AFBI's new CEO meets new DAERA Minister

The new Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs attended the ‘AFBI Science making a difference’ annual Open Meeting on Thursday 2 June and addressed 120 invited stakeholders from the agri-food industry.

Following the Minister, the AFBI Board Chair, Mr. Colm McKenna welcomed the stakeholders to AFBI Hillsborough. He introduced AFBI's newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Prof Elaine Watson, and invited her to address the assembled guests.

Prof Watson thanked everyone for coming, noting that the assembled audience of over 120 illustrated the wide and diverse range of stakeholders that AFBI has due to its multi-disciplinary capability.

She outlined her vision of making AFBI science relevant and impactful through connecting with industry, building new relationships and broadening existing ones.

As AFBI considers the best way to address the needs of industry, she proposed a series of stakeholder consultation meetings to ensure all sectors of the local agri-food industry have an opportunity to input into the development of strategy.

She concluded by recognising AFBI's need to grow commercial income and looking forward to working to identify new opportunities with existing and new organisations.

• AFBI Open Meeting 2016 Presentations
• DAERA press release

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high-quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.

AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland …  serving the world”.

All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office

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