The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has announced the appointment of James Logan to the position of chair, and has unveiled a new presidential team.
The Scottish agricultural charity has also announced George Lyon as its new president.
RHASS chief executive, Alan Laidlaw, said: “Announcing James as our new chairman feels very much like a natural next step following his involvement as a board member and honorary secretary of RHASS in which he has brought a wealth of knowledge, advice and support to the organisation.
“James is someone who inspires those across the industry and we are very much looking forward to working even more closely with him during his tenure as chairman as we continue to shape the future of RHASS to successfully support those across the sector for generations to come.”
James Logan
RHASS said James Logan has an extensive background in agriculture and has been actively involved in various aspects of the industry.
After studying agriculture at Edinburgh University, he returned to his family’s farm in East Lothian.
Serving at board level for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and chairing the organisation’s East Lothian Branch and Lothians Area, Logan refined his knowledge of the agricultural profession, RHASS said.
He gained insight into the advantages of collaborative working when attending the Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Business Management Course and went on to establish two co-operatives.
RHASS said his’ dedication to the agriculture community extends beyond business operations and he contributes to the education of the next generation by opening his own farm for school visits through his support of the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET).
On his appointment to the position of RHASS chair, Logan said:
“Having served as honorary secretary of RHASS for three years, I’ve had first-hand experience of the crucial work of the charity.
“The diverse experiences I have gained so far in my career has emphasised the importance of fostering connections and finding solutions to challenges farmers face today.
“With a strong focus on communication and commitment to the agricultural sector, I am looking forward to bringing this ethos to my new role and working alongside the new presidential team to continue RHASS’s journey”.
RHASS presidential team
New RHASS president, George Lyon, is the previous president of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland).
He was also chair of Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Limited, a subsidiary of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
The new presidential team also includes: Andrew Malcolm; Margo McGill Scott; Lord George Robertson; Rob Wainwright; and Isabell Montgomerie who has taken on the role as chaplin.
The newly appointed RHASS board consists of 11 new members ranging from a variety of agricultural and rural sector backgrounds.
