Ireland Conference & Evening Cocktails: Fuelled by Ambition

Natasha Adams

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Tesco

Natasha is responsible for the Group’s strategy and innovation, ensuring that we continue to scale and accelerate our long-term strategic plans and innovation pipeline.

Natasha joined Tesco in 1998 as a Personnel Manager, then served in a range of store-focused roles.  She took on the role of Chief People Officer in 2018. Prior to being appointed to her current role, she was CEO, Ireland and Northern Ireland from 2022.

Kevin Cahill

Managing Director, ABP Ireland

Kevin Cahill joined ABP Ireland as Managing Director in 2021. He has over 25 years of experience in the meat and meat processing sector. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director Europe at OSI. Kevin is a graduate of UCC.

Emer Fardy

Group Sustainability & Human Rights Director, Hilton Foods

Emer Fardy is the Group Sustainability & Human Rights Director at Hilton Foods, where she leads a team of specialists developing and delivering the company’s Sustainable Protein Plan across their global operations. This comprehensive strategy focuses on people, planet, and product, aligning with Hilton Foods’ role as a leading specialist food packing business serving major international retailers and food service companies globally. Emer is actively involved in industry governance and advocacy. She serves on the board of the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS) and the governance board of the UK Soy Manifesto. She also previously represented retail interests on the Red Tractor Pigs Board and its Technical Advisory Committee for four years.

Orla McAleer

Chief Culture Officer, Alltech

Orla McAleer is the chief culture officer at Alltech. In this role, she works to strengthen the company’s emphasis on its people and purpose. She has worked in the business for over 20 years, traveling extensively, building teams and close relationships with colleagues globally. She leads the company focus on culture, including the alignment of its purpose, mission, vision and values.

McAleer has been central to the tremendous growth in the organization and has helped build a winning marketing team and brand that has matched the growth ambitions of the company.Prior to this role, she was the chief marketing officer at Alltech, responsible for overseeing the company’s global marketing efforts across its more than 120 markets. She has a track record in strategic global marketing leadership, B2B brand building and communications.

McAleer held several marketing and communications roles before joining Alltech at its European headquarters in Ireland in 2003 as European public relations manager. She was promoted to communications manager for Europe and Asia in 2004. In 2008, she relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, for her role as Asia-Pacific marketing manager, building the team and brand in 17 countries.She returned to Ireland to head up the European marketing function in 2010. She was also heavily involved in the corporate brand and $30 million activation of the sponsorship of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2010 and 2014.

In 2016, she became responsible for Alltech marketing globally and took on the role of chief marketing officer officially in 2017. She has steered the marketing function through integration of over 20 acquired companies, a transition to greatly enhanced digital marketing and activating the Alltech purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.

McAleer received her master's degree in business, leadership and management practice from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, a bachelor’s degree in business studies from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and holds a diploma in public relations.

Jim O'Toole

CEO, Bord Bia

Jim O’Toole was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Bord Bia in November 2022. Previously, Jim held the role of Chief Executive Officer, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency from April 2017 to October 2022. Prior to this, Jim held several senior positions in Bord Bia, including spearheading the development of Origin Green, the worlds’ only national food and drink sustainability programme. O’Toole also gained extensive experience in the global marketplace having spent 15 years managing Bord Bia offices in London, Milan and Paris. A Board Member of the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB ), Jim holds a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin. He has completed professional development programmes at Ashridge Business School, Cranfield University, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and Harvard Business School.