Meet the new president of the Agricultural Science Association, Mary Delaney

I haven’t a perfect answer for you,” admits Mary Delaney, as Irish Country Living wonders just how she does it all.

Head of Equine at GAIN Horse Feeds, the former Nuffield scholar recently became President of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA): just the third woman to do so in the organisation’s 75-year history.

Not to mention the fact that she stepped up to the role just four months after the arrival of her third son, James, who is sleeping upstairs at the family dairy farm in Galmoy, Co Kilkenny, when we meet shortly before her return to work following maternity leave.

“What I do is demanding- but it’s not always demanding – and family comes first, that’s the end of it,” she elaborates. “But it doesn’t have to hinder you doing other things; and I don’t believe it does.”

And that includes presiding over a full year of ASA activities, from technical beef and grass workshops to a field trip to the Netherlands, working with top trainers like Jim Bolger or overseeing GAIN’s expansion overseas – which to date has even included developing a camel feed for customers in the Middle East.

Which is a long way from Co Monaghan, where Mary’s parents Gerry and Kathleen Cumiskey, ran a Volkswagen dealership.

Perhaps surprisingly, Mary did not grow up on a farm or study agricultural science at secondary school. But having spent all her spare time between her uncle John’s dairy farm and the local riding centre, was firm when it came to filling in her first choice on the CAO form: “I knew I had a passion for agriculture from that age,” she recalls, “and it’s why I chose agricultural science in UCD.”

Mary thrived in UCD – not just academically, but socially – getting involved with the Ag Soc committee and in producing Ceres magazine, as well as meeting future husband, Kilkenny-born David, who she married in 2008.

With no clear career path mapped out after college, she worked first in sales with Windsor Motors in Dublin, before returning to the family business.

Gain-ful employment

This experience obviously stood her in good stead, as in 2005, she successfully applied for the job of sales manager for GAIN Horse Feeds, graduating to head of equine in 2013.

Part of Glanbia Agribusiness, GAIN Horse Feeds is a market leader in Ireland, while also exporting its range of premium horse feeds to the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

“We’re in several countries in Europe, we’re in Libya, Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as Hong Kong and Macau,” says Mary of the extent of the company’s reach abroad, built on the cornerstones of quality, nutrition and performance.

riding high

Partners include Horse Sport Ireland and high-profile customers like racehorse trainers Aidan O’Brien and Jim Bolger, show jumpers Cian O’Connor, Greg Broderick and Nick Skelton, and event riders such as Aoife Clarke, Joseph Murphy and Oliver Townend, with Mary quipping that the team at GAIN take their successes “nearly personally”.

“We all get very excited on their behalf,” she says, referencing Skelton’s recent gold medal in Rio for Great Britain as a case in point.

That said, there are constant challenges, especially when it comes to exports.

“Brexit is a big challenge, because we have experienced huge growth in the UK. But the exchange rate alone is making it very difficult for us in the UK and we don’t know what’s coming at us down the road in terms of tariffs, and so on. We don’t know how that is going to play out, so the uncertainty can be a challenge,” she explains, adding that everything from fluctuating exchange rates to political instability can create speed bumps.

“Like in Libya, we have a very good business established, but then the political unrest can upset things overnight. They’re all things outside your control.”

representing ag

Which is one of the reasons why Mary is such a passionate advocate of the ASA, which has 1,700 members representing every facet of the agri-food industry.

She believes the organisation is “uniquely placed” to provide a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, discussion and debate for common concerns, like the impact of Brexit, while also supporting the professional development of members through mentoring services, information forums, seminars and tours.

Mary is particularly passionate about encouraging new members and supporting undergraduates to take part in ASA activities, such as mock interviews, to develop their confidence.

“The mock interviews are really worth doing,” says Mary, who explains that she looks for initiative and common sense when meeting undergrads.

“Some students have been offered jobs on the strength of their mock interview. I’ve been really impressed by the quality and talent among the undergraduates in the last number of years. This talent stream is very positive for the sector,” she says.

on the farm

And Mary has hardly rested on her laurels when it comes to furthering her own development.

With David expanding post-quota to milk 200 cows, Mary applied for the 2014 Nuffield Scholarship to study the climate change challenge for the Irish dairy industry, travelling as far as Australia and New Zealand for her research.

In the midst of all this, she has also been a busy mother to Gerard (5), Daniel (3) and James (5 months). She feels lucky that David is farming at home, so that he is nearby when she has to travel for work, and also credits her in-laws for their support, as well as good childcare.

“We just make it work,” she says modestly – though admits that the one thing she needs to make time for is a hobby.

As a woman in agri business, she does not have to look too far for inspiration, citing Glanbia Group MD Siobhan Talbot as a leader she looks up to. But what advice would she give a new entrant to the agri world?

“Don’t be afraid to look for help. I really believe in that,” she says, explaining that she has never been afraid to pick up the phone for advice.

“We all learn from each other,” she adds, “and that’s how you drive forward and work together.”

And with Mary Delaney at the wheel at ASA for 2016, just watch it go. CL

For further information about ASA, visit www.asaireland.ie