The Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister (Welsh: Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog) is the chief of staff and most senior special adviser of the first minister of Wales.
History After the creation of the National Assembly for Wales and the position of First Secretary of Wales in 1999, the inaugural first secretary Alun Michael employed a team of four special advisers in his office, including a chief of staff. In May 2000, his successor Rhodri Morgan gave the chief of staff the title of Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary. In October 2000, the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales. The chief of staff's title also changed to reflect this, becoming Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister. Under First Minister Carwyn Jones, the office was renamed Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister in 2016.
First Secretary Alun Michael's chief of staff was Gareth Williams, a Labour politician who stood in the 1999 European Parliament elections. He resigned from the post when Michael resigned as first secretary in February 2000. Michael's successor Rhodri Morgan brought in his ally Kevin Brennan to act as his chief of staff until a successor was found. He appointed Paul Griffiths as his senior special adviser to the first secretary in May 2000. After the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales, Morgan appointed another senior special adviser, Mark Drakeford, to serve alongside Griffiths later that year. Griffiths left the role in August 2007 while Drakeford stepped down when Morgan resigned in 2009.
During the One Wales coalition government between Labour and Plaid Cymru, First Minister Rhodri Morgan and his successor Carwyn Jones employed Anna Nicholl from Plaid Cymru as a senior special adviser from 2008 to 2011. From May 2011 to May 2016, Jones's senior special adviser was Jo Kiernan. In 2016, Jones appointed Matt Greenough to the role and renamed it Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister.
Carwyn Jones's successor Mark Drakeford appointed Jane Runeckles as his chief special adviser in December 2018. His successor Vaughan Gething appointed David Hagendyk as his adviser in March 2024. Gething's successor Eluned Morgan appointed Rhodri Morgan's chief of staff Kevin Brennan as her chief special adviser on her ascendency to the premiership in August 2024. In December 2024, she announced that he would leave the role after he was nominated for a peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She appointed former MP and MEP Wayne David as his successor from the new year onwards.
In July 2025, Morgan announced Wayne David’s departure due to ill health. She later appointed Citizens Advice Head of Policy, and former Welsh Labour Head of Communications, Luke Young as the new Chief Special Adviser. He is an alumnus of Swansea University. Young was described by ITV Wales as “a well known Labour insider”.
It was reported in June 2026 that after the change of administration from Labour to Plaid Cymru that Rhun ap Iorwerth had appointed former BBC journalist and former Plaid Cymru director of political strategy, Aled ap Dafydd, as the Senior Special Adviser to the Prif Weinidog.
Role The chief special adviser is the first minister's chief of staff and their most senior special adviser.
List of officeholders Chief of Staff to the First Secretary Chief of Staff Term of office Party Administration Gareth Williams 1999 2000 Labour Michael Kevin Brennan 2000 2000 Rhodri Morgan (interim)Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary Senior Special Adviser Term of office Party Administration Paul Griffiths 2000 2000 Labour Rhodri Morgan (interim)Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister Senior Special Adviser Term of office Party Government Paul GriffithsMark Drakeford 2000 20072009 Labour Rhodri Morgan I Rhodri Morgan II Rhodri Morgan III Rhodri Morgan IV Simon Thomas 2008 2011 Plaid Jones I Jo Kiernan 2011 2016 Labour Jones IIChief Special Adviser to the First Minister Chief Special Adviser Term of office Party Government Matt Greenough 2016 2018 Labour Jones III Jane Runeckles 2018 2024 Drakeford I Drakeford II David Hagendyk 2024 2024 Gething Kevin Brennan 2024 2024 Eluned Morgan Wayne David 2025 2025 Luke Young 2025 2026 Aled ap Dafydd 2026 Incumbent Plaid Rhun ap Iorwerth
See also
Chief of Staff to the First Minister Downing Street Chief of Staff
References