Public bodies and the civil service

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

Diolch. Yes, I think a key part of this role is, clearly, having sometimes difficult conversations about some of the outcomes of audits, but maintaining constructive relationships in terms of what we're all looking for in the future in terms of public sector delivery. I have worked very closely with…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Mike HedgesLabour

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

Diolch, Cadeirydd. As auditor general, you are likely to find yourself in situations where you have to tell powerful individuals uncomfortable truths. Your predecessor, or the current auditor general, produced a qualified audit on the Welsh Government. What is your experience of working with senior…

Tagged for: “auditor general”Official Record

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

No, it's absolutely part of a process and it's a real opportunity for managers and the whole organisation in a very personal way to connect the work that they're doing every day with the purpose of the organisation, and to receive and offer feedback about how to improve things in the organisation.…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Mark IsherwoodConservative

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

I've got one very short final question, following on from the last time we met you: what do you believe is the role of appraisal? Is it part of a process or is it an annual event?

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

It means honest conversations and real support for people's learning and development. Again, I think that's something that's really important in this role in terms of leading the office and, yes, encouraging everybody in their management and leadership roles to lead the office effectively.

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

…I think the culture of an organisation is really important to me. I understand that the culture across Audit Wales is really positive. The staff survey results are excellent. I would really want to continue with that kind of engaged, involved leadership style.

Tagged for: “Audit Wales”Official Record

Mark IsherwoodConservative

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

Bore da. Good morning. You described the element of the role as leader of the office and leading staff. Could you describe for the committee's benefit what that means in practice for you, and how you approach staff leadership and development?

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

Obviously, I would be lucky if confirmed in the role to be following on from Adrian, who's obviously built an excellent reputation for the office and for the role. You can see that in the responses that stakeholders give to the value that the office adds. So, I'd really want to be building on that.…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Peredur Owen GriffithsPlaid

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

…would be touching on a lot of different bodies across Wales, and what could they expect from you as the auditor general?

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Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

…the Senedd too—to start to understand what the pipeline of issues are there. Obviously, Adrian, as the auditor general at the moment, will be there for that transition, post Senedd elections and so on, so I'm hoping that I'll have the opportunity for a really good handover with Adrian so I can get…

Tagged for: “auditor general”Official Record

Peredur Owen GriffithsPlaid

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

Thank you very much for that. What do you see as your early priorities, then? You're through the appointment process now, as we come to the end of that, and what do you see as your main objectives and, as you've touched on a few of the challenges in your first answer, some of those challenges of the…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Auditor General”Official Record

Catherine Mealing-Jones

29 January 2026, Finance Committee

Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales

…delivery of public services—so, real challenges, real opportunities. I think the opportunity, then, as auditor general and with the Welsh audit office, to play a role in enabling Wales to reach its potential, to deliver public services that the public can have real trust in, and to play a part in…

Tagged for: “auditor general”Official Record