Ivan Yates – Broadcaster and former Minister for Agriculture

Minister Martin Heydon, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Dr Anne Marie Henihan, Centre Director,DPTC

Dr Anne Marie Henihan is the Centre Director at the Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC). She focuses on advancing dairy processing through industry-academic collaboration, driving innovation, enhancing process efficiency, and promoting sustainable growth. She also serves on the Bord Bia Dairy Subsidiary Board and the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI), contributing to the strategic direction of Ireland’s dairy and food sectors. Her dedicated ability to connect industry and academia ensure Ireland leads in sustainable dairy processing globally.

With over 20 years of experience in Research, Development, and Innovation, Dr Henihan has worked on initiatives in waste management, renewable energy and behavioural change, contributing to advancements in dairy processing and sustainability. She holds a PhD in Waste Management and Renewable Energy and an MBA from the University of Limerick.

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Session 1: Advancing the Circular Bioeconomy: Innovations and Future Directions in Dairy Processing - Research Showcase

Prof. Vincent O’Flaherty, University of Galway

Vincent has expertise in microbial ecology, methanogenesis and bioprocess research, focused on: anaerobic biofilm reactor technology for biorefining, energy production and wastewater treatment; and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. He’s a co-founder of GlasPort Bio. He’s interested in collaboration and partnerships with academic colleagues and the private sector on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and agro-industries and anaerobic biofilm reactor technology for biorefining, energy production and wastewater treatment.

His research is funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU Commission. He’s a scientific lead for the Sustainability Pillar of the Dairy Processing Technology Centre. He is also a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator and Funded Investigator at SFI BiOrbic Research Centre. Vincent has supervised 29 PhD students to completion. He teaches and learns microbiology and environmental biotechnology with undergraduate and postgraduate students at all levels.

Over the course of his research, Prof. O’Flaherty has published over 300 scientific communications, and has also successfully secured research funding of €10.5M from national and international programmes.

James Gaffey, Co-Director Circbio Research Group

Presentation Title: The role of Green Biorefinery in a Sustainable Dairy Model.

James is Co-Director of the CircBio Group at Munster Technology University. He has 15 years’ experience working in the bioeconomy sector within industry and academia. He has led numerous bioeconomy and biorefinery research projects at national and EU-level and lectures at MSc level on the Bioeconomy with Business programme. He’s a funded investigator at SFI BiOrbic Research Centre. He is co-national team leader (co-NTL) on the International Energy Agency's IEA Bioenergy Task 45 and Expert Advisor to Ireland's National Bioeconomy Forum. Part of his current work focuses on the implementation of green biorefineries where he has coordinated and led projects in the development of this work through projects such as Biorefinery Glas, Rural BioReFarmeries, Bio4Africa and Farm Zero C.

Associate Professor David Styles, University of Galway

Presentation Title: Visioning sustainable and resilient dairy exports    

Dave is Associate Professor in agri-sustainability and Co-Director on the Agricultural Science BSc programme at the University of Galway. He has 20 years’ experience quantifying (inter-)system sustainability across food, energy, bioproduct and waste management systems at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission Joint Research Centre, University of Bangor and University of Limerick. Dave is a member of IEA Task 45 on bioenergy, the Climate Change Advisory Council's Carbon Budget Committee, and the expert advisory board to the National Bioeconomy Forum. He currently coordinates or leads work packages across 12 projects, including LandingZoNeS, EAT-Packaging, RADIANT, CircAgric-GHG and INFORMBIO, combining life cycle assessment and foresight analyses to provide scientific evidence on system transformations required to deliver climate neutrality and circular economy aspirations (within planetary boundaries). 

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Session 2: Innovative Flagships: Pioneering Solutions for Dairy in the Circular

Bioeconomy

Stephen Napier, CEO, Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF)

Presentation Title: ‘Scaling the Bioeconomy Together’

Stephen is a Certified Public Accountant in Ireland with more than 25 years’ of experience across a broad range of industries and is currently the CEO of the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF). Stephen has engaged in some significant projects across many diverse fields from retail, horticulture, health, hospitality, bioeconomy and others so he is well placed to understand some of the challenges that have presented in recent years and the opportunities that may lie ahead.

From its base at the former mining site at Lisheen in Co. Tipperary, IBF was founded in mid-2017 to establish a fora of industry, academia, and policy leaders around Ireland’s emerging bioeconomy. IBF is charged with ‘Growing the Bioeconomy in Ireland’ as a not-for-profit organisation which has recently developed a significant regional, national, and European network.

The mission is to promote the conversion of Ireland’s natural land & sea resources to high-value products for the development of a sustainable bioeconomy that is globally competitive and creates local development.

Stewart Gee – Designer Producer Ireland Agri-Food Deep Demonstration

Stewart Gee has spent a lifetime working in agriculture. Born and raised on a cattle and sheep farm in the midlands, he studied agricultural and environmental science in UCD. He went on to complete a Masters in Humanitarian Action in UCD and spend much of the next 20 years working on sustainable agriculture programmes in developing countries. Two and a half years ago he joined EIT Climate KIC to work on their partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, called the Ireland Land Agri Food Deep Demonstration. This initiative uses systems innovation approaches to close the gap between current reality and Ireland’s climate/sustainability ambitions. The current focus of the partnership is on 1) Creating a vision for the agri-food sector in 2050, 2) Enabling the circular bioeconomy, 3) supporting the development of the National Carbon Farming Framework and 4) Developing and testing a ‘new normal’ for sustainable dairy production in Ireland.

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Session 3: Unlocking Potential: Policy Support for the Dairy Sector in the Circular Economy

Conor Mulvihill, Director, Dairy Industry Ireland

Conor Mulvihill was appointed director of Dairy Industry Ireland in February 2016. Coming from a farming background in the mid-west of Ireland, he achieved degrees in History & Politics as well as a Masters in European Integration. He has worked as a political advisor in the Irish Houses of Parliament (Oireachtas) before taking up the role as head of EU affairs for the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society in Brussels, where he focused on dairy policy. Conor currently is a board member of the European Dairy Association and Specialised Nutrition Europe. At home he sits on the executive committee of Food Drink Ireland. Dairy Industry Ireland represents primary and secondary dairy manufacturers including the specialist nutrition sector in Ireland and is affiliated to Ibec, Ireland’s business umbrella body.

 PJ McCarthy, CEO, Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI)

PJ McCarthy is the CEO and founding member of the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI), established in 2014 to represent the interests of the renewable gas industry and consumers. Under his leadership, RGFI has become the national authority on AD biomethane, a key enabler of the bioeconomy. PJ serves on the Board of the European Biogas Association (EBA) and chairs the National Associations Platform Steering Committee, working closely with EU officials on biomethane strategy. He is also a Board Member of the European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR). Nationally, PJ played a key role in establishing Ireland's Green Gas Certification Scheme and led multiple strategic industry collaborations, including Project Clover, which focuses on large-scale biomethane production in the dairy sector. Before RGFI, PJ had over 30 years of experience as a project management consultant with leading firms like Deloitte and KPMG.

Matthew Halpin

Matthew Halpin is an Assistant Agricultural Inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Based in the Research, Bioeconomy & CODEX Division of the Department, Matthew’s current work portfolio centres around the bioeconomy, as well as AKIS (Agriculture Knowledge & Innovation Systems) and agri-digitalisation. The Department of Agriculture plays a lead role in the development of Ireland’s bioeconomy. This includes supporting the implementation of Ireland’s Bioeconomy Action Plan, coordinating the development of the bioeconomy across Government, funding bioeconomy research, development and innovation, and consulting with stakeholders through the Irish Bioeconomy Forum. Matthew is from a farming background and holds a degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin.

Dr. Keristena Grewan, Head of ESG Reporting, Ornua Co-operative Ltd.

Dr. Keristena Grewan, with a PhD in Environmental Engineering, stands out as a visionary and strategic leader in the realm of sustainability. With a robust career spanning the globe, she has led numerous sustainability programmes, focusing on environmental auditing, ESG reporting, CSR, circular economy, water stewardship, sustainable sourcing, and comprehensive sustainability strategies.

Her illustrious career began at Unilever, enhancing sustainability in emerging markets, followed by strategic roles at Reckitt Benckiser and The Coca-Cola Company. She served on the Bridgestone Tyres Retail Board and was the Global Sustainability Manager at Mainstream Renewable Power, leading ESG and non-financial reporting. At Uniphar Group, she was the Group Head of Sustainability, launching their sustainability strategy. Recently, she took a significant role at Ornua as their Group Head of ESG Reporting, focusing on their ESG strategy, reporting and regulatory compliance.

Dr Grewan’s vision is encapsulated by the "3P’s": Planet, People, and Profit.  Dr  Grewan's career and vision highlight her as a strategic and ambitious leader, dedicated to advancing sustainability in global business practices. Her work not only impacts the companies she has been part of but also contributes significantly to the broader dialogue and action on global sustainability.

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Session 4: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in the Circular Bioeconomy for Dairy Farmers and Processors

John Brosnan ,Bioeconomy Executive, ICOS

John has been working in the agri-food sector for over 20 years, beginning in the food service sector before moving on to work for farmer-owned farm services co-operative, FRS for 16 years in project and operations management. This included contracted services, primarily agri-environmental and sustainability services provided directly to farmers on behalf of Irish semi-state bodies Teagasc and Bord Bia as well as contracted services on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

John was appointed to the newly created role of Bioeconomy Executive for the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) in June 2022 and is working on developing the role of co-operatives in the evolving Bioeconomy and promoting the inclusion of primary producers in this vital sector. This involves designing roadmaps for bioeconomy deployment with ICOS member co-ops and key Government, semi-state and other industry stakeholders.

John holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Co-operative Organisation and Rural Development from University College Cork, an Executive MBA from the University of Limerick and an MSc in Bioeconomy with Business awarded jointly by University College Dublin and Munster Technological University. He also runs a grass-based dairy calf to beef farm on a part-time basis.

Prof. J.J. Leahy, Chemical Sciences, University of Limerick

Prof. J.J. Leahy is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick. He is involved in teaching, curriculum development and research in waste management and renewable energy. He currently heads a research group consisting of chemists and chemical engineers that is focused on chemical technologies for biofuels and biorefining from wastes. He has an extensive research background in applied biofuels research and has forged strong links with major and small stakeholders in the biofuels industry nationally. This collaboration with industry has led to two start-up biofuels companies in the mid-west region. This research is reflected in a publication record in international journals and a demonstrated ability to attract funding from industry and national and international funding agencies. He plays a key role in several major EC funded and national projects, bioenergy, biofuels and biorefineries.

Dr Ciara Beausang – Lead, AD Biomethane Research Group, Teagasc

Dr Ciara Beausang completed her PhD at University College Dublin where she examined the environmental consequences of using agricultural feedstocks for anaerobic digestion in Ireland via life cycle assessment. Ciara joined the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research Centre at Grange Co. Meath in 2023. She is developing a research programme in the area of agricultural anaerobic digestion. The focus of her research is the sustainability of biogas production from agricultural feedstocks.

Prof. Karina Pierce, School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD

Karina Pierce is Professor of Dairy Production in UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science. She currently serves as Director of External Relations in the School of Agriculture & Food Science at UCD and also coordinates the UCD degree programmes in Dairy Business.

Karina’s research focus is on the sustainability of dairy production systems and the role of dairy cow nutrition as a means of reducing the environmental impact of dairy production and improving milk composition and quality. She graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 2001 and completed her PhD in animal nutrition in 2005, both from UCD.

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Session 5: Shaping the Future: Market Innovations for a Circular Dairy Economy

Prof. John Garvey, Lead, BIOFIN, University of Limerick

Presentation Title: ‘Identifying the Enabling Conditions to Unlock Mainstream Finance for Ireland’s Circular Economy’

Dr. John Garvey is Professor of Finance at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He is Coordinator and Lead Investigator on the EU Funded project, BIOFIN (https://biofin-project.eu/) which aims to identify and bridge the implementation gaps for the EU’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. His research in risk management, market design and international trade is published in leading academic journals and can be viewed on Google Scholar. 

Panel Discussion includes Dr John Garvey and the following:

David Kennedy – Head of Dairy, Bord Bia

David Kennedy is the Head of Dairy at Bord Bia. He holds a BBS Degree in Business Studies from the University of Limerick. David began his career in 2005 as a management trainee with Kepak Group, where he held senior operations and commercial roles in beef and lamb. In 2009, he joined the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship Programme, working on market development projects in the Middle East and completing an MSc in International Marketing Practice from UCD Smurfit Business School. After the programme, he managed retail accounts for Unilever, Richmond Marketing, and Britvic. In 2015, David returned to Bord Bia as International Markets Manager, overseeing client and customer services across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2020, he was promoted to Head of Dairy, supporting Irish dairy farmers and processors in adding value on-farm and to exports.

Lucy Ryan, Head of Food & Beverages Sector, Bank of Ireland

Lucy has worked for Bank of Ireland since January 2023 as Head of the Food & Beverage Sector, to help support the bank’s activity in this important, indigenous industry. She previously worked in the Food & Drink sector for 25 years in Ireland, Italy and the UK across a number of companies and product categories.

She held various senior commercial positions, many customer-facing, in consumer goods companies including Diageo, C&C Group (Bulmers Ltd), Mark Anthony Brands International, Valeo Foods and BFree Foods. Areas of interest for Lucy include the future production of sustainable, nutritious food and food circularity.

Lucy holds a French & Italian language degree from UCC and a Post Graduate qualification from UCD Smurfit Business School.

Fiona McCabe, Development Advisor, Dairy, Enterprise Ireland

Fiona McCabe is a Senior Development Advisor at Enterprise Ireland, focusing on the dairy sector. Previously, Fiona spent over 13 years with IDA Ireland, across various roles in Ireland and overseas including on secondment as Deputy Director within the Trade Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she worked on cross-governmental international trade coordination and strategy. With over 17 years of experience in international trade development, she has a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the industry. Fiona’s core competencies include new business development, strategy, business planning, and stakeholder management. She is passionate about promoting Ireland and supporting companies to grow their businesses globally. Fiona speaks French and holds a degree in Business and Law (2005) from University College Dublin and has also studied Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Fiona McAteer, Project Manager, LeBruin

Fiona has over 12 years’ experience in portfolio and relationship management roles in the Irish Market. She holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Law from University College Dublin, is QFA qualified with the Institute of Bankers and is currently a candidate for the Master of Science in Sustainable Business Leadership with the University of Leeds. Fiona is responsible for project managing LeBruin’s carbon sequestration projects, primarily the afforestation and biodiversity project and Arigna Group biochar project. Arigna Group is transitioning from a fossil fuel producer to biochar. Arigna Group commissioned two 35k metric tonne biochar machines in 2023 making it one of the largest operating biochar producers in the world.