Professor Malcolm Macdonald has been named as President Elect of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAes), the oldest aeronautical society in the world, and the only professional body dedicated to the entire aerospace community.  He will take up the post of President in May 2026

The space expert is Director of the Centre for Signal and Image Processing (CeSIP), and of the Centre’s Applied Space Technology Laboratory at the University of Strathclyde.

Founded in 1866, and originally known as the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, RAeS now has more than 26,000 members with international branches throughout the world and regional divisions as far afield as Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Upholding values

The President of the Society provides leadership of the Council and of the Society in pursuit of its objectives, and has a pivotal role upholding the values, and reputation. The President is also instrumental in influencing the global standing of the Society in furthering the advancement of aeronautical art, science and engineering.

Professor Macdonald, who is also Visiting Professor at the Centre for Space Research (C-Space), University College Dublin, and Vice-Chair of the Space Technology Advisory Committee of the UK Space Agency, said: “The Society has been at the forefront of aerospace developments from before humans undertook powered flight and is today driving forward the green transformation of the entire sector.

“I’m grateful to be joining a long history of Presidents, and for the opportunity to support and to advocate for the whole of the aerospace sector.”

Space experts

David Edwards FRAeS, Chief Executive, said: Space is a vital part of our work at the Royal Aeronautical Society, and we’re delighted to welcome Malcolm to his year as President Elect. 

“When he becomes President in May 2026 he will join a small but illustrious group of Space experts to have held the role – we’re excited for what he will bring to our debates and events.”