Moredun Foundation

John Ross - Chairman of the Moredun Foundation

John has made an outstanding contribution to the farming industry over the years. He was President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland for six years and Chairman of Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association (now QMS Scotland) for three and is also a past commissioner of the Meat and Livestock Commission. John is still involved in the running of the family farm. 

John joined the board of Moredun Research Institute in 1996 and was appointed as Chairman in 2002. He became Chairman of The Moredun Foundation in September 2004. John Ross was appointed the CBE in 1994 and is a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society. in 2010 John was appointed to chair an Expert Forum to advise the Cabinet Secretary on future cost and responsibility sharing on animal health and welfare in Scotland.

Professor Sandy Trees

Professor Trees was appointed Chairman of Moredun Research Institute in December 2011. He qualified from Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1969, became a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool in 1980, before being appointed Head of the Parasite and Vector Biology Division and then subsequently Dean of Liverpool’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, where he remained until his retirement in 2008.

Professor Peter Wells

Peter graduated from the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh and then after completing a PhD in Pharmacology and Immunology at the University of Guelph, worked at the Moredun Research Institute for several years in the Department of Microbiology. For more than 28 years he was employed in the animal health industry, retiring from the position of Global Head of Research and Development with Novartis Animal Health in June 2008. In 2009, Peter received an honorary appointment as Special Professor in Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Nottingham. Peter is also the Chairman of Moredun Scientific.

John Matts

John graduated from Cambridge in 1979 with a degree in Land and Property Management.  He is a shareholder in 6500 acre joint venture arable farming company and used to lamb 2500 early ewes. John farms in a family partnership with extensive property interests both industrial and office developments, he has interests in renewable energy projects and he is also involved in a storage company. John is the Chairman of Pentlands Science Park and also Vice Chairman of the Moredun Foundation.

Philippa Gammell

Philippa is resident in Angus. She is Chairman of the Equine Grass Sickness Fund and has participated in many equestrian sports most notably at World Championship level in International Pony Team Carriage Driving Trials. Philippa is from a farming background; agriculture, wildlife, conservation and all forms of equestrianism are her main interests.

Matt Colston

Matt graduated from R(D)SVS in Edinburgh in 1986. He then spent five years in mixed practice in Fife and the Borders before taking up a 2 year demonstrators post (shared between R(D)SVS and SAC (Edinburgh Genetics)) concentrating on equine reproduction and artificial breeding in small ruminants. He gained Cert.SHP before moving back to general practice in Penrith where he has been since 1997. Matt is the Chairman of Moredun Foundation's North of England Regional Board

Alistair Swanson

Alistair has been a farmer all his life. He took over the family farm in 1973. He is involved in numerous committees. Presently he is Halkirk Highland Games Committee chairman, member of Caithness Leader and Highland Area Leader Group, Director of Caithness Partnership, Caithness NFUS Branch Member and SRPBA member of Highland Regional Committee, member of North Area SEPA River Basin Group, and chairman of the proposed Rumster Outdoor Centre Management Group. He is also a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Caithness. Alistair is also the Chairman of Moredun Foundation's North of Scotland Regional Board

Gareth Jones

 Gareth was born in Caernarfen, North Wales and gained a HND in Agriculture from Aberystwyth in 1982. He then managed farms in mid Wales and Hereford before spending two years as Beef Specialist with the Meat and Livestock Commission. Gareth is currently the Farm Manager at Rhug, a large organic estate in North Wales. Gareth is a past chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru Scholar’s Association and was a member of Welsh Assembly Government 2020 Committee. Gareth is the current chairman of BroGeyndwr Male Voice Choir,is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS) and is the Chairman of Moredun Foundation's Welsh Regional Board

Roy Weir

Roy worked in the borders before heading to Australia where he gained valuable experience in many areas of sheep farming. This enabled him to offer his own ideas in the running of the family pedigree and commercial enterprise in Dumfriesshire. Roy is the Chairman of Moredun Foundation's South of Scotland Regional Board

Colin Lowrie

Colin was born and brought up on the family farm of Blegbie near Humbie in East Lothian. After studying Agriculture at Edinburgh he began working at home and currently farms a 700 acre upland mixed unit with cereals, 450 ewes producing prime and breeding lambs and 100 suckler cows with the progeny finished. As well as being a director of RHASS he has been chairman of East Lothian Agricultural Discussion Society and convenor of the local agricultural show. In his spare time he enjoys golf, shooting and curling.

Sir John Gilmour

John has farmed a mixed arable/beef unit since 1987 and also has been a deer farmer since 1987. He has been Chairman of Scottish Farm Venison since 2002 and is Late Owner/Director of Greenside Agricultural Engineering Ltd and Director of Perth Race Course (current). He was a Past Chairman of the National Point to Point Advisory Committee (Jockey Club) and John Wood's Housing Association. In addition he is currently Chairman of the Northern Area Point to Point Association and Hon. Colonel - Fife & Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse (QOY).

Andy Robb

Andy was brought up on a livestock rearing farm in north Argyll before graduating with a BSc (Agric) from Edinburgh University in 1970. He joined the Department where he worked throughout his career, quickly rising through the ranks in his early years and ultimately becoming Scotland's Chief Agricultural Officer from 2004 until his retirement in 2009.  Andy became a member of the Moredun Board just after this.  He is also a member and vice chairman of the Board of Oatridge College and maintains his lifelong interest in farming and is currently helping to run a small arable unit in Strathmore.