We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Howarth has been appointed as programme chair for the Society’s 2027 International Conference, which will be held at the ICC Wales from 6-9 September 2027.
Stephanie Howarth is the Chief Statistician for the Welsh Government, where she leads the production of official statistics and ensures the highest standards of data quality, trustworthiness and public value. With a career in government statistics spanning two decades, Steph has held roles across the Office for National Statistics, Senedd Cymru, BBC News and the Welsh Treasury, covering a wide spectrum of analytical domains. With a background in psychology. she has a passion for the transformative power of data.
As Head of Profession for Statistics in Wales, Steph is committed to fostering a strong and capable analytical community. Steph is also Co-Director of Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales, a partnership between government and academia that harnesses linked data to inform government priorities.
Steph commented, “I am delighted to take on the role of Conference Programme Chair when the RSS returns to Wales in 2027. Having greatly enjoyed attending the 2025 conference in Edinburgh, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to help shape a programme that reflects the breadth and impact of statistics, particularly the contribution of the official statistics system, and to support an inclusive, engaging conference for the statistical community.”
Planning for the conference will get underway this summer with the call for session proposals expected in July – updates will be posted on the Society website and social media.