Click on each mentor to find out more about them
Aidan has been with Mash Direct since 2021 and assumes responsible for recruitment of Technical, Quality, and Food Production employees at Mash. Aidan is experienced in identifying key talent for the Mash brand which serves to strengthen the Company’s reputation as a leading mash and vegetable producer now and for the future. Aidan has extensive knowledge of nutrition, quality, SOP’s and food hygiene.
Declan has been Factory General Manager at Tayto for 3 years. He has previously worked in operations at Hovis Bakery Belfast
Fiona has always had a keen interest in the Agri - Food industry through growing up on a dairy and sheep farm on the shores of Strangford Lough. She developed her interest further when attending Assumption Grammar school in Ballynahinch where she studied Nutrition and Food Science to A level.
In 2018 she was accepted to study BSc Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition with Professional Studies at Queen’s University Belfast. This was an exciting time for Fiona as she gained a great insight into the many career opportunities within the food industry. She completed a placement year at Glanbia Cheese in 2020 within the Technical Services department. Throughout this year, Fiona was offered many new learning experiences in her role which focussed on process and product improvement. The placement year also offered many challenges and rewards which helped Fiona develop valuable experience and expertise in an industry she realised that she would like to pursue a career in.
Returning to final year at Queen’s in 2021, Fiona’s dissertation project involved a study of the impact and control of Listeria species within an Industrial Dairy Plant. Aided by her experience at Glanbia Cheese, Fiona was able to succeed in this project and graduated with a First-Class Honours degree.
In August 2022, Fiona returned to Glanbia Cheese where she is now employed full time as a Technical Service Engineer. In 2023, Fiona was able to experience the exciting transition of the business ownership from Glanbia Cheese to Leprino Foods which will provide many opportunities for her to continue her learning and career progression within the dairy industry.
Recently appointed as Head of People and Culture, Julie brings knowledge and experience from manufacturing, hospitality and media to the food sector. Julie’s role will focus on shaping and developing what the future looks like at Mash to help ensure the Company is best placed to lead the way for graduates stepping into their career in the food sector.
Melissa graduated from Ulster University with a BScHons Business with Psychology Degree.Thereafter she commenced her career in recruitment with a large global recruitment company where she quickly progressed through the ranks to manage a team gaining experience across a range of specialisms.
She went onto gain experience across executive search before moving to another FTSE 100 large recruitment organisation where she managed key contracts and teams for clients such as Lloyd’s bank, Almac and Finnebrogue. Melissa then moved to Join Finnebrogue to focus on attraction, culture and employer branding at Finnebrogue.
Melissa is Head of Talent setting the strategy for Talent Attraction, Development and Retention strategies for the organisation. Melissa is also Vice - Chair of the NMD Labour Market Partnership supporting employment and education initiatives across the district.
Michael has over thirty-two years’ experience in the food industry. Prior to joining NIFDA he worked in the bakery trade in Northern Ireland and Malta for twelve years. During this period he worked closely with major retailers and obtained a place on the senior management board of Ormeau Bakery. Michael holds a Food Science (Hons) degree from The Queen’s University of Belfast. He is also a Chartered Scientist and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. He holds a Diploma in Company Director from the Institute of Directors. He has been instrumental in the development of NIFDA since its foundation in 1996.
Rachael graduated with a 1st class honours in Nutritional Sciences from Manchester Metropolitan University, where she discovered her passion for quality and regulatory compliance. During her degree she was part of a student enterprise called MetMUnch which carried out various public engagements to educate people on sustainability and nutrition. As part of her degree, Rachael completed a placement year at Mondelez International as an ingredient research intern within their Flavour team.
Following her degree, she commenced her career at Starbucks UK HQ. Where she progressed through several roles: Quality Systems Technologist, Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Technologist and Interim Nutrition & Regulatory Manager.
Rachael’s current role is QA Food Technologist for Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific at Little Caesars, where she monitors quality and safety of products and manages regulatory compliance.
Having worked with Mash Direct for three years as Technical Manager, Samantha is well experienced in quality, food safety, nutrition, HACCP, GMP’s. Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Mash for the purposes of audits and regulatory and customer compliance.
Studied at UUJ & QUB gaining a BSc Microbiology. Joined the company in 2003 as a Quality Supervisor, promoted to Quality Manager and then site Technical Manager in 2018. Responsible for the smooth running of a very busy team which consists of a Team of 9, this includes a Quality Manager, Hygiene Manager and Training Manager and also x6 QC technicians over a 3 shift pattern.
Responsible for site accreditation schemes including BRC and RSPO, retailer audits, product launches and implementation of Group procedures
Victoria completed her undergraduate degree in 2019 in Human Nutrition at Ulster University (Coleraine), during which she completed her placement year as Research Intern at Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE).
Following graduation, Victoria took up a postgraduate internship at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), working to develop nutrition policy and legislation in Northern Ireland, and later took up the role at the FSA as a Science and Research Engagement Officer.
Victoria’s current role is the Private Secretary to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) at the FSA. This role involves working closely with the CSA to provide assurance across the FSA’s range of science and evidence, and making sure that this is used to effectively underpin FSA’s strategy and policy making.