After graduating as a veterinary surgeon from UCD in 2007, Gillian worked in practice for a number of years before changing to dairy farming with her husband Neil. Sustainable, high welfare dairying has always been the focus and they have been milking once a day for the past 15 years. Education is an ongoing pursuit and after completing the Graduate Certificate Programme in Dairy Herd Health through UCD School of Veterinary Medicine she just completed a certificate in soil health and water management through SETU. As well as working with various stakeholder groups Gillian has chaired the Vistamilk, Industry Advisory Committee since 2018. Since receiving the Irish Independent Farmer of the Year Award she is a regular contributor to both the Farming Independent and Farmers Weekly publications. She is also a proud mum of 4.