Hayley Williams, Curriculum Development Manager at Pembrokeshire College, has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to Wales’ marine energy sector.

Ms Williams was announced as the recipient of the second ever ‘Ysbryd Y Môr’ award at the annual Marine Energy Wales conference at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel.

‘Ysbryd Y Môr’ meaning ‘Spirit of the Sea’ is an award established by Marine Energy Wales to celebrate individuals or entities whose passion, commitment and vision have been a driving force behind the growth and success of Wales’ marine energy sector.

“When it comes to good projects and trying to inspire people, I don’t do this on my own, I rely heavily on many others: Arwyn Williams and Kadi Berry of Pembrokeshire College, the lovely Holly Skyrme from PCF, and the rest of you guys. Thank you very much,” she said.

After a stint in the fast-paced world of advertising in London, Hayley brought her skills, strategy, and creativity back to Wales.

She moved into education, first in marketing and recruitment, but very quickly realised there was an even bigger opportunity, to shape not just who was coming through the doors, but what they were walking into.

She threw herself into a curriculum development role, with energy, curiosity and boldness. And almost immediately, she began shaping projects that didn’t just exist for the sake of it – but connected students directly with the real industries and futures they could belong to.

Hayley is vibrant, creative and tenacious. She says yes to ambitious ideas first — and then finds a way to make them happen. Not just connecting with people, but bringing them with her.

During her time at Pembrokeshire College, she has been instrumental in launching Destination Renewables – a two-year programme connecting 16-18 year olds with Wales’ green energy sector, and developing the Maritime Pre-Cadetship, opening blue career pathways with real-world exposure.

Most recently, and perhaps most famously, she created the SPARC Alliance. The SPARC Alliance was born to tackle one of the biggest issues we face, the gender gap in STEM and energy. With only 16% of the offshore workforce currently female, Hayley didn’t just ask why, she asked how do we fix it?

In its first year, 172 female learners signed up for SPARC, and more than 880 students engaged across seven secondary schools in Pembrokeshire. Students gained real-world exposure, from engineering and construction to renewable energy careers, and pathways many had never considered before.

SPARC has already influenced policy conversations, helped unlock funding for low-carbon skills, and caught the attention of government, educators, and industry leaders across Wales.

Hayley has bigger plans for SPARC in the future. She is someone who thinks long-term and builds with purpose, understanding that it’s not just about inspiring young people, but building the systems to support them to go further.

Tom Hill, Programme Manager at Marine Energy Wales said: “Hayley’s passion and persistence to help carve new paths for the industry is truly inspirational to us all at MEW.

“Her unwavering efforts and achievements, and what she’s made possible for so many others is quietly, steadily and powerfully shaping the future of our sector.

“We want to recognise that spark, that courage to say yes, and that ability to bring people together to make the impossible seem… quite normal, actually.”

A colleague of Hayley’s said: “When she stepped into her curriculum development role, it was completely new. New for the college, and new for her. But she shaped it from the ground up, drawing on her experience in international education and marketing. She threw herself into it – starting with the Warsash pre-cadetship.

“Then she expanded into renewables, with courses like Destination Renewables, and more recently, SPARC. Now, these courses don’t succeed in isolation. They need strong industry support. And this is where Hayley really shines.

“She doesn’t just connect with people – she brings them with her. Her enthusiasm is contagious. It gets people on board, and keeps them there. Because of that, she’s not just building courses – she’s building futures. For the students of Pembrokeshire, and for the renewable sector as a whole.”