Mike is a dairy farmer, working in partnership with his son, Michael. Together they operate a grass based spring calving herd. He has a keen interest in the continued development of the Irish agricultural industry and has shown this through his involvement with in many organisations. He has served on several Boards including ICBF, ICOS and as Chairman of Lakeland Dairies and IHFA. He was also President of the Irish Grassland Association. Currently Mike is on the Board of the Agricultural Trust.

Michael is Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies in the School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin.  A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, his background is in cattle practice in Donegal and at the Farm Animal Unit of the University of Glasgow. He has managed many clinical research programmes, including studies of herd health in conventional and organic dairy herds and published extensively in clinical aspects of farm animal health. A European Specialist in Sheep Health Management, Michael is a past-President of the European College of Bovine Health Management, he is actively involved along with colleagues in the UCD Herd Health Group in the promotion, development and implementation of herd health in Ireland.  

John Malone comes from a farming background in Portroe, Co Tipperary. He served as Secretary General of the Department  of Agriculture and Food from 1997 to 2004. In that role he was heavily involved in policy formulation for the agri-food sector, in negotiations at EU and world trade level. He was centrally involved in the establishment of ICBF and served as its first Chairman. Since then he has held a number of Directorships and currently is Chairman of the Irish Equine Centre. He holds a degree in Politics and Economics from UCD.

Roisin Hennerty is Managing Director of Ornua Global Foods Division, overseeing a portfolio of brands sold in over 100 countries.  Having originally joined Ornua Cooperative in Dublin, Ireland, Roisin later moved to the US and was responsible for the strategic marketing and launch of Kerrygold Butter and Dubliner Cheese in the USA.   As then VP of Marketing and later President, she led the brand from market entry, to its position today as the #2 Butter brand in the US and the #1 Cheddar brand,  pivoting strongly on the equities delivered by Ireland’s dairy farming model and animal welfare standards. With extensive experience in International Trade, she has facilitated and led the Americas business on all matters relating to WTO, strategic quota risk management and the introduction of protocols in relation to Food Safety and Bioterrorism regulations.  In addition, Roisin holds responsibility for key strategic areas, including Origin Green and Ornua’s Sustainability initiative – Our Way Matters.  These initiatives and the regulatory implications surrounding farm standards, animal husbandry and milk quality are critical to Ornua’s ability to deliver value-add to Irish milk. Roisin has represented Ornua Group on the Board of the American Butter Institute, the Board of Les Dames Escoffier International and the Cheese Importers Association of America.  She served as a Director on the Board of The Cheese Importers Association of America for 10 years, serving for eight years on the Executive Committee (roles of Treasurer, Secretary and Vice Chair). She is active in a variety of trade and food associations, including the International Association of Culinary Professionals and is a member of Les Guilde Des Fromagers. Most recently and prior to relocating to Ireland Roisin sat on the Board of the Chicago Chapter of Les Dames Escoffier International. Roisin earned her primary degree at University College Dublin, holds a Higher Diploma in International Trade from the Dublin Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of the Executive Scholars programme at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.  She has also completed the Board Director Development Programme at the Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Sean Brady was raised on a dairy and pig farm in Arva, Co. Cavan.  He is a Director of Ornua Co-op, The Irish National Stud, Life Credit Union and a Council member of the Irish Management Institute. He chairs the Dairy Technology Processing Centre, the Golden Jubilee Trust and The Audit Committee of Kilkenny County Council. He holds directorship in several private companies. He was the Chair of Food Harvest 2020 which set the strategy for Irish Agriculture, Food and Marine sectors from 2010 to 2020. He served as Managing Director of Irish Sugar and Minch Malt.  Sean started his career in Killeshandra Co-op prior to the formation of Lakeland Dairies where he was General Manager Dairy Division. He holds a Ph.D. in Dairy Science from University College Cork and a Diploma in Applied Finance from the Irish Management Institute.

Ivor Deverell is married to Alison and is living in Ballyaville, Geashill, Co. Offaly.  He graduated in 2006 with an honours degree from UCD - BAgrSc. Ivor runs a beef and tillage farm in partnership with his Uncle Joe and Joe's son Jesse - a 3rd generation pedigree Hereford breeder under the ‘Ballyaville Herefords’ prefix.   Other cattle enterprises include suckler calf to beef and a Hereford dairy cross calf to beef system. Director of the Irish Hereford Prime beef producer group and a current council member and past President of the Irish Hereford Breed Society.  

Darran McKenna originally qualified as an electrician before he became the 5th generation dairy farmer to be involved in the family farm. Darran and his family now farm their spring calving, grass based dairy herd along the border in Co. Monaghan.  In 2018, the McKenna family won the prestigious NDC  and Kerrygold Quality Milk Award and Herd Health Award, both Awards recognising standards of excellence in dairy farming, care of the environment and animal welfare.  Darran is dedicated to developing a profitable and sustainable farming model through improved animal health.