Galwegians on Masters programme fly the flag for food and drink industry

Two Galwegians will gain a unique insight into the world of global business and sustainable food production, as two of ten Origin Green Ambassadors chosen by Bord Bia to undertake its scholarship MSc in Business Sustainability.

Martin Hofler from Moycullen and Áine O’Neill from Tuam are participating in the programme that involves three six-month international placements at the headquarters of world’s leading organisations and global brand owner companies.

Martin is currently based in the UK on placement with the Dairy Sustainability Framework. Prior to this, he also completed placements in Ornua in Germany and PepsiCo Global Sustainability Agriculture Team in the UK and USA.

And Áine has completed placements in Cargill in Amsterdam and Barry Callebaut in Zurich.

The Origin Green Ambassador programme is run in conjunction with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School,

And it allows participants to meet and network with a wide range of industry leaders, sustainability experts and governmental agencies to foster real links in the food industry while honing essential business sustainability skills.

Martin has a BSc. from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a MSc. from Trinity College Dublin.

Prior to becoming an Origin Green Ambassador, he worked for Jacobs Engineering within the Sustainable Solutions Business Unit. There he worked on numerous teams responsible for the management of strategic sustainability and environmental projects across multiple business sectors.

“The opportunity to be taught leading business practices by global business professionals and educators from Harvard, MIT and UCD Smurfit business schools was really attractive to me,” he said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.