TitleMrGiven NamesJohn CharlesSurnameBennettPost NominalsOAMBiographyPresident Royal Agricultural Society New South Wales, 2023 to present.
John Bennett is Managing Director of MJ & EA Bennett P/L, a family company with interests in Agriculture, specifically commercial beef and thoroughbred bloodstock operations, as well as the Hospitality industry and commercial property. John and his family operate a 550 seat Function and Conference Centre located on their farm at Worrigee near Nowra.
John became involved with his local Nowra show society in 2001, where he served as President between 2005 and 2010. Since 2010 he has been their Ringmaster and Chief Steward of Attractions. In 2004, John attended the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s (RASC) conference held in Albury, NSW, and went on to be appointed as the RASC’s Next Generation facilitator in 2007. John became an elected Trustee of the RASC in 2015, a position he continues to hold. Also in 2004, John was invited to be a member of the inaugural RAS Youth Group and was elected to RAS Council in 2010. He was Assistant Ringmaster between 2011 and 2015, and Ringmaster from 2015—2021. John has also served two terms as a member of the RAS Board and was most recently Vice President and Chair of the Horse Committee.
As President, Mr Bennett will help drive the RAS through its next chapter, supporting the organisation as it expands its integral work in agricultural education, develops its award-winning event venue business, Sydney Showground, supports regional and rural communities via the RAS Foundation and continues its mission to promote Australian agriculture through the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show.