Irish Country Living have their eye on the industry and in the last edition of every month, we’ll be reporting on the key appointments of the month, the agri-industry professionals who are shaking things up in the industry and making their moves.

William Birchill appointed FBD Lecturer in Sustainable Agriculture at University College Cork (UCC)

The first co-hort of agriculture science students graduated from UCC this month, Dr. Burchill is leading the delivery of Soil Science within this course. William completed a three-year BSc in Agriculture from Cork Institute of Technology (now Munster Technological University) and Clonakilty Agricultural College. He continued his education by commencing a four-year PhD. at Teagasc Moorpark and Trinity College Dublin.

Speaking on his new appointment, William says, “The reputation of Agricultural Science at UCC has gained enormous momentum since its recent establishment. I’m delighted to join the team and I look forward to contributing to the further development of the Agricultural Science programmes of Education and Research in UCC”.

Jack O’Connor appointed as Ruminant Business Unit Director at MSD Animal Health Ireland

Jack O’Connor has recently been appointed as the new Ruminant Business Director at MSD Animal Health Ireland. The Wexford native holds a Bachelor of Agriculture Science, Major in Food and Agribusiness Management which he obtained from University College Dublin in 2017.

Speaking on his appointment Jack says, “I am delighted to take on this position. I am confident with the team of people within the ruminant business that we will be able to grow the business over the next number of years.

“I want to bring energy, a bit of excitement and leadership to the position so that the business sustainably grows over the next number of years”.

Gary Ryan appointed as Director of AgTech UCD

The appointment of Gary Ryan as the Director of AgTechUCD has recently been announced. AgTechUCD is part of NovaUCD and builds upon NovaUCD’s 20-year track record of supporting high-tech start-ups with global potential.

Having worked as a management consultant since 2021, Gary has engaged with several businesses, primarily in the agri space, to drive enhancements in operational performance and efficiency. Before this, he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).

Speaking about his appointment Gary says, “I am now working in a space dominated by technologies and systems that would simply have been unimaginable in my college years and I am excited about the contribution that AgTechUCD can make in this sector.”

Deirdre O’Shea appointed as Food, Agribusiness & Beverage (FAB) Practice Leader for Aon in EMEA

Deirdre was recently appointed as the Food, Agribusiness & Beverage (FAB) Practice Leader for Aon in EMEA.

In this role, she will work closely with colleagues and clients across the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) region, with a focus on providing relevant industry knowledge and expertise to ensure Aon is best placed to advise FAB clients on all areas of risk management.

Speaking about her appointment Deirdre says:

“I am really excited about this new opportunity to work with Food and Agri clients across the wider EMEA region and continue to deliver relevant industry knowledge that can help companies make better decisions on managing risks across their business”.

Deirdre also represents Aon on the Agri-Food Diversity and Inclusion Forum in Ireland.

She is a member of the AgTech Ireland Board, and the VistaMilk Governance Board.