Board

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine appoints non-executive board members. The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 requires that the board of An Rialálaí Agraibhia comprises of a total of eight persons – a chairperson and seven ordinary members. The board must include at least three persons appearing to the Minister to be primary producers.

• • • Chair Joe Healy is a dairy and cattle farmer from Athenry and is a former National President of both Macra na Feirme 1995 – 1997 and, more recently, the IFA 2016 – 2020. He also served as 1st Vice President of COPA (European Farmers Organisation) where he chaired the influential Food Chain Committee. Currently, he is Chairman of “Cultivate” (Credit Unions Agri Finance) and sits on the boards of Self Help Africa, Gurteen Agricultural College, and the European Economic and Social Committee.
      
      

• • • John Comer is a dairy farmer from Co. Mayo. He was previously President of the ICMSA and is currently a member of the European Economic and Social Committee. John is a board member of Aurivo Co-operative and is also the independent chair of the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group.

• • • Karen Brosnan has worked as a management consultant in the agri-food sector since 2000, specialising in strategy, governance and leadership. She is a former Chairperson of Nuffield Ireland and Gurteen College and is currently a Director of AgriAware.

• • • Margaret Dineen has over 20 years experience managing commercial trading relationships across the fresh food industry. A management consultant and accountant, Margaret now works with SMEs within the Irish food industry in developing their supply chain optimisation and commercial business development.

• • • Elaine Donohue has over 15 years experience in the Food Sector both in Ireland and key Export markets working across commercial, marketing, business development, food supply chains and leading out on critical sector development. She was a key enabler of the new 'Bia Innovator Campus', delivering critical infrastructure of scale for the grassroots food industry in the West of Ireland. This new concept supports innovation, incubation and sustainability of the food sector. Elaine is currently CEO of Discover Limerick, a subsidiary of Limerick City and County Council.

• • • Angus Woods is an organic beef, sheep, and tillage farmer. He is a former President of the EU Civil Dialogue for Animal Products and has served on a number of boards in the agri-food sector including ICBF and Bord Bia's Meat and Livestock board.

• • • Grace McCullen has worked in the agri-food and drink industry for thirty years in sales and marketing with FMCG Brands in Ireland, UK and Europe, and in strategy consulting with global agri-food clients. Grace is a member of the Institute of Directors, a mentor with Alltech Women in Food and Agriculture, and a Director at Beaubec National Monument.  Grace holds MSc Digital Marketing & Data Analytics and BSc Food Business and grew up on a beef and tillage farm in Meath.  

       

• • • Paul Brophy is a primary producer in the horticulture sector with over 40 years experience. He is Chairman of Unigreen, a producer organisation of five progressive vegetable producers. Paul has formerly served on the horticulture board of Bord Bia and is a former chair of the IFA horticulture sector.

     Appointments were made pursuant to a State Boards Public Appointments Service process.