Interested in a career in the agri-food industry? Well, Gill Gallagher shares with us how she got into the agri-food industry and offers advice for those wishing to follow a similar career path.
The post: Sustainable Agriculture Manager, Devenish
The post holder: Gill Gallagher
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I grew up on a farm, so I always had an interest in farming and the environment. My first role in the agri-food industry was at the Ulster Farmers’ Union, where I was responsible for beef & lamb and hill farming policy, before taking up the role of Marketing Executive at Mash Direct, which provided me with a fantastic insight into a complete supply chain, from growing to processing and distributing to retail. I joined Devenish in 2015 as Sustainable Agriculture Manager and have enjoyed bringing both of my passions together, farming and the environment. It is fascinating to be looking at how the industry can be part of the solution to the environmental problems we face. Sustainability is key and something every business needs to be thinking about on a deep level.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I honestly never had a favourite subject at school. I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted to do career-wise, so I didn’t box myself in to certain subjects.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I studied Law at Queen’s University Belfast, where I then went on to complete a master’s in environmental law and sustainable development.
How did you get into your area of work?
At school, I didn’t have a career mapped out. While studying Law, I carried out work experience in solicitors’ practices and realised practicing law wasn’t for me. However, as part of my degree I had the opportunity to complete a module in environmental law in my final year and I really enjoyed it, leading me to study the subject further at postgraduate level where I also got the opportunity to focus on agricultural policy. I realised I had a passion for agriculture and the environment and that set me on the path of working in this industry.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Looking back, I don’t think there is another industry I would have liked to work in as much as I do agri-food. Coming from a farming background, food and the environment was always an important part of my life, but at school, we didn’t really hear about opportunities to work in the sector, so I am delighted to have built a career around my interests.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Many of my colleagues have more of an agriculture or animal science background, whereas mine is more policy-focused, so there is not necessarily a specific qualification. The most important thing is having an interest in and understanding of the local agri-food industry and associated environmental issues.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Everyone follows a different career path and within our own team we have a diverse range of career backgrounds, from science to business to policy development. Everyone brings something slightly different to the table with different skillsets and at Devenish that diversity of knowledge is celebrated.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Communication is a key element of my role. Internally, we work with different teams and externally, we are engaging with customers, policymakers and further down the supply chain with retailers and the public, so excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different audiences is a must. You also need a willingness to learn. Sustainability is developing so rapidly, it is important to keep up with industry trends and the evolving policy and market landscape.
What does a typical day entail?
I’m not sure a typical day exists for me! One day I could be providing training on environmental issues, the next I could be on farm or discussing new Devenish R&D projects. Sustainability is such a broad subject, and the variety makes my job interesting. I often work remotely and travel a lot for work, so my car is a mobile office at times!
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The people at Devenish are supportive, encouraging and talented – it always helps when you are working with a brilliant team.
I love that I am continually learning and being exposed to new things. My role calls for me to be involved with so many different interesting projects, but it can be impossible to take on everything.
Why is what you do important?
Globally, we are facing the challenge of a growing population – almost 10 billion people by 2050 – and we need to find ways of not just feeding, but also fulfilling their nutritional requirements in a sustainable way that does not deplete or degrade the earth’s natural resources. We have a wonderful agri-food sector here in Northern Ireland of which I am proud to be a part of. It is so important that we demonstrate how agriculture is part of the solution when it comes to sustainability and explore ways to build on that. I relish any opportunity to show that we can grow a prosperous agri-food industry, whilst protecting our natural environment and making it better for future generations.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Grab whatever opportunities you can. Make contacts within the industry, understand what you can about it and learn about the different career paths that exist within it. If you are in the early stages of your career, try to secure work experience – even if you aren’t 100% sure what direction you want to go in, it really helps. It will either cement the view that it is what you want to do, or it will confirm that it isn’t for you.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I absolutely love working in the local agri-food industry so it would have to still be a role within that space – be that policy or practical.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Take time to get to know the people you are working with and the company you are working for. Listening and learning at the start of any new job is by far the most important thing you can do.
Describe your ideal day off.
Packing a picnic and heading to Donegal with my husband Elliott and our mischievous cocker spaniel Angus.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Do your research and find out what you want from a job and the kind of organisation you want to work for. Be patient for the right opportunity and don’t be afraid to consider something outside of your comfort zone.
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