People are coming into the meat industry by design rather than default in today’s world, Lisa Hand from Dawn Meats told Irish Country Living. She started working in the meat industry after dropping out of her college course in marketing half way through first year.

“I just got into working. Like most people my age in the industry, I didn’t know what a supply chain was. I hopped and skipped through different roles and into different businesses that brought me into this role organically,” said Lisa, who is currently head of supply chain at Dunbia, a division of Dawn Meats. She is on the Meat Business Women committee.

The further up you go in the ladder, the more the gender balance is out of whack

“We are seeing, among the younger people coming in, a bit more gender diversity, particularly coming in to the agri disciplines. It’s really positive. It’s reflective of the fact that we are moving forward as an industry.

"The further up you go in the ladder, the more the gender balance is out of whack. But with what we (Meat Business Women) are trying to do, we would be hopeful that in five years’ time we will see that balance out naturally.”

Both Lisa and co-founder of Meat Business Women, Laura Ryan, say that the key for anyone starting out in the meat industry is to find a good mentor.

“I’ve been very lucky in the mentors I’ve had. In fact, they’ve all been male. But they’ve been very good, very strong, very empowering and pushing you forward,” Lisa said.

For young women taking the day out to go to an event like this, it’s not just the individual that benefits

They agree that women are more likely to go to a networking event that has a tangible benefit, rather than the more traditional golfing days that the movers and shakers of the business world used to go to.

“For young women taking the day out to go to an event like this, it’s not just the individual that benefits. They are growing their network and meeting people, making relationships, that’s beneficial then for the company,” says Lisa. Meat Business Women is keen to ensure that the network acts as a support for women sharing similar experience as they move through the challenges of working in an ever-changing world.

“The paths that are sitting open to you at the beginning of your career are probably not the same roles you’ll see in five or 10 years’ time. There’s nothing as certain as change,” Lisa says. “That’s where networking and having mentors for women really comes in. So they don’t feel it’s a risk [working in private industry], they don’t feel it’s scary, there are people you can talk to and get advice from.”

What is Meat Business Women?

Meat Business Women is a professional networking group for women in the meat industry. It was founded four years ago by Laura Ryan, former strategy director at AHDB Beef & Lamb in the UK and Pam Brook, former meat press editor.

Just four years in existence it has been recognised by the United Nations as a vehicle to promote gender equality in the meat sector. Previous speakers at its conference include the renowned American animal welfare specialist Temple Grandin, UK chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemass and Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

If demand is here for a standalone Irish event next year we will definitely do one

“What we want to do is show CEOs that you want that pipeline of the best talent in the business,” Laura Ryan told the Irish Country Living. “Our passion is to showcase the meat industry as a fantastic destination.

“If demand is here for a standalone Irish event next year we will definitely do one. Because networking is so important and trade between Ireland and the UK is so important maybe a joint UK and Ireland conference in Birmingham or somewhere like that would work.

“Once you’ve met and had a conversation you can do that email and phone stuff, you are not likely to do that unless you’ve had that face to face conversation.”

Quotes from speakers

I think it’s extremely important for women in the industry to network. I started out in the early 70s and being a woman in a man’s field in the early 70s was really difficult

– Temple Grandin, American professor of animal science.

For women it can seem quite lonely at times, being female in mostly a male industry. But we’re changing that. I think the support network we’re building will help new entrants and boost us to be world leaders.

– Christine Middlemass, UK government chief vet.

I think there is nowhere like the food industry. It is the most exciting sector out there. It will challenge you and reward you like nowhere else. Mentally, it will drain you and fulfil you like nowhere else.

– Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia.

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Meat industry showcases its female talent at Dublin networking event