Leitrim Expert on Farmer Advocacy Joins the National Dairy Council

The National Dairy Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Majella McCafferty as Farmer Advocacy Manager. 

Farming is in Majella’s blood having grown up on a farm in Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim. She qualified from Dundalk IT with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing specialising in large animals. 

In 2015 Majella was awarded Irish Veterinary Nurse student of the year competing with 450 students throughout Ireland alongside the overall Enterprising student of the year from the business school for demonstrating leadership and entrepreneurship serving the farming community. 

Majella was Farm Development Manager for LacPatrick Dairies, continuing to Lakeland Dairies using the combination of agriculture and veterinary experience to educate and advise farmers on how to manage businesses more efficiently advising on the return on financial management, profitability, animal breeding and health.

Her most recent role was in the West of Ireland as Farm Profitability Specialist with Aurivo co-operative. Majella established, developed, facilitated and drove programs for farmers  such as “Practice to profit” LacPatrick Dairies young farmers, and The Aurivo Leading Ladies, all women agricultural groups to improve gender diversity in farming enterprises in the west of Ireland. 

“I am really excited to be joining the National Dairy Council as an expert in farmer advocacy and relations. I have worked with NDC over the last number of years primarily on the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards where I have been instrumental in advising and coaching three farms to win the overall national title, two from the West of Ireland for the first time in history”, said Majella. 

Majella has also been the lead for the co-operative on the Teagasc agricultural sustainability support and advisory program improving water quality, and developed animal health programs within the cooperatives.

“I will be working with the team to strengthen our Farmer Advocacy programme to build and support the ongoing success of our 17,500 dairy farmers operating the Irish dairy industry”, she added.

Majella has represented the co-operatives and shareholders in creating strategies for the dairy industry on National programs such as Animal Health Ireland. She has worked with many other industry stakeholders and organisations creating strategies and innovating different aspects of agricultural business such as communications, social media, and focus groups to drive supplier and consumer motivation, engagement, and culture change within the dairy industry.

Majella has attained Professional Diplomas in Management & Organisational behaviour and Psychology on the pathway to attaining a Professional master’s in business studies in the Irish Management Institution, Dublin, and University College Cork Business School. She has also qualified with a Bachelor of Science (Honors)in Sustainable Agriculture from Dundalk IT and Ballyhaise Agricultural College.

Majella was awarded the winner of one of two Irish National Scholarships from the Global 30% club in 2021. The 30% club is a group of business chairpersons and CEOs acting to increase gender diversity on boards and senior management teams.