Career
She moved with her family to Wales in 1990 and has since learnt Welsh. A former teacher and youth worker, Ryder has been very much involved with voluntary and community work in her home town of Ruthin. She was formerly the Chair of Canolfan Awelon Management Committee and was also a former director on the board of Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council.
Ryder has served as Mayor of Ruthin, on the Denbighshire County Council from 1995-1999, and on the Plaid Cymru National Executive, where she was formerly Shadow Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.
During the First Assembly (1999–2003), she was the Shadow Minister for Local Government and Communities and in 2002 she was given additional responsibility for Finance. Following a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle in November 2003 she became the Shadow Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.
In April 2006, in line with changes made by the Assembly Government this portfolio changed to Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills. Her portfolio included responsibilities for schools, further education and skills development, higher education, the youth service and the careers service.
During the Third Assembly (2007–2011) she resigned that post (June 2008) and became chair of the Subordinate Legislation Committee which subsequently was renamed the Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Since 2007 she has also been chair of the Wales branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. She did not stand to be re-elected in the National Assembly for Wales election, 2011.