SUSTAINABILITY IS ONE of the greatest challenges facing us today. Massive efforts are being made across the globe to combat climate change and other threats to our planet, but more help is needed to develop a more sustainable future, in Ireland and abroad.
If you have a passion for sustainability and want to make meaningful change in the world, Bord Bia, the face of Ireland’s exports across the globe, is on the lookout for difference makers.
Through its acclaimed Talent Academy, Bord Bia is looking for top talent for its 2023 Origin Green Ambassador Programme. Origin Green is the national sustainability programme for Ireland’s food and drink sector. It aims to enable Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets, establishing a baseline for continuous improvement.
Successful applicants to the programme, which is celebrating its tenth year, will undertake exciting international placements across Bord Bia’s export markets. On these placements, the ambassadors learn how to build awareness of Irish sustainability initiatives in the market specifically with B2B customers, government and non-government agencies while completing an internationally-recognised Master’s degree. The successful applicants will promote Ireland’s globally celebrated food and drink sector – which has an export value of €16.7 billion in 2022 – on behalf of Bord Bia, as well as incorporating sustainable methods of doing business with countries across the globe.
Previous Origin Green Ambassadors have partnered with global brands in Europe, North America, and Asia including Abbott Nutrition, Coca-Cola, Subway, Fair Oaks Farms, WWF, McDonalds, Nestlé, Pepsico, Starbucks, Unilever, the World Bank, and Mars.
The programme commences in September, and the fully-funded Masters’s programme will also include bursaries and guaranteed work placements.
The Origin Green Ambassador programme sees the Bord Bia Talent Academy partner with one of Ireland’s leading business schools, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Johnathan Reddin, a current Origin Green Ambassador, who hails from Mountmellick, Co. Laois, completed an undergraduate degree in Agri-Environmental Science from UCD before joining the programme.
“As someone with a passion for sustainable food systems, I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of a programme that empowers individuals to make a real, positive impact on the environment,” he said.
Having developed an understanding of sustainable agriculture during his time in college, he joined the programme to further his interest in the field. Since joining, Johnathan has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Almarai Company in Saudi Arabia, Loblaw Companies Limited in Canada, and Majid Al Futtaim Retail (Carrefour) in Dubai.
“During my work placements, I encountered countless opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference. In Saudi Arabia, I had the chance to attend an Irish ministerial-led trade mission, visit some of the world’s largest dairy farms, and see firsthand how sustainable practices can positively impact the environment. In Canada, I worked with the country’s largest retailer and introduced Loblaw buyers to one of Ireland’s leading dairy brands. And in Dubai, I attended the world’s largest food conference, ‘Gulfood’, where I was inspired by the innovative ways that companies are tackling sustainability challenges.”
As well as continuing his interest in sustainable agriculture, the programme has developed Johnathan’s professional skillset, with project management and relationship building two areas in which he has, through practical experience gained through work placements, excelled.
“Perhaps most importantly, I’ve gained a new appreciation for other cultures across the world and different work contexts. The programme has given me the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life, and it has been truly eye-opening.”
In Johnathan’s words, successful applicants will gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to become a leader in the field of sustainable agriculture.
“You’ll have the chance to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. But more than that, you’ll be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are all working towards a common goal: creating a sustainable future for generations to come. It’s not every day you get to travel the world, continue to grow your career, and leave with a world-class masters at the end of it.”
Who should apply?
Applicants from all professional backgrounds are welcome to apply, with four years of professional experience and strong communications skills a requirement for all potential candidates. Applicants should be passionate about sustainability and the Irish food and drink industry/agri-food sector. Professionals with a second language of French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, or Japanese are highly encouraged to apply.
The Origin Green Ambassador programme is a partnership between Bord Bia and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Closing date for applications is May 10th, 2023 and the programme commences in September 2023.
To apply or to learn more information about the Origin Green Ambassador programme, you can visit here.
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