Wexford’s newest Green ambassadors
TWO Wexford professionals have been selected as new Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassadors to promote the Irish agri-food industry’s sustainability efforts.
James Atkinson, from Wexford town, and Elaine O’Connor, from Piercestown, both graduates from UCD, will study for an MSc in Business Sustainability with the UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School while working abroad on behalf of Bord Bia and the Irish food industry.
Chosen from over 200 applications, these ambassadors, part of a larger group, all of whom have a minimum of five years’ professional experience, will continue the important role of building awareness of Ireland’s food and drink industry’s sustainability credentials, both at home and abroad as part of Bord Bia’s Origin Green initiative.
Origin Green is the world’s first sustainability programme for a country’s entire food and drink sector. Origin Green enables Ireland’s food industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets, establishing a baseline for continuous improvement.
The Ambassador programme is unique in that it brings education, leading global food and drink brands and entrepreneurial sustainability professionals together to collaborate and learn.
Following an intensive induction in UCD, James and Elaine will each be assigned to an international company placement in an overseas market to promote Origin Green while also gathering invaluable insights into trade strategies which will be fed back into industry at home here in Ireland.
In the past, Origin Green Ambassadors have worked in some of the world’s most influential brands across Europe, North America, and Asia, including Alibaba, Coca-Cola, Cargill, Five Guys, Mars, McDonalds, Sainsbury’s, Sodexo, Tesco and WWF.
James Atkinson, who has previously worked for Irish Distillers, said:
‘I’m proud to be a Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador. Ireland is a world leader in food and drink production and now we are leading the way for sustainable business solutions.’
Elaine O’Connor said she was looking forward to learning from global food companies and working with thought leaders within the industry as they face increasing sustainability challenges, while also promoting our Irish food and drink industry overseas.