Ifor Glyn is originally from North Wales graduated with a BA degree in Communications at Bangor before moving South Wales to study to become a social worker at Swansea University.
His first employment in the substance misuse field was with Swansea Drugs Project in 1990 as an outreach worker and later as its deputy director. After 8 years working with the agency, Ifor moved to the statutory sector and helped establish a substance misuse service within Caerphilly social services.
After a period as Director of Operations with WCADA, Ifor returned to Swansea Drugs Project as its chief executive officer in 2007 and has overseen significant changes during the time he has been back with the agency with increases in the number of services users engaging, the number of services provided, the number of staff members and a greater public profile. Sands Cymru (Formerly Swansea Drugs Project) was one of the first harm reduction agencies in Wales and it continues to be passionate about minimising the harm caused by drugs or alcohol to individuals and communities. Harm Reduction remains at the core of Sands Cymru
The agency operates the busiest needle exchange in Wales, seeing 25% of all Wales transactions and has a strong record of campaigning on issues such as reducing drug related deaths, naloxone, new psychoactive drugs, , reducing alcohol harm, hidden harm, domestic abuse and substance misuse, and promoting the needs of young people etc
Ifor has a particularly keen interest in overdose and naloxone and was involved in introducing the take home naloxone scheme in Wales.
He is a member of APOSM the panel that advices the Welsh Health Minister on substance misuse policy.
Ifor is a welsh speaker and contributes frequently on substance misuse issues in the Welsh media.