Vanessa, mother of two, manages her happy herd of 65 in West Cork.

Not originally from a farming background, she milked her first cow at age of 18 which triggered her passion for her future career of farming the land, working with cows and being able to rear her children on a family farm.

Vanessa’s passion and commitment to producing high-quality milk and implementing sustainable dairy farming practices has earned her many local and national awards over the years.

Professionally, Vanessa holds a Diploma in Corporate Direction and a Diploma in Environmental Science and Social Policy. She is actively involved in agricultural governance and advocacy, serving on the Boards of Bandon Co-operative and Clona dairy products. She was appointed to the Board of the Teagasc Authority (Agriculture and food research, advisory and education state agency) and is a commissioner on the Just transition Commission (Climate Action transition).

Vanessa is a member of the Women in agriculture Stakeholder Group (WASG) which aims to increase female participation in farming and address gender disparities in agriculture policies. She has been vocal about the need for a cultural shift in Irish farming to recognise and support women in the sector and encouraging young women to explore agriculture as a career.

Vanessa’s work over the past 30 years exemplifies a blend of traditional farming values and modern sustainability practices, alongside a strong commitment to advocacy and community engagement.

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