Agency Members
Producers' Representatives
Dairy farmer.
Past committees served on: Secretary of Templeboy Macra na Feirme, Development Officer Macra na Feirme, Macra na Feirme National Council Member, Chairman Sligo Friesian Breeders Club, Vice-Chairman Sligo IFA, Member of Board of Connacht Gold, Chairman Connacht Gold Liquid Milk Producers, Member of Templeboy Parish Council, Secretary & Founder Templeboy & Skreen FAS Committee, Treasurer Aughris Development Committee, Chairman Templeboy & Dromore West IFA, National Liquid Milk Committee IFA, Grassland Council Member, Steering Committee Teagasc Liquid Milk. Present committees serving on: National Milk Agency Board Member, Chairman Templeboy & Dromore West IFA, Chairman of Dairy Committee for Sligo IFA, Chairman of Tiererath Advisory Committee for Aurivo.
Laurence Hannon, Ballytore, Co Kildare is Married to Karen and they have 3 children. Glanbia liquid milk supplier. Member of Glanbia Regional and Council. Past chairman of FMP. Vice chairperson of National Liquid Milk Committee IFA.
Dairy farmer also involved in IFA as delegate from Galway on National Council
Processors' Representatives
Stephen Blewitt joined Aurivo in 2006 as Store Development Manager in the Agribusiness Unit before working in various roles in Agribusiness and Dairy. Stephen was promoted to the role of General Manager of Agribusiness in 2016 and moved to his current role of General Manager of Dairy in 2018. He holds third level qualifications in Agriculture, Business, and Finance. Prior to joining Aurivo, Stephen — who is from Ballina, Co Mayo —worked with Tesco, Kavanagh’s SuperValu group and internationally with Aldi in various sales, marketing and operational roles. Stephen completed the Executive Development Programme at UCD Smurfit Business School.
Tony was appointed to the National Milk Agency in May 2010 representing milk processors and is a native of Co. Cork. He is General Manager of Clona Dairy Products for the past 17 years and has vast experience of the liquid milk industry in Ireland. He is a Food Science graduate of CIT and is also a member of the National Dairies Association.
A graduate in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin, John has almost forty years of experience in various areas of member relations and farm development within Glanbia. He brings a wealth of experience to the Board in the areas of liquid milk production and the management of liquid milk contracts.
TJ Flanagan is the CEO of ICOS, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, and the Secretary of the National Dairies Association. He has worked in the area of dairy policy for almost a decade, and represents Irish Dairy Co-ops at a variety of National and European forums. He also has extensive prior experience in areas such as livestock policy, animal health, and agri-trading.
Consumers' Representatives
The Chairperson of the Consumers Association of Ireland. Elected member of Mayo County Council and Castlebar Town Council. Specialist in Labour Law.
His current positions include, Incoming treasurer of The Consumers Association of Ireland, member of the National Milk Agency, member of the Department of Agriculture Consumer Liaison Panel and a member of The Department of Education, National Council for Guidance in Education. He is a retired sergeant in An Garda Síochana.
Claire Lanigan was appointed to the Board of the National Milk Agency in March 2021. A graduate of Business Studies from Dublin City University she also holds an MBA degree from Smurfit Business School, UCD.
She has previously held senior appointments in the Central Bank of Ireland in prudential supervision including Head of Division for Investment Banks and Broker Dealers, Head of Division for Asset Management firm and Head of Function for Retail Bank supervision.
She currently holds the role of Chief Risk Officer in Wells Fargo Bank International and is undertaking the Chartered Director Programme in the Institute of Directors, Ireland.
Distributors' Representative
Secretary of Milkmen Dairy Distributors Limited and is the contact for milk agents throughout the country to negotiate with the dairies for them.
Retailers' Representatives
A Peace Commissioner (Wicklow) and was President RGDATA (1981 – 1985 and 1995 – 1997). He is also a director of Sash Ltd.
A native of Co. Limerick where I was fortunate to grow up and reap the benefits of life on a dairy farm. Married to George and Mum to 3 boys. Owner of award winning Georgian boutique townhouse hotel, restaurant and organic spa , No 1 Pery Square. A restored 1832 Georgian house tucked away in Limericks historic leafy Georgian quarter. A hotel passionate about delivering genuine Irish hospitality, great food & wine. Referred to by many as “ the country house in the city”, www.oneperysquare.com. A member of Ireland’s Blue Book.
Lots of passion for great Irish food produce, historic buildings and the Irish culture. Current Chair of Failte Ireland, WAW Gateway to Limerick project. Chairperson of Limerick Civic Trust and a board member of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.