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Presidential Initiative
The Presidential team serves for one year and is made up of representatives from the regional ‘host’ area where the Royal Highland Show would traditionally have been held when it travelled annually before it moved to its permanent site at Ingliston, Edinburgh in 1960.
RHASS, the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, has announced its new Presidential team for 2025/26 with the Initiative team planning to shine a spotlight on Aberdeenshire.
Through a series of events and activities, culminating at the 2026 Royal Highland Show, the team will highlight eight key pillars for the region: agriculture, food and drink, whisky, tourism (including walking, cycling and golf), education, health, culture and heritage.
As part of their term, the team will also undertake fundraising for the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), to support the Big Build and the development of their new headquarters at the showground, the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Fund (RSABI), with whom they will work closely at the Show to highlight the importance of vital health screening and RHASS.
Pat Machray (OBE)
Pat Machray (OBE) farms near Inverurie where he has a flock of Pedigree Suffolk Sheep. He has held previous roles as CEO of Johnston Carmichael, Chair and Chief Executive of ANM Group, one of Scotland’s largest and most progressive producer-owned co-operatives and was Chair of SRUC and Scottish Enterprise Grampian. He is also
former President of the Suffolk Sheep Society and Chair of Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen. He was also awarded the Elevator Aberdeen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
Dave Green
Dave Green is Chief Executive of Duncan Farms near Turriff, farming over 12,500 acres across the North and North East, with enterprises including eggs and arable, supplying eggs direct to major retailers across the UK. He is also Managing Partner of renewable energy business Muirden Energy
Dr Robert Lovie
A farmer’s son from Fraserburgh, Robert Lovie is well known across Scotland as both champion of the doric language and traditional culture and is Director for The Princes Foundation. He was previously property manager for the National Trust for Scotland at Fyvie Castle and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Aberdeen University for North East Culture in 2018.
Robert Maitland
Robert Maitland is a past Director of RHASS where he was Chief Steward of sheep shearing. Robert, with his family, farm near Inverurie where the business is involved with cattle, pigs, sheep and arable.
Anne Mitchell
Along with her husband, Ross, Anne Mitchell runs Castleton Fruit Farm, one of the largest soft fruit enterprises in Scotland, as well as a successful restaurant and farm shop. She is also a director of producer-owned co-operative, ANM.
Rev. Ken MacKenzie
Rev. Ken MacKenzie is the minister of the Parish of Braemar and Crathie in Aberdeenshire and is a member of the Chapel Royal. He has provided pastoral and spiritual support to the Royal Family since 2005 and was recently made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his services to the Monarch and members of the Royal family. He is lifelong supporter and life member of the Royal Highland Show having shown livestock there for his family in his youth.
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