John Elfed Jones

John Elfed Jones (born 19 March 1933) is a Welsh businessman and language activist, who has held the chairmanships of several public bodies in Wales.

Early life and education John Elfed Jones was born on 19 March 1933, the son of Urien Maelgwyn Jones and Mary Jones. He was brought up in Maentwrog, where his father worked as a manager for the North Wales Power Company.

He was educated at Blaenau Ffestiniog Grammar School and at Denbighshire Technical College, Wrexham, before studying at Heriot Watt College in Edinburgh. He left the role in 1993 and in 1997 he became Chair of the National Assembly's Advisory Group.

Controversy Jones' involvement in the publicly owned Welsh Water Authority was later criticised by Rhodri Morgan, then the First Minister of Wales, and by others because of the incentives package that accompanied his role. As a result of his comments, he was one of two Welsh-speaking officials reported to the Commission for Racial Equality by journalist Ian Skidmore.

Honours and distinctions Jones was awarded a CBE in the 1987 New Year Honours.

Jones's portrait, by Peter Douglas Edwards, is displayed at the Founder's Library in the University of Wales Trinity Saint David at Lampeter, of which he was president in 1992–1998. His autobiography, Dyfroedd Dyfnion, was published by Y Lolfa in 2013.