A NARBERTh woman has been selected to participate in the landmark debate among the Welsh public on how laws should be passed in Wales. Joan Asby, chief officer of PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development), is one of 16 members of the All Wales Convention that met for the first time on Monday at the historic Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay. The formation of the Convention is an Assembly Government One Wales commitment and the body will look at what the Welsh public thinks about the National Assembly getting further law-making powers. Part of that function will involve explaining to people in Wales the current powers available to Assembly members. At Monday's meeting, Joan and the other members of the Convention Executive Committee took their initial address from the committee's chairman, former British Ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Emyr Jones Parry. The objectives of the Convention will be outlined and members will be able to consider what specific role they can play. Sir Emyr Jones Parry said: "The Convention will be fundamental to stimulating meaningful public debate on the crucial issue of Wales' law-making powers. "We have succeeded in forming an impressive committee of members, made up of talented individuals who are well placed to reach out to people across Wales. They will ask the big questions about the legislative process in Wales, and spell out to the Assembly Government what the people of Wales have to say about law-making in Wales, now and in the future." Joan Asby has 30 years of experience of supporting community engagement in local regeneration. Prior to becoming chief officer of PLANED, she served on the Welsh Assembly Government's Rural Partnership for Wales, its Social Enterprise Joint Working Group, and is a member of the Farming for 2020 Task and Finish Group. She was a founder member and chair of her local community centre, Bloomfield House, Narberth and of Wales Rural Forum.
