Dawn Alison Louise Bowden (born 14 February 1960) is a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist serving as Minister for Children and Social Care[a] since 2024.

[1] She previously served as Chief Whip of the Welsh Government from 2021 to 2023 and Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport (later also Tourism) from 2021 to 2024.

[6][7] The all-women shortlist was controversial; it drew criticism from a number of male councillors, including the leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

[11][12] She was moved from the role of Chief Whip to being a Ministerial liaison for the co-operation agreement, in May 2023.

[17] In 2011, she married Martin;[17] he works as a policy officer for Welsh Labour.