Bord Bia's Global Food Summit

Christian Beutel is Executive Vice President - Purchasing, Food, Fresh Produce and Frozen at Lidl International . He has built his career with Lidl across a range of senior international roles, developing extensive experience within the global retail and food sector. Over the course of his career, Christian has held leadership positions spanning international procurement and category management, working across major food and non-food categories including beverages and dairy. His career has also included an international assignment with Lidl France, contributing to his broad experience of European retail markets and Lidl’s international operations. Based in Germany, Christian now holds a senior leadership role within Lidl International, with responsibility at the heart of the group’s international purchasing organisation.

Niall was appointed Chief Executive of Dawn Meats in 2007 at the age of 34, since then he and his team have spearheaded the development of the Group through mergers and acquisitions. A significant milestone was the 2017 merger of Dawn Meats’ UK business with Dunbia becoming Britain’s largest beef and lamb processor, acquiring full ownership in 2020. Under his leadership the business continues to expand, with most notably, the recent acquisition of a 65% majority shareholding in New Zealand based Alliance Group, cementing the company’s position as a recognised global industry leader. Niall is passionate about innovation and champions environmental sustainability and efficient processing. A strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial approach he feels strongly about building and developing diverse first-class teams through training, coaching and mentoring.

Kevin is the CEO of ABP Food Groups UK & NI operations comprising 20 production facilities and 7000 employees across Beef, Lamb and Convenience Foods. He joined ABP in 2021 and previously served as Managing Director of ABP’s Ireland & Poland Business. Kevin has extensive experience in the Agri Business sector having served in various roles in the sector locally and internationally during his career. ABP is one of Europe’s leading agri-business companies with a total of 53 operating sites across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. In addition to being the single largest Beef & Lamb producer in Ireland, the UK and Poland, ABP also operates Europe’s largest private label pet food business (C&D) in addition to an international sustainable renewables business (Olleco) and a Proteins division. A native of County Meath Kevin is married to Liane for over 25 years, together they have 3 boys who have all followed their dad as keen GAA Sports participants.

Norman Crowley is an Irish entrepreneur and founder of CoolPlanet and AVA Studios, whose career has centred on building ambitious businesses at the intersection of technology, sustainability and innovation. As founder and Chairman of CoolPlanet, Norman has focused on industrial decarbonisation, building a global business that works with major organisations to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. More recently, through AVA Studios, he has brought his entrepreneurial approach to the automotive world, reimagining iconic classic cars as high-performance electric vehicles and combining cutting-edge technology with design and craftsmanship. A serial entrepreneur, Norman has founded and scaled a number of successful international technology businesses over the course of his career. His work today reflects a particular focus on using innovation and entrepreneurship to accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon future.

Nick Curtis-Davis is currently Director of Global Strategic Insight & Industry Capability 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.

Aoife Dannatt is the Managing Director for Chipotle in Europe leading restaurant operations, growth, and strategy across a dynamic multi-market business. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, she has built a career around one core belief: great brands are built by great people. With a background in Human Resources and deep hospitality experience, Aoife is known for developing high-performing teams, strengthening culture, and creating the conditions for sustainable growth. She combines operational discipline with a relentless focus on the guest experience, helping brands scale while staying true to what makes them special. Her leadership is people-first, performance-driven, and rooted in hospitality.

Alison Dunn is Country Manager for Amazon Ireland, where she led the launch of Amazon.ie in 2025 and now oversees the continued growth of Amazon’s retail business in Ireland. With more than 15 years’ experience across retail strategy, consumer insight, grocery, technology and business transformation, she has held leadership roles across Amazon’s retail and AWS businesses. Alison began her career advising major UK retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, before joining Amazon’s UK grocery expansion, helping launch initiatives such as Amazon Fresh, Amazon Pantry and Whole Foods. She later moved to AWS, where she established a digital innovation organisation and worked with strategic global customers on technology-driven business challenges, including generative AI. Today, she combines retail expertise, customer insight and innovation to lead Amazon’s business in Ireland.

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).

Noel Grealish is Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development. Appointed in January 2025, he plays a key role in supporting the growth and international development of Ireland’s agri-food sector. He is an Independent TD for Galway West and has represented the constituency in Dáil Éireann since his first election in 2002

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.

Martin Heydon is the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine. He was appointed to this role on 23 January 2025. Before this, he served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development. He was appointed to this role in July 2020. He is a TD for the Kildare South constituency, first elected in 2011

Maurice Hickey led the acquisition of Green Isle Foods, supported by ISIF and a group of private investors, from 2 Sisters Food Group in March 2019. The investor group’s ambition is to grow the existing business base by leveraging the Green Isle and Donegal Catch brands and building on this platform through acquisition. Prior to this transaction, Maurice was the Chief Executive of Largo Foods, the owner of Ireland’s most recognizable snack-food brands including Tayto, Hunky Dorys and King, which he joined at the time of the Tayto acquisition in 2006. Prior to this, Maurice was Finance Director of a number of public and private companies namely Trintech Group plc, Bio Medical Research Limited, Trinity Biotech plc and the Imari Group and a strategy consultant with PWC London. Maurice is a member of the Investment Committee of Enterprise Ireland, a director of the Bord Bia Consumer Foods board and a former Chairman of the Prepared Consumer Foods Council in Ibec. He has a BBS degree from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland.

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 Savoury BU Director. Towards the end of 2007, he took the opportunity to join a privately held Brazilian food and beverage group, focusing on the start-up 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.

Susan is Bord Bia’s Director Corporate Services and HR. In this role she has responsibility for Bord Bia’s corporate, operational and governance functions including finance, IT, facilities management, compliance and risk management. She is also secretary to the Board of Bord Bia. Susan joined Bord Bia in 2018 and previous to that was a manager in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance department for 10 years. Susan is a member of both Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Chartered Governance Institute and holds an MBA from UCD Smurfit School.

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.

Laura Modi is the founder and CEO of Bobbie, the first mother-founded and led infant formula company in the United States. Originally from Westport, Co. Mayo, Laura began her career at Google and Airbnb before identifying an opportunity to challenge a highly concentrated infant nutrition market with a modern, consumer-focused alternative. Founded in 2018, Bobbie launched in 2021 and has since become the fastest-growing infant formula brand in the U.S. since the 1980s, serving more than one million babies and capturing 4% market share. Under Laura's leadership, the company has helped reshape the category through a focus on quality, transparency and trust, while also investing in domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience. Today, Laura is recognised as one of the leading entrepreneurs in consumer health and nutrition, known for building a high-growth challenger brand that is driving innovation within one of the most established sectors of the U.S. food industry.

Tom Moran had a long career in the agriculture and food sector including various senior roles in the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine where he was Secretary General for 10 years. Since leaving the Department, he has served on many boards including Bord Bia and Kerry Group, where he was Chairman. He is currently sits on the board of Dawn Meats and is Chairman of the Dawn Meats controlled Alliance Group NZ. Tom is Chairman of the Agriculture and Food industry funded Our Food Roots.

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 Client & Stakeholder Engagement (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.

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.

Jim O’ Toole was appointed CEO of Bord Bia, The Irish Food Board, in November 2022. Previously Jim 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 world’s only national food and drink sustainability programme. He 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.

Dalton joined Greencore as CEO in September 2022. Raised on a family poultry farm in Ireland, he holds a BA from University College Dublin, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an honorary Doctorate of Management from Bradford University. His executive career includes CEO of daa plc, the global airports and travel retail group, CEO of Wm Morrison plc (then a FTSE 100 company and the UK's fourth largest supermarket), CEO of Brown Thomas Group, and COO of Loblaw Companies Ltd. in Canada. Dalton also served as a senior advisor to the Boston Consulting Group. He started his career with Jardine Matheson, followed by Walmart.

Deirdre is Director of Sustainability and Quality Assurance (Origin Green) in Bord Bia, where she is responsible for the management and development of Ireland’s national quality assurance and sustainability programmes for the agri-food sector. Prior to her appointment, Deirdre was Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland and interim Head of Communications, where she led the development and implementation of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s first sustainability strategy. Deirdre has also held positions with leading dairy exporter Ornua, Nestle Switzerland, and Metro Group. Deirdre holds an MSc in Business Sustainability and an MBS in International Business from University College Dublin Smurfit Graduate School.

Toby is a facilitator - he helps clever people solve complex problems through interesting, productive conversation. He works with NASA, the United Nations, the World Bank, the National Science Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health and a number of National Governments, Development Agencies and large companies.

Philip Tallon is the Chief Operations Officer at Dawn Meats. Following his graduation in BAgrSc from UCD in 1994, Philip joined Dawn Meats in October 1995, initially working at Dawn Meats Midleton.  Starting on the Graduate Program, he subsequently gained hands-on experience across procurement, operations and sales, providing the foundation for his leadership career building extensive industry knowledge along the way. Having managed a number of sites, Philip was appointed Divisional Manager Primary Processing Ireland in 2011.   Philip was then promoted to Group Operations Director for Dawn Meats and Dunbia in May 2019 and has been Chief Operations Officer since December 2025.  Given his qualifications Philip has led the development of the extensive Dawn Agriculture program.  Given the scale of the business Philip is keen on sharing best practice, key focus on efficiencies, innovation and team development.

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 St, Dublin. Under her leadership, the revitalised Jameson brand home has quickly become one of the most sought-after whiskey experiences globally, attracting over 350,000 visitors within its first year of reopening in March 2017.

Kevin Toland is currently the Chair of  Ornua the global dairy company which owns Kerrygold ; C and D Foods a leading European petfood manufacturer and Gas Networks Ireland , the operator of Irelands gas networks. He is a Non Executive Director of Dole plc, the worlds leading fruit company with global sourcing and commercial operations. During his Executive career Kevin was CEO and President for Glanbia USA / Global Nutritionals and a board member of Glanbia plc (the global cheese and nutrition company) , CEO of daa plc (which operates airports and airport retail and service companies in Ireland and in a number of other countries in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East) and Aryzta plc the Swiss based Global Frozen bakery company.

Elizabeth is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Sysco. 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 Officer. 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.

Simon Walker was appointed CEO of Kepak Group in 2021 after more than three decades with the company, during which he held a range of senior leadership roles across marketing, sales and commercial functions. Prior to becoming Group CEO, Simon led Kepak’s Foods Division, overseeing operations across retail, food-to-go and foodservice channels in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. A graduate of the Marketing Institute, Simon has played a key role in Kepak’s growth and diversification, helping to strengthen the Group’s position as one of the leading food companies in Ireland and the UK. As CEO, he is responsible for a business with approximately €2 billion in annual revenue, operating 14 manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK and employing around 4,500 people. In his role, Simon leads the Group’s long-term growth strategy, with a focus on customer partnerships, sustainability, operational excellence and people development

Miriam Walker is Managing Director for Ireland & UK at ARYZTA. Miriam leads a multi-functional organisation spanning Finance, Commercial, Marketing, Innovation, Category Management, Human Resources, ESG, Operations, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain, and is a member of the Global Executive Leadership Team. With more than 30 years of experience across Irish, UK, and global FMCG organisations, Miriam has built a reputation for driving profitable sustainable growth, leading large-scale business transformation, and creating high-performing, customer-centric organisations. She brings deep expertise in commercial strategy, category leadership, brand development, innovation, revenue growth management, operational effectiveness, and organisational capability building. Prior to joining ARYZTA, Miriam held several senior leadership positions, including Director of Consumer Division at Tirlán, where she led the No.1 Dairy brand Avonmore and private label portfolio, and General Manager Ireland at McCain Foods, the global leader in frozen potato products. In these roles, she was responsible for delivering transformational growth strategies, strengthening market leadership, and enhancing long-term business value. Miriam holds an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and has completed advanced executive development programmes in Strategic Growth Leadership, Executive Coaching, Breakthrough Customer Leadership, Change Leadership, and Building High-Performing Teams.

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.