To mark International Women’s Day, Ceredigion County Council has celebrated a progressive milestone.

This year, for the first time ever, the offices of chairman, leader and chief executive are occupied by women.

Ceredigion born and bred Cllr Gill Hopley of New Quay has been a member of New Quay Town Council since 1991, and served as a county councillor since her election in 1999. She was elected as chairman of the county council in May 2015.

Outside of her council duties, Cllr Hopley has worked in the clothing industry both locally and further afield, having been educated at the London College of Fashion and Clothing Technology.

Since 1987, she has owned and ran the Quay Surf shop in New Quay where she remains a familiar face locally.

Cllr Hopley said: “Life is full of interesting and sometimes challenging experiences. Never stop listening and learning and your life will be fulfilled.”

First being elected as county councillor for Talybont in 1999, Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn has been the leader of the county council since the May 2012 election.

She became the first female leader in the authority’s history, and is presently the only female county council leader in Wales.

See next week’s south editions for the full story