Sel Williams was brought up in the Conwy Valley and has worked at different times as a farm labourer, builder’s labourer, research scientist, schoolteacher and lecturer at y Coleg Normal and the University in Bangor. He has a background in teaching, research and writing in the fields of Agriculture, Biology, Philosophy, Economics and Community Development. Over a period of forty years he has gained considerable experience of developing higher education and community courses which have been Welsh in nature and perspective, delivered in both Welsh and English. He has now retired from full-time work but continues to teach part-time as a community education tutor.

Selwyn has practical experience in the field of community development over a period of some fifty years. Currently he is a director of several community enterprises, nationally, and locally in the Ffestiniog area where he lives. These local ventures include the community hotel, Y Pengwern in Llan Ffestiniog, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog which is a network of 16 social enterprises in the Ffestiniog area (website: cwmnibro.cymru) and Cymunedoli Cyf. (Cysylltu@Cymunedoli. Cymru) which is a network of 36 community enterprises across the county of Gwynedd. He is also currently a member of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded research team looking at aspects of community tourism in north Wales.