Stephen Kinnock was born in Tredegar in 1970 and has maintained strong and continuing links to South Wales throughout his life. He joined the Labour Party when he was 15 and is a proud member of the Community trade union and the Co-operative Party.  

Following comprehensive school, he attended Cambridge University to study modern languages, and then earned an MA in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.  

Before entering Parliament, Stephen built a career focused on international relations and business. He worked for the British Council for over 12 years, including as Director in Brussels, Russia, and Sierra Leone, promoting educational opportunities and cultural exchange. Subsequently, as Director for Europe and Central Asia at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, he engaged with global business leaders, focusing on corporate responsibility and working closely with Turkish business and government, including helping organise a major WEF summit in Istanbul in 2012. Immediately prior to becoming an MP, he was a Managing Director at the UK office of Xynteo, advising multinational companies on improving energy performance and community engagement.  

In May 2015, Stephen was elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for Aberavon. Following boundary changes, he was re-elected in July 2024 as the MP for the new constituency of Aberafan Maesteg. After the 2024 General Election, he was appointed Minister of State for Care within the Department of Health and Social Care.  

Stephen speaks five languages fluently and draws on his extensive experience as a senior executive in negotiation and representation. Throughout his career, he has worked to secure progressive economic, social, and environmental objectives.

As an MP and now Minister, Stephen remains passionate about bringing high-productivity, high-skill jobs and investment to his constituency and Wales, utilising his background and know-how in business and international affairs to help achieve this.

Since 1996, Stephen has been married to Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former Prime Minister of Denmark (2011-2015), whom he met in 1992 at the College of Europe. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Meta Oversight Board. They have two adult children. He enjoys sport, having played rugby into his mid-thirties, still plays occasional football, and has enjoyed refereeing his children's football matches.