Dame Elan Closs Stephens (' Roberts; born 16 June 1948) is a Welsh educator and Wales' representative on the BBC Board. She specialises in cultural and broadcasting policy. She also serves as a non-executive director of the Welsh Government's Board, led by the Permanent Secretary. She is Pro Chancellor of

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University ( cy, Prifysgol Aberystwyth) is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The universi ...

. Born in Talysarn in the

Nantlle Valley The Nantlle Valley ( cy, Dyffryn Nantlle, ) is an area in Gwynedd, North Wales, characterised by its numerous small settlements. The area is also historically important geologically, and featured in one of the most contentious disputes of the 1 ...

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the North West Wales, north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County B ...

to William Jones Roberts and Mair ( Closs) Roberts, she was educated at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle and

Somerville College, Oxford Somerville College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England, was founded in 1879 as Somerville Hall, one of its first two women's colleges. Among its alumnae have been Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Dorothy Hodgkin, Ir ...

. Stephens is Emeritus Professor of Communications and Creative Industries at

’s Department of Theatre Film and Television. She also acts as Director of Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer to enable research projects with industry partners. In 2020, she was appointed Pro Chancellor of Aberystwyth University. In 1998, the Department for Culture Media and Sport appointed Stephens chair of the S4C Authority, which was renewed for a second term until 2006. She was a Governor of the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

until 2007, and chair of its Audit and Governance during the refurbishment of the

Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues in London, England, on the South Bank of the River Thames (between Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo Bridge). It comprises three main performance venues (the Royal Festival Hall including the Nati ...

National Film Theatre. She chaired the Wales Advisory Committee of the

British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh la ...

until 2011, and was a board member of the Film Agency for Wales, and a trustee/board member of Arts & Business. After chairing Chwarae Teg, a body that promotes the economic development of women in Wales, in 2009 she was appointed by the

Welsh Assembly Government Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

's Minister for Social Justice and Local Government to chair the Recovery Board for

Isle of Anglesey County Council The Isle of Anglesey County Council ( cy, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn) is the local authority for the county of Anglesey, one of the principal areas of Wales. Since 2022 the council has 35 councillors who represent 11 multi-member electoral wards. H ...

. In 2006, she chaired the Stephens Report on the financing and structure of the arts in Wales for the Welsh Assembly Government. A member of the Welsh Assembly Government's Strategic Delivery Performance Board, in October 2010 she was appointed a member for Wales of the BBC Trust. Stephens was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the

2001 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 2001 was announced on 16 June 2001 for the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), New Zealand (4 June), Australia (11 June), Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Sai ...

for services to broadcasting and the

Welsh Language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has ...

and

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(DBE) in the

2019 Birthday Honours The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as ...

for services to the Welsh Government and broadcasting. She was appointed

High Sheriff of Dyfed The office of High Sheriff of Dyfed was established in 1974 as part of the creation of the county of Dyfed in Wales following the Local Government Act 1972, and effectively replaced the shrievalties of the amalgamated counties of Cardiganshire, Ca ...

for 2012/13.

Family

Elan Closs Roberts married Roy Stephens on 23 September 1972. He died in 1989. She has two children.

References

External links

Bio
at

Bio at the Welsh Assembly Government
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Elan Closs 1948 births Living people People from Gwynedd Alumni of Somerville College, Oxford Fellows of Somerville College, Oxford Academics of Aberystwyth University Welsh civil servants Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire High Sheriffs of Dyfed British women academics Welsh-speaking academics BBC Board members 21st-century Welsh educators 20th-century Welsh educators 20th-century women educators 21st-century women educators