Lee Walters announced as chair of BAFTA Cymru

BAFTA has announced the appointment of Lee Walters as the new chair of the arts charity’s branch in Wales BAFTA Cymru; a volunteer position to help steer and shape BAFTA’s activity in Wales. He succeeds BAFTA Cymru Award-winning presenter Angharad Mair in the role, who chaired BAFTA Cymru for nine years.

BAFTA Cymru was established over 35 years ago to support, celebrate and nurture creative talent in Wales. As chair, Lee will lead the BAFTA Cymru committee, an advisory group comprised of cross-industry leaders and creative practitioners based in Wales, which helps steer BAFTA Cymru’s work supporting the film, games and television industries in Wales through its annual BAFTA Cymru Awards and programme of activities to support creatives in Wales and inspire the next generation, which includes year-round events and screenings and the distribution of Prince William BAFTA bursaries. Walters was co-opted to the BAFTA Cymru committee in April 2023.

In October, the BAFTA Cymru Awards celebrated 42 programmes and films including Y Frwydr: Stori Anabledd, Ser Steilio, Steeltown Murders and Strike! The Women Who Fought Back, and the teams behind them, from commercial blockbuster shows to compelling Welsh language dramas demonstrating the breadth and depth of the Welsh screen industries in 2024. Earlier this year, BAFTA partnered with Cardiff Townhouse Coppa Club to offer BAFTA Cymru members based in Cardiff a space to network and foster creative connections year-round.

Lee Walters is a leading figure within the Welsh creative industries who, since 2023, has led Ffilm Cymru Wales, the development agency for Welsh film, as CEO. Walters is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of all areas of the organisation including film development and production, skills and training, film exhibition and green sustainability.

Prior to this, he enjoyed a varied 15-year career at the BBC culminating in a communications-focused role as Senior Change Manager establishing BBC Wales’ new headquarters in the centre of Cardiff.

On leaving the BBC, he joined Cardiff University where he was Programme Manager on Clwstwr – an ambitious five-year programme that supported companies and freelancers to create new products, services and experiences for the screen.

He has also worked as the Senior Producer/Fund Manager for Media Cymru, responsible for the management of the R&D Delivery team, as well as delivering and overseeing Media Cymru’s main secondary funding competitions.

Lee Walters said: “I feel hugely privileged to be succeeding Angharad Mair as Chair of BAFTA Cymru. Throughout her tenure, Angharad has been a real champion for the industry and the talent we have here in Wales, and I look forward to continuing that mission.

Wales is a nation of natural storytellers, rich in language and culture, and I feel passionately about the positive role that BAFTA can play in celebrating that excellence and nurturing a new generation ready to tell our stories to the world.

It is an exciting time to be chairing the organisation, and I am grateful to be working alongside Rebecca Hardy, BAFTA Cymru, Director and the wider team as we continue to support and celebrate Wales’ thriving film, game and TV industry.”