31/03/2011

The Royal Agricultural Society of England has completed its planned restructuring with the appointment of a new Chief Executive to manage the charity’s core purpose issues.

The Society’s former Director of Marketing and Communications, Denis Chamberlain, has stepped up to be Chief Executive of a smaller, more focused RASE. The organisation will concentrate on working with industry partners to develop its Practice with Science agenda, act as a think tank on technical and scientific issues and promote an education and training agenda.

The granting of a long-term lease to LaSalle Investment Management, to develop the Stoneleigh Park site, was announced in January 2011. Having completed the arrangement with LaSalle, RASE Chief Executive, Brian Warren, has left the Society.

Commenting on his new position, Mr Chamberlain said: “Stripped of responsibility for estate management and event and exhibition organisation, RASE must now concentrate on developing the role as a “thought leader” in rural England. It needs to rebuild its reputation as a robust, independent organisation alert to change and capable of rapid, innovative action that really makes a difference in three key, discreet but interlinked areas:

The transfer of relevant and appropriate technology to improve the competitiveness of UK farmers;

Training, education and development of the farming and rural workforce and thereby nurturing a robust and progressive rural economy;

Encouraging a positive, national debate to support technological development, scientific innovation and the social fabric of rural England.

“We can’t do that alone and my job is to find partners who share our aspirations for progress across these issues. The Practice with Science motto drives the Society. It is why it was formed more than 170 years ago. The need to invent, disseminate, learn and innovate, which drove the founding fathers, is little changed today.

“Training, education and new entrants are key fields in which RASE can be influential. The debate about acceptable science and sustainable practices on arable and livestock farms is ripe for engagement.

“RASE, working with its partners, will help the sector address its technical performance and see how knowledge and technology transfer can help improve efficiency and output. Events like Grassland and Muck and the British Pig and Poultry Fair set high standards for technical events and we will be looking for new ideas and new partners to add to that portfolio.”