A 17-YEAR-old girl from Milford Haven is one of three Pembrokeshire women up for an award from the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones.

Bethany Roberts has today been announced as a finalist in the 2018 St David Awards.

The national awards acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of people in or from Wales.

Milford Mercury: Bethany Roberts, pictured last year with council leader David Simpson.Bethany Roberts, pictured last year with council leader David Simpson.

Nominated in the Young Person category, Bethany is a youth representative on Milford Haven Town Council and chairs the Pembrokeshire Youth Council.

She has not only been a voice for young people in the area, but has also helped organise many social events for older people.

She has participated in committee meetings at the National Assembly for Wales and Westminster to ensure the voice of young people is being heard.

Bethany also recently won awards for her hard work and commitment to young people and children’s rights.

Milford Mercury: Mair Elliott from Haverfordwest.Mair Elliott from Haverfordwest.

Mair Elliott, from Haverfordwest, is a mental health and autism campaigner, who is raising awareness through talking about her own personal experience.

Mair has Autism spectrum disorder and has received support from mental health services and fights on a daily basis to recover from her illness.

Despite her personal struggles, Mair spends her time campaigning for improved services and increased awareness of both mental health and autism.

She has provided evidence to government committees, sits on expert reference groups, has appeared on television, speaks at events, blogs about her experiences, and much more.

She is a trustee of Hafal, Wales’ largest service provider to people with mental illness, a research champion for the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH).

Mair has been named a finalist in the Citizenship category.

Milford Mercury: Lynwen Brennan, originally from Penally.Lynwen Brennan, originally from Penally.

Lynwen Brennan - originally from Penally - is proof that women can reach the top in any sector, anywhere in the world, even ones traditionally dominated by men.

As general manager of Lucasfilm - best known for its Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises - she is at the helm of one of the most successful and powerful brands in film.

Despite being based overseas, Lynwen remains passionate about Wales and the UK.

She was instrumental in the decision to establish ILM London - a world class visual effects and animation studio that has created 400 jobs.

She has been nominated in the Culture category.

Announcing the finalists, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “This event, now in its fifth year, is a celebration to acknowledge just some of the people who have had input to make the significant difference to someone else’s life, overcome adversity or have achieved something truly inspirational.

“Once again, the St David Awards finalists are an exceptional group of people.

"Every single one is a credit to Wales. I look forward to celebrating their outstanding achievements at the awards ceremony on March 22.”