It identifies individuals with leadership potential in agriculture, food, forestry, horticulture, and rural sectors to encourage positive change through the Nuffield network, which includes organisations in other countries.
This year’s conference took place in the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Tipperary on 14 November, with a strong focus on turning challenges into leadership opportunities.
The recently elected Nuffield Ireland chair, Gráinne Dwyer introduced the new scholars outlining their areas of research. These include retaining young veterinary professionals in rural communities; succession and progression pathways in dairy; the need to build resilience to bird flu; the potential of farm forest resources for renewable heat storage and strategies to attract and retain young people in farming careers.
Speaking about the five new scholars, Gráinne says, “Their timely research topics will help us to identify yet more practical solutions to the many challenges in Irish agriculture.” They will spend the next two years travelling abroad and researching their chosen topics.
The five 2024 returning scholars presented their findings from their international research to attendees on the day. (Read more on page 15 of the Irish Farmers Journal).
Meet the 2026 scholars
John Donlon, Co Clare
John Donlon, a veterinary surgeon from east Clare, specialises in cattle health and welfare, with a focus on calves. After earning his veterinary degree from UCD in 2018, he completed a production animal internship at the Royal Veterinary College and later a PhD at UCD on housing and calf pneumonia.
John worked with Teagasc to improve animal health in the dairy calf-to-beef sector and is a member of the Progressive Veterinary Network, co-authoring a paper on veterinary workforce retention.
In May 2025, he joined Atlantic Technological University (ATU) as a lecturer, contributing to the launch of Ireland’s new veterinary school.
His study topic is: ‘Stopping the brain drain: retaining young veterinary professionals in rural Irish communities’.
Conor Hogan, Co Tipperary
Conor Hogan is from a beef farm in north Tipperary and leads the People in Dairy Programme at Teagasc Moorepark. He graduated from UCD with a BAgrSc in dairy business and completed a PhD in dairy farm labour management and productivity in 2022.
At Teagasc, Conor manages research focused on improving workplace attractiveness, productivity, and generational renewal in Irish dairying. He is also an adjunct lecturer in Cork University Business School, contributing to the UCC Agricultural Science degree programme.
Conor broadened his international perspective through work with DairyNZ’s Farm Systems team in New Zealand. Alongside his research career, he remains active on the home farm and plays hurling with his local club, Lorrha-Dorrha.
Conor’s study topic is: ‘Future entry, progression and succession pathways for Irish dairy farms’.
Paula McCooey, Co Monaghan
Paula McCooey is a poultry specialist from Co Monaghan with over a decade of experience in the poultry sector. After graduating from UCD in 2014 with a BSc in animal and crop production, she began her career with a major poultry integration in England.
Since returning to Ireland in 2017, Paula has held advisory roles across the industry and, in 2021, moved into poultry nutrition. She now works with Trouw Nutrition, supporting poultry accounts across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
Paula combines technical expertise with a practical, farm-focused approach and remains actively involved in agriculture through life on a mixed sheep and beef farm with her husband.
Paula’s chosen topic is: ‘Living with bird flu: global lessons for Ireland’s poultry future’.
Kenny McCauley, Co Leitrim
Leitrim native Kenny McCauley is the founder of McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd, one of Ireland’s longest-established biomass producers. Based on the family farm near Mohill, the business processes around 500 tonnes of wood biomass weekly, displacing almost 200,000 litres of fossil oil.
Its customer base spans poultry, pig, and mushroom farms, as well as hotels and large heat users nationwide.
Kenny is passionate about linking forestry, farming, and rural enterprise to create short, reliable supply chains that keep value local and reduce fossil-fuel dependence. An early advocate of the WFQA quality standard, he continues to work with farmers, co-ops, and energy users to advance sustainable biomass systems. His international experience in east Africa reinforced his belief in locally driven, renewable solutions.
Kenny’s chosen topic is: ‘Mobilising rural biomass: unlocking renewable heat, carbon storage and bioeconomy value from farm forest resources’.
David Scallan, Co Wexford
David Scallan is a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Ballymurn, Co Wexford, where he farms in partnership with his parents and brother. He graduated from Kildalton College with a Level 6 in Dairy Herd Management (2012) and a Level 7 Professional Diploma (2014).
Since returning home full-time, David has expanded the herd and transitioned the enterprise fully to dairy production.Actively involved in his community, he is a member of Macra na Feirme, IFA, and his local GAA club.
David’s Nuffield topic is: ‘How do we as an industry get more youth into farming?’.
