Pioneer who left a lasting legacy for Wales’ future
Two weeks ago, one of my closest friends, Professor Martin Rhisiart, passed away at the tragically young age of 43.
Many of you will know Martin from his appearances commenting on the Welsh economy for both the BBC and S4C where he was always knowledgeable, erudite and had a way of simplifying even the most complex of issues.
A native of the Gwendraeth Valley, Martin began his career working for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, where he conducted studies on transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe.
This was followed by nine years at the Observatory of Innovation at Cardiff Business School where, as a researcher on a range of projects, he examined areas including the automotive sector, new product development and innovation management.
He then left Cardiff to establish the Centre for Research in Futures and Innovation at the University of Glamorgan, developing an expertise in innovation studies and strategic foresight (the anticipation of future global changes).
Following the creation of the University of South Wales from the merger between Glamorgan and Newport universities, Martin was appointed professor of strategy and innovation. He led research projects funded by various national and international bodies including the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the EU, Forfas (Ireland’s national innovation agency) and the Welsh Government.
Possibly his greatest contribution was as one of the lead researchers for the UK Skills and Employment 2030 project, which examined key factors that would shape skills and employment in the year 2030 and the options and implications for stakeholders.
It was a groundbreaking piece of research for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. Given that skills and education remain at the forefront of economic policy-thinking, it will provide food for thought for individuals and organisations for years to come.
But Martin wasn’t only an academic – he made significant contributions to policy and practice in Wales. He was an active member of the Welsh Government’s Innovation Advisory Council for Wales, as well as the City Regions Task and Finish Group, and was making a real difference to thinking in these areas through his expertise in future scenario planning.
Unsurprisingly for someone from deepest Carmarthenshire, Martin was a strong supporter of the Welsh language and I had the pleasure of working with him as a member of an independent panel set up by the Welsh Government to consider the impact of language on economic development.
He was also a non-executive director of Menter a Busnes, the Welsh enterprise development company, and a leading light in Cwlwm Busnes Caerdydd, the Welsh-language business networking group in the capital city.
When I joined the University of South Wales three months ago, I was excited by the prospect of working closely with Martin in developing new areas of mutual interest. We had recently coauthored a paper, The Impact of Foresight on Entrepreneurship: the Wales 2010 Case Study, for the international journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change.
This was the first examination of entrepreneurship policy’s development in Wales over the past 25 years and how it had affected the Welsh economy. It was wellreceived by both entrepreneurship and futures scholars, and we were already planning a follow-up article to examine how innovation policy in Wales had changed in the same period.
And only this week, I received an email stating that another paper – which focused on developing a new approach to examining open innovation in small to medium-sized enterprises – had been accepted as a chapter in a book to be published this year.
Martin was therefore just beginning to realise his considerable potential. Not only would he have made a growing contribution to his academic field, but also – and more importantly – a real impact in helping to shape the economy of the nation he loved so much.
Sadly, that potential has been cut tragically short, although the foundations he established in his field here in Wales will be something we will continue to build upon in the years to come.
As a colleague, I will miss his intelligence, his wisdom and his insights. As a friend, I will miss his conversation, his kindness and, above all, his laughter.
Cysga’n dawel, hen ffrind.