the health service and the voluntary sector.

Born and educated in Flintshire, Dr Fuge is a graduate of the Welsh National School of Medicine and worked as a community paediatrician and partner in a Cardiff GP practice before joining the Welsh Office in 1990. Following devolution she held the positions of Principal Medical Officer, Head of NHS Quality and was the first Medical Director of NHS Wales in the National Assembly.

Dr Fuge retired in 2005 and became a trustee of Age Concern Cymru. Following the merger of Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in 2009 she was appointed as Chair of Age Cymru. She is also Chair of the Dementia Supportive Communities expert group within the Ageing Well in Wales programme, a member of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge Group, and a member of the advisory group for Action on Hearing Loss Cymru.

Dr Fuge was awarded the OBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours in recognition of her work in the Welsh health and voluntary sectors.

Commenting on her appointment, Dr Fuge said: “I am absolutely delighted to become Age Cymru’s President. I want to help the charity continue to flourish, working with and on behalf of older people during these challenging times.

“I intend the role to be a very active one that raises the profile and influence of the charity in all sectors. Therefore, I am looking to build a team of equally active vice-Presidents that are willing to act as ambassadors for the charity and engage with older people and potential supporters across the four corners of Wales.”