Bord Bia's Global Food Summit

Niall is the Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Meats, appointed in 2007 at the age of 34. An alumnus of the University of Limerick, he joined the Dawn Meats Graduate Management Programme in 1995. Progressing through the organisation he gained a broad experience across multiple sites. Niall and his team have spearheaded the development of the Group through mergers and acquisitions. In 2017 Dawn Meats merged its UK business with Dunbia becoming Britain’s largest beef and lamb processor and in 2020 acquired full ownership. Under his leadership the business continues to expand and is a recognised industry leader. He is passionate about innovation and champions environmental sustainability and efficient processing.

Kevin is currently the Managing Director of ABP’s Irish and Polish Operations having joined the group in 2021. ABP is one of Europe’s leading agri-business companies with manufacturing plants across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. The company also operates sustainable renewables, pet food and protein divisions. Kevin has worked in the Agri sector since graduating UCC in 1991, including a recent 5-year stint internationally as Head of a Global Food company's European division. Kevin is a keen GAA enthusiast who enjoyed a successful playing career and now indulges in coaching at club level.

Nick Curtis-Davis is currently Director of the Global Strategic Insight Division at Bord Bia and a member of the organisation’s Executive Leadership Team. In a career spanning over 30 years in the food industry he has held leadership roles across Innovation, Marketing, Manufacturing and Technical Operations, and Change Management with blue chip organisations including Diageo and The Coca-Cola Company. In his current role Nick leads the delivery of highly valued Insight, Marketing, Innovation and Capability services for the Irish food, drink and horticulture industry. It is an expansive brief that seeks to create the conditions for the future success of our industry through global insight and thought leadership studies.

Watch this space for more information soon.

Samuel Dennigan is an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. He is the founder of Strong Roots, Executive Chair of Square Root, Non-Executive Chair of Omos, and founder and producer of The Alternative Route. Samuel founded Strong Roots in 2015 with a mission to fix the freezer aisle. The business grew from a Dublin start-up into a global brand, becoming Ireland's first plant-based food B Corp in 2021. Today, Strong Roots is available in more than 30,000 stores across 10 countries. In 2024, the company was acquired by McCain Foods, helping bring more vegetable-forward, environmentally responsible food choices to consumers around the world. Samuel is an active investor, advisor, and mentor to founders building consumer businesses. He serves on the Endeavor Ireland board, is an Endeavor Entrepreneur and Outlier, and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and helping build a more sustainable food system.

Sonya Gafsi Oblisk currently serves as Vice President of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores Private Brands & Marketing and Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer at Whole Foods Market. She leads Amazon’s global private food brands portfolio and oversees marketing across physical retail banners, while also acting as General Manager for Whole Foods across merchandising, e-commerce, marketing, sustainability and strategy. She has driven major transformation, including building Whole Foods’ marketing function, integrating Amazon Prime services into grocery, and improving affordability through large-scale pricing and promotional strategies. She has also expanded private label offerings and led sustainability initiatives, including ethical sourcing and food waste reduction programs. Previously, she was VP of Marketing at Sam’s Club (Walmart).

Shane Hamill is Bord Bia’s Director of Global Business Development, managing a global team across 15 geographies that aims to grow the value of Irish food and drinks exports. Previously, Shane was Bord Bia’s Strategic Projects Manager, leading key programmes, including the State Agency’s response to Brexit and Covid-19. Prior to this he worked as an agribusiness consultant for the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome and at Landmark Public Affairs, a Brussels-based firm where he advised leading food & drink multinationals on EU policy and regulation.

Francis Mallon is the CEO of Liffey Meats; his family have been involved in the meat processing industry since 1905. Francis is passionate about sustainability, climate action and the environment which is championed throughout the processing stages at Liffey Meats. Liffey Meats strives to ensure the highest quality and sustainably sourced beef is produced for our customers throughout Ireland and Europe.

Marcelo has over 25 years of experience in the Food and Beverage industry. He first joined Kerry in 1998 in sales for strategic customers in Brazil. He then moved into the Meat Business Unit, with his last role being Meat and Savory BU Director. Towards the end of 2007, he took the opportunity to join a privately held Brazilian food and beverage group, focusing on the startup of a microencapsulated and nanotechnology ingredient business, as well as a beverage-based business. Marcelo progressed into various commercial and management roles in Ultrapan Industria e Comercio LTD, until he returned to Kerry in 2015 in the role of President, Meat and Foodservice for the LATAM region. In June 2016 he was promoted to the role of General Manager & President for the Brazil & South Cone sub-regions. Marcelo commenced his current role as President & CEO of Kerry Taste & Nutrition of Latam in October 2019. He holds a BSc in Food Engineering from University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and a Specialization in Business Administration - CEAG, from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), both located in Brazil. He speaks Portuguese as well as his native languages, Spanish and English. Marcelo and his wife Simone have two children, Pedro and Daniel. Marcelo likes to cook and enjoys cycling and playing tennis with his family.

Niclas Mårtensson is the CEO of Stena Line, a role he has held since September 2016. Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry transportation operators, connecting Europe for a sustainable future. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962, and employs over 6,000 people. Niclas Mårtensson has over 18 years of experience at Stena Line, having served as Deputy CEO, Chief Operating Officer, and held leadership positions overseeing global operations across multiple countries and routes. Before joining Stena Line, he held top management roles at both manufacturing and hospitality companies. Mr. Mårtensson holds an MBA from the University of Lund and has completed management education at INSEAD and Cornell University. His career reflects significant expertise in transportation, logistics, and hospitality, with a focus on operations and global business development involved in major M&A. He is part of many different international boards within his areas of expertise and is the chairman of the board of Transportation and Supply Chain in the World Economic Forum in Davos. Since 2025, Mr. Mårtensson has been the Honorary Council for Ireland in Sweden.

Damien McLoughlin is Anthony C. Cunningham Professor of Marketing and former Associate Dean (International) at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. An expert in agribusiness strategy and business-to-business marketing, his work focuses on helping food and agribusiness organisations navigate growth, innovation and global market opportunities. Damien has held visiting appointments at leading international institutions including Cornell University, the Indian School of Business, Purdue University, IMD and New York University Stern School of Business. He was also a faculty member of the Harvard Business School Agribusiness Seminar, a global programme for senior leaders in the food industry, and continues to contribute as a researcher and case author. He has played a key role in developing Bord Bia talent programmes in partnership with global business schools and international food and agribusiness companies.

Bryan is the owner of the Park Hotel in Kenmare and Dromgarriff Rainforest in Glengarriff. He is also the former CEO and Chair of Blue Bottle Coffee in California, and co-founder of Fresh and Wild in London (now Whole Foods) and Nude Skincare. Bryan is now focused on mentoring entrepreneurs and working on sustainability projects primarily in consumer, agriculture and packaging. He sits on the global sustainability board at Nestlé in Switzerland and is a mentor with Endeavor Ireland. Bryan is a Board Member of the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco and lives in Marin with his wife Tara.

Watch this space for more information soon.

Pat Murphy is Chief Executive Officer of KINISLA. KINISLA is a vertically integrated farm‑to‑fork business with a strong retail presence and a leading dairy and nutritional ingredients division. Headquartered in the southwest of Ireland, the business employs approximately 1,700 people across Ireland, UK, Europe, USA and China, processing 1.2 billion litres of milk annually, sourced from 2,600 Irish farm families. Pat holds a master’s degree in food chemistry from University College Cork and previously spent almost 40 years with Kerry Group in senior leadership roles. He served as Chair of Dairy Industry Ireland from 2019 to 2021

John Murray is the Director of Meat, Food & Beverage Sectors with Bord Bia. Within his role he has responsibility for client engagement and driving sector strategic plans, which includes optimising growth supports and services. He joined from Kerry Group where he held senior roles in commercial and strategy development across the European business. Prior to this, John worked in specialist dairy commercial roles with Ornua in both the UK and Ireland. He also has experience in retail procurement in the protein sector and, working in agri-food public communications with an Irish non for profit. He is a University College Dublin Agricultural Science graduate, and hails from (west) Waterford originally.

Larry is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Dawn Farms. He co-founded it in 1985 with the Queally family, establishing it as a global leader in cooked and fermented protein ingredients. With operations located in Ireland, the UK, and Germany, it partners with leading QSR brands and major food manufacturers in over sixty markets, recognised for its leadership in food safety and quality, culinary science and innovation. His deep expertise in the food sector is based on a relationship approach and a customer first culture. As Chair of Bord Bia, Larry promotes Irish food globally and is passionate about the Irish food and drink industry and its future global prospects. Larry also chairs his family business, With Taste, a premier catering and hospitality resource.

John O’Brien has served as Managing Director of O’Brien Fine Foods since 2014, steering the family-owned business through a period of significant growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the business has grown to become the leading cooked meats producer on the island of Ireland, with a growing presence in the UK. In 2023, the company achieved B Corp Certification, becoming one of the first Irish food businesses to join the global B Corp community. Originally from Tipperary, John lives in Dublin with his family. A passionate supporter of Tipperary hurling and Munster rugby, he also serves on the board of Barretstown.

Anne O’Leary joined Meta in September 2022 as the Vice President of Mid-Market Global Business Group in EMEA. In May 2023, Anne was appointed Head of Meta Ireland to oversee the community and culture across three locations; Meta’s HQ in Ballsbridge Dublin, Clonee Data Centre in Meath and Reality Labs in Cork. Anne is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, a commitment mirrored in Meta's workforce in Ireland, which comprises 80 teams representing over 110 nationalities. In her day-to-day capacity, Anne collaborates closely with business leaders across the EMEA region, empowering them to harness the potential of Meta's apps to expand their reach and engage new customers. Beyond her role at Meta, Anne also serves as the Vice President of IBEC and holds seats on the boards of ERSI and Greencore. Anne previously spent nine years as CEO in Vodafone Ireland, as well as spending time in BT Ireland as Managing Director and Esat Telecom as Regional Director. In her spare time, Anne loves to swim in the Irish sea, run, cycle, practise yoga and enjoys socialising with friends and family.

Jim O’Toole was appointed CEO of Bord Bia, The Irish Food Board, in November 2022. Previously, O’Toole held the role of Chief Executive Officer, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency from 2017 to 2022. Prior to this, Jim held several senior positions in Bord Bia, including spearheading the development of Origin Green, the worlds’ only national food and drink sustainability programme. O’Toole also gained extensive experience in the global marketplace having spent 15 years managing Bord Bia offices in London, Milan and Paris. A Board Member of the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB), Jim holds a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin.

Marianne O’Shea is a senior R&D and nutrition executive with more than 25 years of experience shaping innovation strategies for global food and beverage companies. Most recently, she completed a 15-year tenure at PepsiCo, serving as Vice President of Global Life Sciences and helping guide the health and nutrition strategy behind the company’s portfolio transformation. She played a key role in delivering PepsiCo Positive (pep+) goals, supporting product reformulation and innovation across global markets. Prior to PepsiCo, Marianne held leadership roles at Unilever and IOI Group/Loders Croklaan, building expertise in translating scientific insights into commercially successful products. Her work has focused on nutrition, health, and improving access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods. Marianne currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to Enterprise Ireland and the Tilia Food Industry Innovation Collaboratory. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Nutrition and is a recognised voice in sustainable food systems and food innovation.

Dalton became CEO of Greencore plc, a manufacturer of convenience food, in 2022. It employs ~14,000 people, is the largest sandwich maker in the world, and has leading positions in the Italian Ready Meal, Sushi, Salad and Cooking Sauce markets in the UK. From 2017-2022 Dalton was the CEO of daa plc, which operates Dublin and Cork Airports. Between 2010 and 2015, Dalton was CEO of Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, then the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain. In 2005 Dalton joined the Weston family as CEO of luxury goods retailer Brown Thomas, and in 2007 as their COO for Loblaw (Canada). Dalton has a BA from UCD, an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honorary Doctorate of Management from Bradford University.

Watch this space for more information soon.

Claire is the Managing Director for the Irish market at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, where she leads the sales and marketing efforts for the entire Pernod Ricard portfolio of premium wines and spirits across Ireland. She is an integral member of the Irish Distillers Leadership Team and the Pernod Ricard Northern Europe CODI. Previously, Claire served as the Managing Director Brand Homes at Irish Distillers, where she spearheaded the impressive €12 million redevelopment of Jameson Distillery Bow Street. Under her leadership, the revitalized Jameson brand home has quickly become the most sought-after whiskey experience globally, attracting over 350,000 visitors within its first year of reopening in March 2017.

Elizabeth is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Sysco. In this role, Elizabeth is responsible for developing Sysco’s strategic roadmap to drive future growth and longterm value creation. She joined Sysco in May 2018 as Vice President, Strategy and Analytics, where she built new capabilities in advanced analytics, voice of the customer, and transformation management. In 2022, she became Senior Vice President of U.S. Local Sales and Customer Experience, and in May 2024 assumed the role of International Chief Commercial O icer. As CCO for Sysco International, she led global customer experience and accelerated international growth through a “One Sysco” selling approach, pricing transformation, digitalization, and marketing. Prior to Sysco, Elizabeth held senior leadership roles at Grainger, including Vice President and President of Digital Commerce, Marketing & Medium (Enterprise) Customer, and Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Continuous Improvement. From 2010 to 2014, she served at Newell Rubbermaid in roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of Global Category Management and Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Development. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at The Coca-Cola Company, Lowe’s Companies, McKinsey & Company, and Procter & Gamble.

Paul was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Monaghan Mushrooms in November 2019. He has been part of the executive team since 2007 having previously served as Chief Operating Officer between 2008 and 2017. With over 20 years’ experience with the group, Paul has played an integral role in consolidating Monaghan’s market leading position in the UK and Ireland, and latterly its expansion into Continental Europe and Canada. He is currently President of the European Grower’s Association.