Margaret Minhinnick
Area of focus: Co-Founder & Director
Winner of the Special Recognition Award, Cynnal Cymru Awards 2016
Cynnal Cymru Awards 2016
Margaret was born in Halifax and has been a committed environmentalist for 40 years. She is the co-founder and Director of Sustainable Wales as well as the social enterprise, SUSSED Wales.
Margaret first became involved in the environmental movement in 1981 when as a new mum she was invited to make a Black Forest gateau for Friends of the Earth - the beginning of her campaigning career!
She was a comprehensive school Home Economics teacher for ten years before that and has always loved cooking, in particular distinctive cookery: from the Italian ‘slow food’ movement, to the parilla culture of Buenos Aires.
Food and fairness are a vital part of her life while her motivation is family and their future.
In 1984 she jointly founded and developed Friends of the Earth Cymru. Margaret stayed there until 1994 as chief spokesperson, directing campaign and information strategies, developing the local group network, lobbying, creating media stunts and demonstrations.
Margaret was also a Founder and Co-director of Sustainable Wales Projects Ltd, the co-operative operating the ahead of its time, Gentle Touch Nappy Laundry Service between 2004 and 2010. In 2006 she co-founded SUSSED Wales, an ethical community cooperative which retails fairly traded, green and local goods based close to the high street, Porthcawl. Offering unstairs a meeting space and cultural events in ‘The Green Room’.
She has been frequently interviewed on the radio as well as making many TV appearances over the past 30 + years. Margaret was a presenter and researcher for HTV’s ‘Grass Roots’ series, creating a radical edge to the programme between 1995 and 1997. Since producing her own video films.
Margaret has a wide experience of working with community groups as well as applying for grants and fundraising. She has also served on numerous boards and committees including Prince’s Trust, Groundwork Bridgend, Cylch, WCVA’s Environment Wales, Glas Cymru/Dwr Cymru, Green Renewables Wales, G Cel, Cynnal Cymru, Bridgend Borough Fairtrade Campaign, Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival Committee, Bridgend Local Energy Group and Porthcawl Chamber of Trade.
At the Cynnal Cymru annual award ceremony held in Cardiff on November 17th 2016, Margaret became only the second ever recipient of the ‘Special Recognition Award’, recognising her thirty plus year’s innovative work in environmentalism and sustainability. The Award was presented by Mike Rann (Hon Mike Rann AC, CNZM, Former Premier of South Australia). More information on the award.