Aled Rhys Jones – Biography
Aled Rhys Jones BSc(Hons) MRICS FAAV NSch
Aled Rhys Jones was born and raised on his family’s hill farm in Cwrt-y-Cadno, north Carmarthenshire. He studied Land Management at the University of Reading where he graduated with a First-Class Honours Degree in 2007. Shortly afterwards, Aled joined a leading South Wales surveying practice as an Assistant Land Agent. He then undertook his professional examinations and, in 2009, he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and as a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (FAAV).
After spending 6 years as a Land Agent, Aled was appointed the Assistant Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS). Prior to his appointment, Aled was actively involved with the RWAS as a member of the Carmarthenshire Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors and was the inaugural Chairman of its Young Members’ Forum. During his time with the RWAS, he oversaw a period of significant change and contributed to the success of the Royal Welsh Show (one of Europe’s largest agricultural shows) and was the staff lead of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
In 2018, Aled was presented with an exciting opportunity to become the Chief Operating Officer to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers; a specialist professional body representing rural professionals throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He worked for the CAAV for three years alongside his freelance consultancy business together with building a reputation as an emerging talent in media and as a professional speaker.
As an effective communicator, Aled was asked to present a weekly radio show called “West Wales Farming” on Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire and Radio Ceredigion. That gave him an excellent grounding in media which led to an opportunity with the BBC. He is now the lead presenter for BBC Radio Cymru’s daily agricultural bulletin called “Bwletin Amaeth” and is a member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
Despite his professional commitments, Aled has also remained involved in the family farm where he has gained most of his knowledge and practical experience of agriculture.
Aled was very active in the Young Farmers movement and is past Chairman of Dyffryn Cothi YFC. He was named Senior Member of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs of England and Wales in 2012 and won numerous awards for his public speaking, stock judging and acting skills. Named best actor in Carmarthenshire on three occasions and once in the Wales YFC final – he’s always been a bit of a performer!
As a well-respected figure in the agricultural industry, Aled successfully completed the Agri-Academy Rural Leadership Programme and was subsequently invited to be a member of the Future Farmers of Wales. He is also the leader of the Junior Agri Academy aimed at supporting young people aged between 16 and 19 who want to pursue careers in food and farming.
Aled is also a Nuffield Farming Scholar having been awarded the Young Nuffield (Bob Matson) Award presented to young entrepreneurs. His two-year scholarship took him around the globe, clocking up a total of 49,292 air miles (the equivalent of twice around the globe!), before publishing his report on “Agricultural societies and shows: where do we go from here?”. He presented his paper at the Nuffield UK Conference at Newcastle in November 2016 and was awarded the John Stewart Shield for the Best Presentation out of 22 presenting scholars.
He is a gifted after dinner speaker and has presented at many conferences throughout the UK and as far as Singapore and Canada. In June 2017, Aled was elected a Trustee of the Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth and one of the Honorary Next Generation Facilitators. This role took him to South Africa in 2017, Canada in 2018 to the 28th Commonwealth Agricultural Conference and to the Caribbean in 2019.
In 2021, he launched an independent platform and advisory business called AR Y TIR / ON THE LAND that provides practical and strategic support to a range of clients involved in rural land and property.
In addition, Aled is a non-executive director of Menter Dinefwr which supports community regeneration and development of the Welsh language in the Cothi, Tywi and Aman valleys.
Aled is married to Lisa and live with their daughter in Llandeilo. They are keen runners and members of Amman Valley Harriers. Lisa completed the London Marathon in 2015 and Aled in 2016, but Aled had the better time though!
