Winter School 2027 - more information
For more information, please contact the team by emailing Winter School.
Speakers
Chris Bolton
Chair, Merthyr Valleys Homes
Chris Bolton is a board chair, governance practitioner and writer with a longstanding interest in how organisations learn, adapt and prepare for the future. He currently chairs Merthyr Valleys Homes and has spent many years working across public service improvement, innovation, research and organisational learning.
Through his blog, 'What's the PONT', Chris explores topics including governance, resilience, complexity, trust, community action and future thinking. His work focuses on helping boards and leaders recognise emerging change and have better conversations about strategy, risk and resilience. Chris is a Churchill Fellow and is particularly interested in how ideas move between sectors, organisations and communities.
Beth Smith
Principal Consultant, The Cynefin Company
Beth is a Principal Consultant at The Cynefin Co, where she supports public sector institutions, civil society and large organisations to navigate complex challenges. Her clients include NATO and government institutions across Europe and Asia.
With an academic background in multi-agency strategy, she focuses on making the wisdom of complexity science more accessible, giving people practical tools to help them navigate complex multi-stakeholder challenges. She previously worked as a Policy Adviser to the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
Ceri Witchard
Director, Arwain
Ceri Witchard is Director of Arwain, having been Director of Academi Wales since 2024, leading its work to support leadership development across the public sector in Wales. She has extensive senior leadership experience spanning policy, operations, organisational transformation and learning and development.
Before joining Academi Wales, Ceri held senior roles in the Welsh Government, Companies House and the Intellectual Property Office. Her career has included leading major programmes of change, shaping organisational strategy and culture, and working with senior teams and boards to strengthen leadership and performance. She has also held a range of executive, non-executive and voluntary governance roles.
Ceri is passionate about developing confident, capable and connected public-service leaders who can work across organisational boundaries to deliver better outcomes for Wales.
Apply for Winter School
Submitting your application
Please answer the following questions in your application:
- Personal Objectives - Please succinctly describe your current leadership role and responsibilities (min 50 words - max 100 words)
- Departmental / Organisational Objectives - What are your learning objectives for Winter School? (min 50 words - max 100 words)
- Personal Outcome Statement - How will Winter School help address the challenges in your work? How will you apply the learning? (min 50 words - max 100 words)
On submission of your application you will be included in a sift process for a place. There are a limited number of places available at Winter School 2027 that will be awarded to applicants that have identified strong objectives and outcomes which align to both themselves and their organisation. It is important that you fully answer the personal objectives questions, to support the sift process.
How much does it cost?
£600 + VAT. This includes:
- access to the full Winter School learning programme
- delegate pack
- accommodation (2 February to 5 February 2027)
- breakfast, lunch and evening meal during the event
You must meet any personal incidental costs, such as travel to and from the event.
Please note: If you are awarded a place and later decide to withdraw from the programme, Arwain reserves the right to charge your organisation an administration charge, please see our website for further information.
Accommodation
Winter School is a residential event and accommodation will be provided for all successful applicants.
Delegate fees for Welsh public service and third sector applicants
Arwain is a department of Welsh Government. It is necessary to provide the following details in your application:
- Full name and address of organisation paying your delegate fee
- Name and email address of the person responsible for arranging payment of your delegate fee
Supplier: Welsh Government
Supplier address: Welsh Government, Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ
To confirm your place, you will need to provide a purchase order number. Your organisation will be invoiced for your delegate fee following your attendance at Winter School.
For further details regarding invoicing requirements please contact our finance team at AW.Business@gov.wales.
Delegate fees for Welsh Government applicants
Arwain is a department of Welsh Government. To support your application please provide the following details:
- Branch finance manager email address
To confirm your place, your branch finance manager must provide the following details to AW.Business@gov.wales:
- Profit centre
- Activity code
- Personnel number or name of delegate
We will issue a journal transfer to collect your delegate fee after the event.
If you require further details on the journal transfer requirements please contact our finance team at AW.Business@gov.wales.
Prepare for Winter School
General timetable - opening and closing of event
2 February
- 11am: registration and accommodation allocation (if arriving before 11am please let us know)
- 12pm: lunch
- 1pm: programme begins
5 February
- 1pm: programme ends
Personal programme preparation
Where applicable, you are required to complete all pre-work set by the speakers.
Delegate hub
Successful delegates will be enrolled onto the Winter School delegate hub. This is a secure closed site and can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device. The hub will provide the opportunity to share important information leading up to the event, have discussions and network with your fellow delegates.
It is important that you log onto the hub to receive regular updates and key information about the programme.
Please note you will require an up-to-date web browser such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome to access the delegate hub.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes – delegates must attend the whole programme. It's been purposefully designed and you will not realise the full benefits of the programme unless you complete all aspects.
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Yes – however, we encourage you to take advantage of the residential part of the programme. If you live locally you may commute to and from your home - please let us know as soon as possible if accommodation is not required. Non-accommodation delegates are still required to pay the £600 + VAT contribution.
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There are no childcare or crèche facilities available. You will be required to make your own childcare arrangements.
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Meals and refreshments are included within the programme (however alcohol, bar or café purchases are not covered).
- Breakfast: between 7.30 am and 8.30 am daily
- Dinner: 7.30 pm.
There is a small cash bar and coffee shop on site. Please note: there is no cash machine at or near the venue. Please withdraw cash in advance if you plan to use these facilities.
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Please note on your application form if you need any assistance or have any medical or specific dietary needs. If necessary we will contact you to discuss nearer the event.
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Winter School is delivered in English, simultaneous translation is available in the plenary room. However, delegate packs and materials are provided bilingually.
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- Due to the remote location of the centre, mobile phone signals may be patchy. However, landline access is available 24/7.
- Wifi is available in all areas except the chapel
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- A torch: Nant Gwrtheyrn is a small site but, because of its location, moving between the function hall and accommodation (especially later at night) can be particularly dark, so you may wish to bring a torch.
- Toiletries, hairdryers etc
- Cash (please note: there are no cash points or shops in the close vicinity)
- General supplies may be useful tea, milk and biscuits, as some of the cottages have kitchen areas (however, all other food and refreshments are provided during the event)
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- Classroom sessions - please feel free to adopt a casual dress code.
- Walk - we recommend that you bring suitable warm, comfortable clothes, outdoor weather gear and sturdy footwear with you. The weather will be unpredictable and can get very cold.
- It has become a tradition for Winter School delegates to go on an early morning coastal path walk before sessions start. If this is something that you may be interested in please bring with you a torch, suitable footwear and appropriate warm clothing.
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We reserve the right to take photographs / video footage during the event which may be used for publicity purposes and for the production of learning information.
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Transport for Wales (external link)
Train
www.thetrainline.com (external link)
Car sharing
Once the delegate list is confirmed, with your approval, we'll share the contact details. You can then make your own car sharing arrangements for travel to and from the event.
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Winter School Team
03000 256 687
Nant Gwrtheyrn - Venue
Llithfaen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 6NL
01758 750 334
For more information, please contact the team by emailing Winter School.