List of Food & Beverage Sector Mentors

Aisling Hurley has over 10 years experience of creative leadership, with a comprehensive understanding of global market dynamics (co-founder teamwoodcraft.com). Has led creative projects and teams for international brands such as Laurence Lewellyn Bowen, British Airways, HSS, Menarini, Covalen. Pioneer in fusing AI with creative processes, enhancing innovation and efficiency. She has designed digital marketing campaigns that resonate across diverse cultures and is experienced in fostering cohesive team development through the strategic use of technology and creative methodologies.  In her role as a design strategist, Aisling has developed numerous industry-focused initiatives that drive growth and innovation across a broad spectrum of companies, from start-ups to multinationals. Her expertise includes shaping strategic direction for the implementation of business, product, and service innovations for industry partners. She lectures in various universities including SETUs MBA where she leads programmes that apply strategic design methodologies and her designer’s framework to stimulate innovation and creative problem-solving. She is also the host of The SME Community Podcast.  Key Skills - Digital Marketing Science, National & International Markets, Innovation & Creativity, Business Strategy, Emerging Tech Trends including  AI, AR, XR, Corporate Governance.

Caroline Nesbitt is an exceptional brand consultant and project manager who brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the areas of branding business, social media and digital marketing, and in the food & beverage and craft & creative sectors. Caroline established her creative agency ‘Designedly’ in 2017, which is now regarded as one of the leading brand agencies in the country.  Throughout her career, Caroline gained extensive experience working on brand projects across various industries. She collaborated with clients ranging from small businesses to large corporations, creating visually captivating campaigns, literature, packaging, point of sale and digital solutions across web and social media.  With an in-depth understanding of design principles and her ability to think strategically, Caroline consistently delivers design that conveys the desired message to target audiences. Caroline is a Brand Mentor with Local Enterprise Offices is Counties Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Wexford and Kilkenny, mentoring SME’s across varied sectors in brand acceleration, digital marketing and online presence.

Derek Hannick has over 70 Green for Business assignments delivered across a variety of business sectors for Local Enterprise Offices throughout Ireland.  He is SEAI Partnership Support Manager for Public Bodies to assist their energy management and decarbonisation goals.  He is also cost and sustainability project manager in private industry since 2006 prior to setting up Lean Green Services in 2015.

Gráinne Walsh is the founder of Whitefield Bay Consulting, a boutique consultancy practice that provides mentoring and coaching services to SMEs across Ireland and beyond. With over 20 years of experience, Gráinne brings a unique blend of expertise to the table, having held technical leadership roles at multinational companies like Amazon, and also having founded her own microbrewery business in 2011. Since exiting that business in 2022, she has worked extensively with early-stage and scale-up companies in the start-up ecosystem. She brings her hands-on understanding of what it takes to build a business from the ground up to help her clients focus on the right priorities in order to get things done and achieve their goals. As well as a postgraduate diploma in enterprise development, Gráinne also holds bachelor's and master's degrees in the sciences, giving her a broad and robust technical grounding which allows her to tackle a wide variety of challenges. She's a born problem-solver, and is motivated by helping others to succeed.

James Burke started his Food and Retail career working part-time in Supervalu Bantry. He subsequently studied Retail Management in DIT and joined Superquinn in 1984. He holds a degree in retailing and wholesaling from Stirling University in Scotland.  In his current role as Business Consultant, James provides strategic advice and business planning for some of Irelands best known companies within the food and retail sectors.  James Burke has worked in the food sector for over 40 years and his specific areas of focus are topics like food startups, route to market planning, product costings, food and drink marketing etc.  His core expertise lies around helping food and drink producers to grow their business.  He is also expert in cross sector retail from fashion to food, and the foodservice sector e.g. café, restaurants etc.

Dr. John Collier and Foodovate Consulting is a Food-Innovation consultancy helping companies design and develop new products for the retail/food service markets. This is built on over 20-years’ experience in industry. We work in Innovation and Innovation Capability, Market Intelligence, Strategy & Business Models, Export Plans & Models, Nutrition & Health Claims, New Product Development, Digital Marketing for Food and Training. We are experts in Design Thinking and innovation models to help you bring your ideas to life. We also work with companies to secure funding for start up formation, feasibility, and growth. John has owned and managed several food companies over the past 20 years and has worked in every aspect of the industry. He has direct experience with beverages, prepared meals, horticultural products, pharmaceuticals, meat products, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, savoury, and sweet snacks.

Kate Hickey is a Business Consultant and Executive Director of the Ireland Canada Business Association and Director of the Valentia Cable Foundation. As a Consultant to Department of Trade Newfoundland for ten years Kate provided strategic trade consultancy services to over 95 Canadian SME’s.  Previously Marketing Manager with Laura Ashley, Kate has proven skills in retail marketing, branding, PR strategies and buyer engagement. As Experienced Marketing Director and Consultant for Enterprise Ireland Kate works with CEO’s of early stage companies focusing on Strategy and Export Market Development. Equipped with an MBA from Smurfit School of Business Kate works with clients in implementing market entry and sales strategies and is a mentor and trainer with DCCI.

Kilian Duignan has over twenty-five years P&L experience with companies with a turnover of up to €15 mil. During that period, he encountered many business challenges, which had to be managed proactively, in various areas such as cash-flow and financial management, business development, strategic planning, staff appraisal, stock management, margin generation and protection together with the challenges of changing economic circumstances within businesses. Kilian has excellent communications skills, and it is the marriage of this commercial and financial experience, natural empathy and understanding of the LEADER and LEO grant aid system that makes him a very competent mentor and trainer for SME’s and start-ups. He has a Certified Diploma in Accountancy and Finance awarded by the ACCA in 2001, a Professional Certificate in Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland and a Mechanical Engineering qualification from Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, and FETAC level 6 Train the Trainer. In recent years, Kilian manages the EI Mentor Network in a co-ordination role providing guidance and resources to businesses throughout Ireland and he is an approved Mentor with Wexford, Waterford, Kildare, Carlow, Laois and Offaly Leo’s.

Mags Boland-Murphy.  In 2011, after over 20 years working in executive and management roles in the commercial arena, Mags established Bofin Consultancy to help businesses and professionals with development, operational challenges, marketing, operations, specific business challenges, scalability, profit planning and strategy. A business mentor with Enterprise Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Intertrade Ireland, the LEO network nationwide, an approved mentor for Fáilte Ireland and is accredited with the International Authority of Business mentors. All Star awarded, accredited and experienced tourism & hospitality consultant, national event manager, business sales, marketing & media professional; working with clients nationwide in Ireland, UK and Sweden in the following sectors: Tourism & hospitality, food, retail, construction, media, sports, manufacturing, professional services, SMEs, start-ups, public sector and business support organisations. The business provides professional business growth, advisory and consultancy services including; training, scaling for balance, leadership, business development, business mentoring, sales, marketing, tourism consultancy and tailored solutions

Oonagh Monahan has over 25 years’ experience working with for food multinationals in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and across Europe. She works with clients at every stage of development, from start-up (over 300 to date) to, growth and export. Clients include artisan producers, small and medium sized producers, large multinationals and University researchers. She previously worked for the Kerry Group (Grove Turkeys) and Premier Foods UK (Manor Bakeries). She also works at the interface of the food industry and Academia, at the forefront of innovation, technology transfer and collaboration.   In 2019 Oonagh was awarded the IQFA Food Hero award and in 2020 the COVID Frontline Hero – Community Champion award. She was shortlisted for the producers Champion award from Blas na hEireann in 2022.  Her book “More Money for Jam – the Essential Guide to Starting Your Own Food Business” 3^rd Edition is published by Oak Tree Press and is widely available.  Oonagh is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science & Technology (UK), a Chartered Scientist and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science & Technology of Ireland.

Patrick Moran - Genos Carbon is a multidisciplinary consultancy practice which specialises in Environmental and Sustainable advisory. We offer a full suite of services including:

• Carbon Accounting (ISO14064)
• ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliance and strategy
• CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) compliance, strategy, reporting (preparation and audit). Including advisory to SMEs under the Voluntary SME (VSME) framework.
• B-Corp reporting and preparation.
• GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) reporting and preparation
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) reporting and preparation
• Biodiversity advisory
• Sustainable Finance advisory
• Renewable Energy surveys and installations
• SEAI Energy Audits
• Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) advisory and reporting
• Green Procurement and Green Supply Chain Management
• Energy Efficiency advisory and implementation
• Sustainable Logistics
• Green Transition and Sustainable Strategy advisory
• Energy Management

Our Team is ready to assist you on your journey to NET ZERO and becoming a more sustainable and profitable business.

Seamus Murphy.  Seamus is a very experienced management professional, with over 30 years of experience at senior management level. Strong experience in the construction services industry sector over the last 20 years. In his previous role, he was Commercial Director of a mechanical services company and later becoming the MD of a UK mechanical services business, which he helped develop into a turnover of £5 million. Strong understanding and experience in food manufacturing and engineering businesses. Good communicator with a thorough knowledge of P & L accounts, cash-flow management, budget control, job costing, human resources, and general management. In the last 2 years, Seamus has assisted and guided businesses to positively achieve grant aid support from various agencies. Seamus has a post-graduate Diploma in International Selling is an approved mentor with Wexford, Offaly, Waterford, Kildare, Laois and Carlow LEOs. Seamus has, more recently, been approved as a Business Growth Adviser with Enterprise Ireland and he is also on the ‘Brexit Advisory’ panel with InterTrade Ireland. Seamus has a strong knowledge of International sales and new market development, having spent in excess of 18 months on the ground in the UK, as well as time in Poland.