Lions present Dr McCleary with Melvin Jones Fellowship
DR Barry McCleary, founder and CEO of Bray technology company Megazyme was honoured by Bray Lions Club at its annual dinner on Saturday,November 10, when he was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship for Distinguished Humanitarian Service.
He was presented with the award by Frank O’Donoghue, District Governor of Lions Clubs Ireland and Karl O’Broin, president of Bray Lions Club.
Named after the founder of Lionism, the Melvin Jones Fellowship is the highest accolade awarded by the Lions Clubs International Foundation and recognizes ‘Dedicated Humanitarian Services’.
Born in Australia, Barry received his PhD and Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Sydney, at which he is an Adjunct Professor.
He founded Megazyme in 1988 in a garage off the side of his home in suburban Sydney.
With his family, he relocated to Bray, Ireland in 1996.
Megazyme is very much a local employer, based in the IDA Business Park on the Southern Cross Road in Bray. It employs 53 staff, 30 of whom are scientists, and most are local residents. The company develops test kits to measure the quality of food, wine, beer and dairy products and 99% of its sales are exported to 90 countries worldwide.
10 years ago Barry, his wife Eibhlin and Megazyme staff decided that Megazyme would become a socially aware company and instigate a justice program where it would support worthwhile projects, both financially and with personal time input. The company initially committed 1 per cent of its turnover to supporting projects both in Ireland and worldwide. Over the past few years, this has grown to 3 per cent of turnover.
Megazyme has been a generous supporter of Bray Lions Club and it also supports small and large projects including Wicklow Hospice and Lakers. Last year Professor McCleary and Megazyme have been honored with many local and international awards. Most recently Barry represented Ireland at the European Business Awards. In 2013, Megazyme was named Irish Small Business of the Year and in 2014, Prof McCleary won the University of Sydney Alumni Award for International Achievement for his contributions to food safety globally. In addition he has received awards and medals from top scientific associations in USA, Europe and Australia for contributions to analytical methodology.
The company’s major financial support went to the O’Cualann Affordable Housing Project run by Hugh Brennan, a project in which Barry’s wife Eibhlin has invested much time and commitment.
Megazyme also supports missionary priests and sisters working in some of the most deprived areas of Africa.
Professor McCleary and Megazyme have been honoured with many local and international awards. Most re- cently Barry represented Ireland at the European Business Awards. In 2013, Megazyme was named Irish Small Business of the Year and in 2014, Prof McCleary won the University of Sydney Alumni Award for International Achievement for his contributions to food safety globally. In addition he has received awards and medals from top Scientific Associations in USA, Europe and Australia for contributions to analytical methodology.