Resilient Industry: Adapting to Change

The charity event in Co. Laois, co-hosted by ASA President Niamh Bambrick and Macra President Elaine Houlihan, centered around the theme of "Resilient Industry: Adapting to Change."

Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, the event's key note speaker emphasized the importance of supporting women in agriculture, stating, "Supporting women in agriculture has been and will continue to be a primary focus for me, my department, and the government."

Reflecting on International Women's Day on March 8th, Minister McConalogue acknowledged progress in achieving gender balance but stressed that change is not occurring swiftly enough.

The lunch held in support of Breast Cancer Ireland featured two panel discussions: one on resilient women in our industry, and the other on the agri-industry's ability to adapt to change. The event garnered significant attendance from individuals representing various sectors within the agrifood industry.

The first panel, titled "Resilient Women," comprised Katie Gleeson, Aileen Barron, Avril Tierney, and Orla Treacy. Sarah McIntosh from the Farmers Journal chaired this panel. Following dessert, the second panel, chaired by Karina Pierce, delved into discussions about the agri-industry and its ability to adapt to change. The panelists included Ailliah Byrne, Jack O'Connor, and Tom Griffin.