Bord Bia Learning Theatre Stage at GLAS 2019

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Brian Walsh, Packaging Technologist, REPAK

Packaging & Plastics – Recyclable, Recycled, Compostable, Which is the Best Option? That is the Question…


All that and more about packaging optimisation and waste prevention initiatives will be covered in this session.

Brian Walsh, Packaging Technologist with REPAK, has in excess of sixteen years’ experience in quality and packaging development roles in Britvic Ireland, Punch Industries and Westrock Healthcare Packaging Ltd.

Brian is responsible for the management and implementation of the Packaging Waste Prevention programme. He advises manufacturers and retailers on Packaging Optimisation and Packaging Waste Prevention initiatives, both in-house and on-site.


Dr. Christina O’Connor (LLB, MSc., Ph.D.)

Big Data, What is it? And How Can You Use Data to Improve Your Business Prospects 

Dr. Christina O’Connor is a Lecturer in Marketing and Director of the BBS Entrepreneurship programme at the School of Business at Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland. Christina’s core research area is focused on marketing intelligence data (Big Data) within a small business context. Learn how to utilise the data available, and what it can mean to your business.

Christina has over 10 years of extensive experience analysing data sets and working with small agri-food businesses, governmental and industry bodies in the interpretation and analysis of data both in Ireland and the UK through dunnhumby. Her research has been published in the Harvard Business Review blogs, as well as journals such as the International Small Business Journal, Journal of Knowledge Management and Marketing Intelligence and Planning.


Tim Healy, Mercator Marketing Research

Valuing the Commercial Market for Amenity Horticulture and the Opportunities to be Explored 

Tim Healy has just completed phase one of a study on the value of the commercial amenity market and buyer’s behaviour on behalf of Bord Bia, and will deliver an overview of the findings in a fascinating session.Tim has worked in marketing research for over 30 years and is a graduate member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. He formed Mercator Marketing Research in 1996 and since then has worked with a wide range of national and multi-national clients including many for Bord Bia. His particular interest is in using qualitative techniques to determine and explore customer behaviour in every area from fast-moving consumer goods to specialised business services.


Grace Binchy, Consumer Insight Specialist, Bord Bia

Bord Bia’s Value of the Garden Market 2018 Report 

Bord Bia has engaged Ipsos MRBI to track consumer activity and spend in the amenity market every two years since 2001. The objective of the survey is to provide Bord Bia with a tool to measure and track consumer spend, channel of purchase and motivation for purchase across a range of amenity products. Come and find out what’s selling, trending and who is buying what in this insightful session.


Bord Bia’s Packaging Trends 

Packaging isn’t simply about shipping products from A-B. We’ve considered the wider influences that impact packaging at each step of this lifecycle, and we’ve tried to predict how these trends will influence packaging in future based on recent projects we’ve worked on and what’s happening in the industry. This presentation takes you through the lifecycle of packaging while exploring 4 overarching themes.


Peter Cuthbert, The All Ireland Pollinator Plan.

Beeing Pollinator Friendly on Your Production Site

Peter attended Pershore College of Horticulture in the UK, furthering his extensive knowledge of plants and their usage in sustainable design. Some of his most recent projects include bio diversity planting at Hebron, Kilkenny and the Greening Project in Finglas Village.


Book Now to Avoid Disappointment!

Pre-booking is essential for these talks as seating is limited. Some speakers will give both a morning and afternoon session to accommodate visitors who wish to attend.

Limited seats available so please book now by clicking the link below to secure your ticket and avoid disappointment.

Book Now