Tom Moran was Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine from 2005 to end of 2014. Throughout his public sector career he held a number of international policy and international trade negotiation leadership roles. Mr Moran also formerly served as Ireland's Agriculture Attaché to France and to the OECD.

He is currently a board member of An Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, and also a non-executive Director of Elivia (France).

In May, Moran, who speaks fluent French, received the accolade for promoting a positive relationship between France and Ireland in the area of agriculture and agrifood business. The ceremony took place in the Residence of France in Dublin.