Advisory Board member combines law with literature

Cardiff Business School’s International Advisory Board (IAB), made up senior professionals and business leaders, advises the School's senior management on its strategic direction and supports it’s academic, social and economic ambitions.

A periodic series of articles will shine a light on the board’s membership. This will be an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth and depth of their professional experience and expertise and a chance to get to know them better.

The first IAB member to be profiled is Ms Bethan Darwin, a partner at Thompson Darwin Law, Superwoman, and novelist.

“I grew up in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley and although neither of my parents speak Welsh, I attended Welsh medium school. I am very proud to be fluent in Welsh. I studied Law at King's College London and qualified as a solicitor, working for a number of years in London before eventually getting homesick and returning to Wales.

“I now work with my husband, also a solicitor, at our small law firm in Cardiff specialising in employment law and corporate law, particularly for angel investors. I also run a women's networking group called Superwoman, with our first event held in October 2005. In addition to this, I regularly participate in the paper reviews for BBC Radio Wales and write a fortnightly business law column for the Western Mail.

“I was asked to join the Business School’s International Advisory Board by the Dean, Professor Martin Kitchener. Martin and the school are committed to achieving equality of representation across the School. Part of that ambition is achieved through recruitment and the School continues to recruit more women to join the board.

“Working with the IAB provides me with the opportunity to contribute to the success of a highly respected business school in a sector which is completely different to my day job, working alongside a wide variety of talented people from different walks of life.”

Ms Darwin lives in Wenvoe with her two children (who are 18 and 12) and recognises the importance of a work/life balance, which she describes as a ‘work/life blend’ and feels that she has found an equilibrium of the personal and professional.

“I have a rewarding but sometimes challenging job in which I learn something new every day – not always about law or business, sometimes about people and relationships.  Although I do have to work long hours from time to time, living and working in Cardiff where commutes are shorter and there is less of a long working hours culture than there was in London, means I do get to spend a lot of time with my family and be home most nights for dinner. There is even enough space for things like Superwoman, being on the Advisory Board and reviewing the papers for BBC.  I also write novels which are published by Honno - the third one came out in August 2016 and is called Thicker than Water.  They usually feature love affairs and lawyers.

“I spin a lot of plates which is how I like it. Sometimes the balance wobbles and one or two of the plates come crashing down, but most of the time I just about keep them all spinning.”