Communications Guide - Fran O'hara

About the Commission - who we are 3
Section 3.3: The Older People's Commissioner for Wales team
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
The Commissioner’s legal powers enable her to investigate, scrutinise and
challenge a range of public bodies including local authorities, health bodies
and the Welsh Assembly Government. The Commissioner has statutory
responsibility for, and strategic leadership of, the Commission.
Ruth Marks is the first Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, she has
stated that her three key priorities are:
• To listen to older people.
• To be an effective voice for change to improve the quality of
older people’s lives.
• To take action by using her powers to promote and protect the
interests of older people.
Ruth is committed to providing just and robust challenge to public bodies
to improve the lives of older people and ensuring that older people are
engaged in policy debates and developments.
She works with the Deputy Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and her
expert team to set the priorities and objectives of the Commission.
(For further information please see Ruth Marks’ biography on our website.)
Deputy Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
The Deputy Commissioner oversees both the strategic and operational
management of the Commission to ensure that we deliver our objectives.
She provides expert support to ensure that the strategic aims of the
Commission are met.
Sarah Stone is the Deputy Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and has
spent her career working with older people.
She is an expert in policy relating to older people and the third sector. Her
responsibilities included leading the work of Age Concern Cymru (now Age
(Cymru) to influence policy and practice affecting older people in Wales
The Deputy Commissioner is authorised to carry out the Commissioner’s
functions if she is unable to act for any reason.
(For further information please see Sarah Stone’s biography on our website.)
Communications Guide Page 3.3