After graduating as a Transpersonal Counsellor
and completing a Masters in Personal and
Management Coaching, Dessie is now fortunate
enough to travel the world sharing his story of
how he worked his way out of a wheelchair,
came to terms with the loss of his brothers and
went from being a man that did not want to get
out of bed in the morning to a man that loves life
and embraces every second.
Full details shortly
Dr Nollaig Heffernan
Nollaig works as an independent
management consultant specialising in
leadership and organisational psychology.
She is an author, specialist lecturer and
conference speaker. Graduating with a BA in
applied psychology and with a PhD in
leadership psychology she works
internationally across all sectors but is best
known in the agricultural sector for
presenting on leadership, employment,
resilience, and time management.
As a consultant, she helps businesses to
improve their performance by increasing
the efficiency of their most valuable asset,
their people.
John Maher
Teagasc, Moorepark.
Specialist - Grass 10 Manager
Research Interests
•
Heavy Soils Programme
•
PastureBase Ireland
•
Grazing Management
Michael Murphy
Michael, an Irish & international farmer
(Ireland, New Zealand, Missouri USA) and
investor, co-creator of the Positive
Farmers Conference. Michael has been a
director of several businesses and
charities including the Hope Foundation.
.
Dr Brendan Horan
Principal Research Officer
Grassland Science, Teagasc. Moorepark.
Education
•
Executive MBA, University College Cork
•
PhD in Dairy Science, UCD
•
Higher Diploma in Business Studies,
Michael Smurfit Business School, UCD
•
Bachelor of Agricultural Science, UCD
2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & PANELLISTS
Fergal Coughlan
Dairy farming in Innishannon, Cork.
Ex Farm manager, Clonakilty Agricultural College
Fergal began working in Teagasc
Moorepark in 2008 and became the farm
manager at Teagasc Clonakilty Agriculture
College in 2013. His complex role involves
running cutting edge research trials
to help increase the efficiency of dairy
production systems, including extensive
trials on clover usage. He now farms on the
home farm in Innishannon.
Michael Murphy
Michael, an Irish & international farmer
(Ireland, New Zealand, Missouri USA) and
investor, co-creator of the Positive
Farmers Conference. Michael has been a
director of several businesses and
charities including the Hope Foundation.
.
Dessie Fitzgerald
Life, Mind Health & Performance Coach, &
Motivational Speaker from a Farming
background in County Cork.
Roger Adams
Certified strength and conditioning coach
with the IRFU, a competitive Masters
Class body builder and a life long Martial
Artist.
Founder of the Master Trainer Initiative
App 35+ years coaching experience
10 years owner of F1 Fitness Centre.
Now a Private Practice PT
Rhidian Glyn
A new entrant farmer from Wales
Rhidian’s story highlighted that with hard
work and real determination to succeed
in the industry, anything is possible. “It’s
been a busy few years,” explained
Rhidian. “In nine years I have taken on a
farm business tenancy, got married,
moved house, had three children and
finished working off the farm.
His four main aims are to continue with a
grass-based system, to ensure a
productive and profitable business;
reduce the farm’s reliance on subsidy
payments; become income sufficient so
he doesn’t have to work off farm; and
maintain a good work-life balance with his
three young children.
Dessie Fitzgerald
Life, Mind Health & Performance Coach, &
Motivational Speaker from a Farming
background in County Cork.
Roger Adams
Certified strength and conditioning coach
with the IRFU, a competitive Masters
Class body builder and a life long Martial
Artist.
Founder of the Master Trainer Initiative
App 35+ years coaching experience
10 years owner of F1 Fitness Centre.
Now a Private Practice PT