St David Awards

On the 27 February 2013 the Welsh Conservatives opened a debate surrounding Welsh Cultural Identity in the Senedd, proposing that Wales should introduce a Welsh specific Honours System. Following a Senedd debate, Carwyn Jones announced that the St David Awards would be established, with the first event to be held in 2014. It was later announced that the awards would be held in the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and broadcast by S4C. ==Aims and categories==

The Awards aim to "reflect and promote the aspirations of Wales and its citizens to be a modern, vibrant country, with a growing reputation as a confident and clever nation valuing innovation, community spirit, and above all its people". Currently, there are nine award categories: • Bravery • Citizenship • Culture • Enterprise • Innovation & Technology • International • Sport • Young Person Award • First Ministers Special Award ==Selection process==

presenting Bryn Terfel with his award. The Welsh public are invited to nominate candidates, from which a shortlist of three finalists in each category is selected by a specially commissioned advisory committee. The award winners are decided by the First Minister. The process was criticised by the Welsh Conservatives and Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2021, after two Welsh Labour candidates were shortlisted. There were concerns from both parties that Mark Drakeford would favour nominees from his own party. == Winners ==

2014 • Bravery: Karin Williams • Citizenship: Yaina Samuels • Culture: Cerys Matthews • Enterprise: Robin Jones • Innovation & Technology: Lyn Evans • International: Bryn Terfel • Sport: Tanni Grey-Thompson • Young Person Award: Jade Jones • First Ministers Special Award: The Community of Machynlleth 2015 • Bravery: Derek Pusey, Leonard Walters and Clive Williams • Citizenship: Rhian Burke • Culture: Siân Phillips • Enterprise: Mario Kreft • Innovation & Technology: Peter Brewin and William Crawford • International: Michael Sheen • Sport: Geraint Thomas • Young Person Award: Richard Davies • First Ministers Special Award: NATO Newport 2014 2016 • Bravery: Peter Fuller • Citizenship: Janet Williams • Culture: Owen Sheers • Enterprise: Dominic Griffiths • Innovation & Technology: Geraint Davies • International: Julie Gardner • Sport: Chris Coleman • Young Person Award: Carwyn Williams • First Ministers Special Award: Nigel Owens 2017 • Bravery: Billy Connor and Gary Slack • Citizenship: Cairn Newton-Evans • Culture: Jen Wilson • Enterprise: David Banner • Innovation & Technology: Meena Upadhyaya • International: David Nott • Sport: Wales national football team • Young Person Award: Savannah Lloyd • First Ministers Special Award: Karl Jenkins and Mererid Hopwood 2018 • Bravery: Laura Matthews • Citizenship: Mair Elliott • Culture: David Pountney • Enterprise: William Watkins, Radnor Hills • Innovation & Technology: IQE • International: The Phoenix Project • Sport: Aled Siôn Davies • Young Person Award: Jasmine Williams • First Ministers Special Award: Gerald Williams 2019 • Bravery: Andrew Niinemae • Citizenship: Cardiff Street Pastors • Culture: Hijinx Theatre Company • Enterprise: Hilltop Honey • Innovation & Technology: Cerebra Innovation Centre • International: Liam Rahman • Sport: Geraint Thomas • Young Person Award: Bethan Owen • First Ministers Special Award: Deian Hopkin 2020 • Bravery: Joel Snarr and Daniel Nicholson • Community spirit: Wasem Said • Culture: Russell T Davies • Business: Moneypenny • Innovation & Technology: David Worsley • Humanitarian: Rachel Williams • Sport: Alun Wyn Jones • Young Person Award: Tyler Ford • First Ministers Special Award: Gareth Thomas ==See also==