A mix of familiar and new faces will make up NFU Scotland’s Board of Directors for 2023/24.
At last Friday’s Council meeting in Glasgow (10 February), Highland Perthshire farmer Martin Kennedy was re-elected, unchallenged, as the President of NFU Scotland. Aberdeenshire farmer Andrew Connon and Alasdair Macnab from Ross-shire were elected as the Union’s Vice-Presidents.
The Presidential position is held for two years, and a President can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms. This means that Mr Kennedy, the 63rd President of NFUS, will remain in office until the Union’s council meeting in February 2025.
Anyone elected to the position of Vice-President at NFU Scotland for the first time, will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election. As Andrew Connon was re-elected to the position of Vice-President, he will be required to stand again in 2024 to continue in that post. Under the constitution, Alasdair Macnab, newly appointed as Vice-President, will not have to stand for re-election until February 2025.
There are three new regional chairs on the board with Mark McCallum, from Culbokie taking on the Highland regional role from Cameron MacIver; John Kerr from Newmilns is the new Ayrshire Regional Chair, succeeding Colin Mair and Colin Flett is the new Orkney chair, replacing Steven Sandison.
The new chair of the Union’s Milk Committee is Aberdeenshire dairy farmer Bruce Mackie, replacing Gary Mitchell while Argyllshire farmer Peter Kennedy takes on the chair of the Less Favoured Areas Committee from Robert Macdonald. With Alasdair Macnab’s election as Vice-President, his previous role as chair of the Legal and Technical Committee will now be filled by Gordon McKilligan from Aberdeenshire.
Notes to Editors
- The members of the Board of Directors at NFU Scotland for 2023/24 are:
- President – Martin Kennedy, Lurgan, Edradynate, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
- Vice-President – Andrew Connon, North Quilquox, Ythanbank, Aberdeenshire
- Vice-President -- Alasdair Macnab, Kildun, Dingwall, Ross-shire
- Other Directors of NFU Scotland
- Treasurer – Rupert Shaw, Gledpark, Borgue, Kirkcudbright
- Regional Board Chairs
- Argyll & The Islands – Duncan Macalister, Glenacardoch, Tarbert, Kintyre
- Ayrshire – John Kerr, Woodhead Farm, Newmilns, Ayrshire
- Dumfries & Galloway – Colin Ferguson, Knockann, Kirkinner, Newton Stewart
- East Central – Caroline Millar, Balkello, Tealing, Dundee
- Forth & Clyde – Mark Donald, Rhynaclach, Port of Menteith, Stirling
- Highland – Mark McCallum, St. Martins Farm, Culbokie, Dingwall
- Lothian & Borders – Debbie Playfair, Morebattle Tofts, Morebattle, Roxburghshire
- North East – Alan Simpson, Mains of Leslie, Leslie, Insch, Aberdeenshire
- Orkney & Shetland -- Cecil Eunson, Griesta Farm, Griesta, Tingwall, Shetland
- Orkney & Shetland – Colin Flett, North Moa, Rendall, Orkney
- Committee Chairs
- Combinable Crops – Willie Thomson, Wheatrig, Longniddry, East Lothian
- Environment & Land Use – Peter Douglas, Ruletownhead, Hawick
- Legal & Technical – Gordon McKilligan, Headtown of Ord, Cornhill, Aberdeenshire
- Less Favoured Areas – Peter Kennedy, Kilbridemore, Glendaruel, Argyll
- Livestock – Hugh Fraser, Kinchyle Farm, Scaniport, Inverness
- Milk – Bruce Mackie, Middleton of Rora, Longside, Peterhead
- Poultry – Robert Thompson, Orchardbank Business Park, Forfar
- Pigs -- Jamie Wyllie, Ruchlaw Mains, Stenton, Dunbar
- Specialist Crops – Iain Brown, Easter Grangemuir Farm, Pittenweem, Fife
- Next Generation - Matthew Steel, Craignathro Farm, Forfar, Angus
Ends
Contact Bob Carruth on 07788 927675