A truly unique programme which offers you the opportunity to grow as a business professional

Martin Hofler, Origin Green Ambassador, shares his experience of this exclusive Masters programme.

Martin Hofler from Moycullen, Co. Galway is one of ten Origin Green Ambassadors selected by Bord Bia to undertake its scholarship MSc in Business Sustainability which involves three six-month international placements at the headquarters of world’s leading organisations and global brand owner companies. He is currently based in the UK on placement with the Dairy Sustainability Framework. Prior to this, Martin also completed placements in Ornua in Germany and PepsiCo Global Sustainability Agriculture Team in the UK and USA.

The Origin Green Ambassador programme, run in conjunction with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, allows participants to meet and network with a wide range of industry leaders, sustainability experts and governmental agencies to foster real links in the food industry while honing essential business sustainability skills.

Martin has a BSc. from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a MSc. from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to becoming an Origin Green Ambassador, he worked for Jacobs Engineering within the Sustainable Solutions Business Unit. There he worked on numerous teams responsible for the management of strategic sustainability and environmental projects across multiple business sectors.

Speaking about why he applied for the programme he said, “The opportunity to be taught leading business practices by global business professionals and educators from Harvard, MIT and UCD Smurfit business schools was really attractive to me. But most importantly, the programme offered me the opportunity to work with international food and drink companies across multiple international markets. The global food and drink industry is trusted to produce high quality products from a secure supply chain. Yet, in a world of ever-increasing resource constraints, customers, investors and producers are conscious that new sustainable business solutions are needed to sustain current output and grow into new global markets.”

Bord Bia and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have commenced recruitment for ten individuals to take part in the next Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador programme (MSc in Business Sustainability) which commences in September 2017. The 23-month programme allows participants to gain in-depth knowledge of the emerging issues in business sustainability and the key skills necessary to integrate them so that a genuine, realistic and practical sustainability agenda can be created within the organisation.

Martin believes that anyone interested in gaining a world-class education, whilst working in some of the largest food and beverage companies, should consider applying for this programme. “This is a truly unique programme which offers you the opportunity to grow as a business professional. As Origin Green Ambassadors, we are tasked with learning from major international food and beverage companies about their sustainability focused business practices, while promoting the Irish food and drink industry overseas”, he added.

Irish produce should be promoted, not just because it is Irish but, because it is better

Martina Henry, Origin Green Ambassador, shares her experience of this exclusive Masters programme

Martina Henry from Strandhill in Sligo is one of ten Origin Green Ambassadors selected by Bord Bia to undertake its scholarship MSc in Business Sustainability which involves three six-month international placements at the headquarters of world’s leading organisations and global brand owner companies. As part of the programme Martina has so far completed placements with Sodexo Quality of Life Services in the UK and the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative (SAI) Platform, a global value chain initiative for sustainable agriculture.

The Origin Green Ambassador programme, run in conjunction with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, allows participants to meet and network with a wide range of industry leaders, sustainability experts and governmental agencies to foster real links in the food industry while honing their professional and business sustainability skills.

Speaking about what prompted Martina to apply for the programme, she said: “I had been working in the food industry for a number of years and had developed a strong interest in environmental and business sustainability and the sustainability of local communities having managed a business in a small town in the North West of Ireland. I strongly believe that Irish produce should be promoted, not just because it is Irish but, because it is better. Origin Green offers a platform to do that and it is really exciting to be part of it.”

Bord Bia and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have commenced recruitment for ten individuals to take part in the next Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador programme (MSc in Business Sustainability) which commences in September 2017. The 23-month programme allows participants to gain in-depth knowledge of the emerging issues in business sustainability and the key skills necessary to integrate them so that a genuine, realistic and practical sustainability agenda can be created within the organisation.

“I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to learn from leading sustainability and marketing professors and thought leaders, and to attend events and network with other sustainability professionals. Sustainability means different things to different people and it is therefore important to frame sustainability appropriately to appeal to the audience in order to achieve greatest potential for change,” Martina said.

Martina believes that the Origin Green Ambassador programme is best suited to those who are adaptable to change and have a willingness to learn, whilst being confident in their own abilities. “I would encourage anyone with a passion for the natural environment, social change and for promoting a better way of doing business to consider applying for the programme. If you like embracing change on a personal level, whilst challenging yourself and advancing your career, then this is for you,” she said.

One of the highlights of my career so far

Ryan George, Origin Green Ambassador, currently based in the USA shares his experience of this unique Masters programme

Ryan George from Downpatrick, Co. Down, is currently based in Washington DC on placement with the World Wildlife Fund. He is one of ten Origin Green Ambassadors selected by Bord Bia to undertake its scholarship MSc in Business Sustainability which involves three six-month international placements at the headquarters of world’s leading organisations and global brand owner companies. Prior to this, Ryan completed a year long placement with The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta.

The Origin Green Ambassador programme, run in conjunction with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, allows participants to meet and network with a wide range of industry leaders, sustainability experts and governmental agencies to foster real links in the food industry while honing their professional and business sustainability skills.

Ryan graduated with a degree in Business Management from Queens University, Belfast and a Postgraduate in Sustainable Energy from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to applying to become an Origin Green Ambassador, he had worked in a number of sustainability project managerial roles within the energy industry, including three years with the Energy Saving Trust in the UK and three years with SSE Airtricity energy supply in Dublin.

Speaking about why he applied for the programme he said, “I was deeply interested in the business case for sustainability and was excited by the possibility of the opportunity to support the work of leading global food companies as they address the sustainability challenges that face them. Also, the programme offered me an opportunity to meet and network with leading global thought leaders within the sustainability field”.

Bord Bia and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have commenced recruitment for ten individuals to take part in the next Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador programme (MSc in Business Sustainability) which commences in September 2017. The 23-month programme allows participants to gain in-depth knowledge of the emerging issues in business sustainability and the key skills necessary to integrate them so that a genuine, realistic and practical sustainability agenda can be created within the organisation.

Ryan believes that anyone with a genuine interest in sustainability and its importance in the global food industry, and an inherent desire to make a difference should consider applying. “The Origin Green Ambassador programme has been one of the highlights of my career to date. It has given me the opportunity to work for some of the leading brands in the food and beverage industry coupled with the fantastic faculty delivering the academic content, making it a hugely enjoyable, challenging but most of all rewarding experience”, he said.