Staff member recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours

Melanie Haman, the South Wales Local Resilience Forum (SWLRF) Coordinator, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this year for her efforts during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Monday 14 June, 2021

With over 10 years experience in Emergency Planning, Melanie became the Coordinator for the South Wales Local Resilience Forum (SWLRF) area in 2018. This is a role that covers the entire South Wales Police area and consists of 19 category one emergency responders.

This past 15 months has been dominated by the Covid-19 response, Melanie has been outstanding in coordinating and organising the Strategic Coordination Group (SCG), Tactical Coordination Group (TCG) and Recovery Coordinating Group (RCG). She has also been representing SWLRF on Public Health Wales' support group.

It has been an extremely challenging time for all organisations involved in Emergency Planning and Melanie has stepped up and been exemplary in the way she has managed and administered the SWLRF response and recovery, building further on the multi-agency response. 

Reflecting on Melanie's work over the past year Rob Thomas, Managing Director, said:

“Melanie has worked tirelessly.  She has an excellent work ethic and is a real credit to herself and asset to us at the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the entire South Wales region. I am delighted that Melanie was considered and has been recognised, not only as the Managing Director of our organisation, but also as the Chair of the SWLRF Recovery Coordination Group and a member of the Strategic Coordination Group. 

"I have been hugely impressed by Melanie’s organisation, effectiveness and enthusiasm throughout the pandemic.  She is extremely dedicated to public service and commands respect through her commitment to public duty.  She is an officer who ‘walks the talk’. 

"Alongside this, she is also clearly an expert in her field – incredibly knowledgeable and this knowledge, together with her dedication and enthusiasm has been invaluable in helping to steer South Wales through the current crisis”.

Mr Andrew D. Valentine, Chief Superintendent of South Wales Police added:  

"Since assuming the role of Chair of the South Wales Local Resilience Forum Strategic Coordination Group (SCG) in March 2020, I have worked closely with Melanie Haman in her capacity as the Local Resilience Forum Coordinator and have valued greatly her exceptional commitment and dedication to protecting the public.  

"Throughout the course of the pandemic, she has made an extraordinary contribution to the strategic and tactical response by supporting critical activities ranging from key worker testing to excess death arrangements.

"Her personal resilience and willingness to help has always been above and beyond the requirements of her role.  Despite testing times, Mrs Haman’s warm and engaging approach has helped galvanise a strong collaborative ethos across the Local Resilience Forum improving the emergency response for the benefit of communities across South Wales."

Upon hearing the news herself, Melanie said:

"I am extremely humbled to have nominated for this award.  I count myself very fortunate, within the South Wales region, to be surrounded by colleagues on all levels who are both professional and committed and this has made my role of coordinating the response much easier. Their enthusiasm, energy, support and engagement has not waivered throughout the last 18 months and we have all worked tirelessly in our one goal and that is to protect the public."

The Queen's Birthday Honours list is published in a special edition of The Gazette, the official newspaper of the Crown.