The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) has announced the appointment of two new trainee trustees to its board.
The charity, which provides emotional, financial and practical support, introduced the trainee positions to encourage more younger people to get involved at board level.
Beth MacKinnon and Karen Stewart have joined the year-long programme during which they will shadow the charity’s trustees and participate in board, committee and staff meetings.
RSABI said Beth MacKinnon, a beef and sheep farmer from Perthshire, is passionate about supporting the agriculture industry.
She has over five years’ experience working with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), most recently in her current role as monitor farm programme manager.
MacKinnon has an agribusiness management honours degree from Newcastle University, where she graduated in 2019.
Karen Stewart is an experienced ruminant nutritionist working for SAC Consulting and is a partner in a Perthshire family farm where she also runs a self-catering let.
She has a BSc Hons in agriculture and animal science from the University of Aberdeen and a postgraduate certificate in farm business management from Robert Gordon University.
With a keen interest in farming business, Karen is looking forward to expanding her knowledge of the industry during her stint on the RSABI board.
RSABI trustees
RSABI said its trustees play a vital role in the running of the charity, using their experience and insight to help it best support people in Scottish agriculture.
MacKinnon and Stewart have taken up their positions following two successful previous trainee trustees who have now completed their time with RSABI.
RSABI chair, Jimmy McLean, said: “Through our trainee trustee programme, we have found that having younger people volunteering with the charity at board level has a hugely positive impact on the work we do.
“Beth and Karen are both enthusiastic young people who have already got stuck in.
“While they are here to experience what it’s like to sit on a charity’s board and learn from our more experienced board members, we are certain we will also learn plenty from them.”
MacKinnon and Stewart will complete a 12-month programme designed to increase confidence, skills and insight about what it’s like to be on a charity board.
They will not have voting rights but will participate in board and committee meetings, meet with staff teams and have the opportunity to contribute to the running of RSABI.
