Longford woman leading Ireland's sustainability charge

Sustainability is recognised as a priority issue for the food industry. The Origin Green Ambassador Programme takes 10 Ambassadors “passionately committed to the better management of our planet’s resources” on a 23-month journey towards an MSc in Business Sustainability.

Ailbhe McGowan, from Lismore, Newtownforbes has been working across London and Ireland with some of the leading global food and drink companies: “Origin Green programme is a two year Masters in Business Sustainability run by the Bord Bia talent academy in conjunction with the UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School. During the programme participants do several modules to up-skill, then three six month placements with companies in markets that Ireland are selling into,” she told the Leader.

Ailbhe's undergraduate degree in UCD was in Food and Agri Business Management: “I always had an interest in food and agriculture,” she explained, “I worked with R&H Hall, Ireland's biggest importer and supplier of animal feed ingredients. I was working as a trader. We imported products like soya, maize, barley or wheat. They supply mills like Kiernans or P&V in Longford. This made me aware of the conversation around commodities; deforestation and sustainability.”

She has worked with a range of leading food and drink businesses, NGOs, Governments and civil society, representing the Irish food and drink industry abroad: “It’s a really interesting time to be working in sustainability, particularly in Ireland’s food and drink sector which has an export value of €16.7bn.”

Ailbhe was delighted to be chosen as an Origin Green Ambassador: “I came across the programme by chance. It seemed like such a good opportunity. Sustainability is so important. I applied and was lucky to get a place. There are 10 of us on the programme, we are all using the experience we gather to make sure Irish producers stay ahead of the curve.”

Her farm family background may have played a role in her initial education route, her sister has recently completed her Green Cert, however her career path has been an organic progression: “Getting into sustainability was really through my work. The knowledge of supply chains and the impact it is having on the world's resources.”

“I am now completing my final placement with an environmental consultancy company called Efeca UK. There are several different avenues I can take after that. It encompasses retailers, food manufacturers or any business that wants to develop their sustainability themes.”

As Ailbhe's Origin Green Ambassador programme comes to an end she still ponders her next option: “My speciality relates to deforestation. It would be interesting to stay in that space. To be honest I haven't got it figured out yet. It's a space that is developing so quickly. ”

For any prospective students who would like to undertake overseas placements with some of the world’s leading global brands, while gaining an internationally recognised Masters the 2023 applications of the Origin Green Ambassador Programme closes at the end of April.