Louise Bater

I started my working life as an office junior in the Offshore Finance Department of the Jersey office of Price Waterhouse Coopers and left 12 years later as a Senior Manager and an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (now The Corporate Governance Institute), a qualification I gained whilst working fulltime.  I then owned and ran a hotel in Pembrokeshire for 3 years, during which time the hotel was put forward for awards and won various certificates.  

I sold the hotel so I would take a year out to dedicate all my time to my son who had recently been diagnosed with autism.  During this time, I became the Secretary of the local Autism support group which led me to taking up a part time position with a charity providing support for adults with learning disabilities.  I worked for this charity in various position for 9 years and gained a valuable experience in health and social care as well as human resources.  

I then bought a failing dry cleaners and laundry in Bridgend and turned it into a successful business.  I sold the laundry after ten years to dedicate more time to my family and care for my elderly mother. I am now mentor for Business Wales and I manage the rentals properties I own, as I have done for the last 30 years.