Vaughan Gething, is a prominent Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who has held significant positions within the Welsh government.
He is serving as the First Minister of Wales and the leader of Welsh Labour, following his victory in the Welsh Labour leadership election in March 2024, succeeding Mark Drakeford. Notably, Gething’s appointment marked a historic moment as he became the first black leader of any European country.
Gething’s political journey began with his election as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff South and Penarth in 2011. He later assumed the role of Minister for Health and Social Services from 2016 to 2021, followed by a tenure as Minister for the Economy from 2021 to 2024.
Born in Zambia in 1974, Gething’s background reflects a diverse heritage, with his father being a white Welsh veterinarian from Ogmore-by-Sea in Glamorgan, and his mother a black Zambian working as a chicken farmer.
At the age of two, his Father relocated with his family to Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, Wales, where Gething was raised alongside three brothers and a sister.
Educated at Beaminster Comprehensive and Sixth Form in Dorset, he pursued higher education at Aberystwyth University, earning a degree in Law in 1999. He furthered his studies at the University of Cardiff Law School, University of Wales.
During his academic tenure, he made significant strides, serving as the President of Aberystwyth University Guild of Students and notably becoming the first black president of the National Union of Students Wales.
Following his training as a solicitor with the trade union firm Thompsons in Cardiff in 2001, Gething specialized in employment law, eventually attaining the position of partner at Thompsons in 2007.
In 2008, he achieved another milestone in his career by becoming the youngest President of Wales TUC, a significant accomplishment that also marked him as the first black individual to hold the role.
Throughout his career, Gething has demonstrated a commitment to public service and social progress, making significant contributions to the political landscape of Wale.
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