Jonnie is a graduate of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (BSc. Honours in Agricultural Economics and an M.Phil. in agricultural policy research) and Oxford University (MSc. in Agricultural Economics). Following an academic and consultancy career, Jonnie joined the Scottish Landowners’ Federation in 1998, leading policy work on agriculture and land use. Jonnie joined NFU Scotland in 2007 and has overall responsibility for the policy work of NFU Scotland as Deputy CEO and Director of Policy. He has served on all key rural and agricultural policy stakeholder groups and has more than 30 years' experience of agricultural and rural policy.