A Day in the Life of an Origin Green Ambassador
Coming from a background in brand marketing and business development at Jameson and The White Hag brewery, I’ve always been drawn to the food and drink industry. Over time, I became increasingly interested in sustainability and its growing importance within the sector. I recognised a gap in my knowledge and wanted to gain the expertise needed to make a real impact. The Origin Green Ambassador Programme provided the perfect opportunity to combine academic learning with hands-on experience in global businesses, equipping me with the skills to drive meaningful change.
Learning from Global Leaders
The programme has been an incredible journey so far, immersing me in real-world sustainability challenges across different regions and industries. My first placement took me to Dubai with Majid Al Futtaim (Carrefour), where I led projects on sustainable sourcing, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement. Next, I transitioned to Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas, focusing again on sustainable sourcing, but through topics like animal welfare policy, and packaging. The experience between these placements offered great insight into diverse business strategies, sustainability priorities, and the importance of regional contexts.
One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects has been proposing sustainability recommendations that are both ambitious and aligned with wider business strategies. Balancing innovation with scalability and commercial feasibility has tested my strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities in new ways, and really pushed me to think outside the box.
Personal and Professional Growth
The Origin Green Ambassador Programme has been instrumental in shaping my professional skill set. I have honed my stakeholder engagement abilities, and developed stronger analytical and research skills, which has allowed me to make more data driven decisions in projects.
Through this experience, I’ve also gained clarity on my career path within sustainability. I’ve realised where my strengths lie within the industry, which will allow me to hit the ground running in the jobs market once the programme comes to a close.
One of the biggest takeaways from this programme has been understanding the retailer’s role in sustainability. I’ve seen firsthand how vital close supplier collaboration, trust, and long-term relationships are in driving meaningful change. Whether it’s sustainable sourcing, ethical supply chain management, or packaging innovation, the key to success lies in alignment across the value chain.
The combination of academic learning, real-world experience in leading global companies, as well as extensive networking, makes this programme a launchpad for a successful career
in sustainability. If you’re considering applying, my advice is to connect with past OGA’s - everyone is happy to share insights & tips - we’ve all been in your position!

My Journey as an Origin Green Ambassador

Hi, I'm Andrew Wafer, and I’m excited to share my journey with you. I kicked off my career with a BA in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin. After that, I spent over five years in public affairs and communications, working with Irish food and beverage clients along the way. My passion for the food sector and sustainability led me to join the Origin Green Ambassador Programme in September 2023.

My first placement was with McDonald's in the UKI market, based in London. I worked on projects like EUDR, Global Supply Chain Regulation, and UKI Dairy Sustainability. Recently, I wrapped up my second placement at McDonald's headquarters in Chicago. During both my placements, I was fortunate to work on a global team setting McDonald’s sustainability policy, and also in the market teams, implementing these policies locally. I sat on the McDonald's Sustainable & Ethical Sourcing team and reported to the Director of European Sustainability, and into the Global Impact team during my time in Chicago, giving me insights into sustainable supply chains at both local and global levels.

The Origin Green Ambassador Programme has been a game-changer for my personal and professional growth. I’ve learned about the challenge of reducing emissions and how to engage with suppliers on this journey. Plus, I developed an understanding of how sustainability factors into commercial decision-making in large food companies. I have found my path in the industry, marrying my love for communications and policy with sustainable supply chains.

One standout project was working on the McDonald’s climate team, assessing and validating GHG emission initiatives within McDonald’s supply chain to support their net zero emissions goal. I also worked closely with the Government Relations and Communications teams to refresh McDonald’s stakeholder strategy, focusing on global-level and US Government Relations partnerships in the sustainability space. This was crucial for ensuring McDonald's is ready to tackle future challenges and opportunities.

The ‘OGA’ experience has broadened my understanding of sustainability practices and their application in the food industry, shaping my career aspirations towards driving sustainable change in the sector. Both the academic and professional elements of the programme have boosted my understanding of sustainability in the agri-food sector. I’ve seen sustainability in action at the supply chain level, policy level, and on farms, giving me a 360-degree view of different approaches across various countries.

I was also fortunate to travel a lot! I managed a workshop at a supplier headquarters in Germany, focused on beef compliance. I travelled to Brussels to meet with dairy policy stakeholders and to Washington DC to the headquarters of an NGO, gaining insights into sustainability policy. These experiences have equipped me with broad knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to sustainability initiatives in the food industry.

If you’re passionate about sustainability and food, the Origin Green Ambassador Programme is a fantastic opportunity. It offers comprehensive industry knowledge and sustainability insights at the highest level, preparing you for a successful career in the food industry. For potential applicants, my advice is to lean into your experience - even if it’s gained outside the industry. The food industry benefits from wider perspectives, and the Origin Green Ambassador Programme actively seeks diverse backgrounds and skill sets.

Me and my background
My name is Kate Murray and it is a privilege to tell you about my experience as an Origin Green Ambassador. I studied International Commerce with French for my undergrad and then did a Masters in Food Business & Innovation as I was always drawn to building a career in the food & drinks industry. I finished my Masters during Covid and wrote my thesis on digital transformation within grocery retail. From there I joined the leadership team launching a large Irish grocery retailer to the online space.
Why did I decide to join the OGA Programme?
From a young age, I have been passionate about Irish food, growing up in a home that emphasized supporting local producers and using quality ingredients. Ireland is fortunate to have high food standards and I have always admired Bord Bia's efforts to promote Irish food both domestically and internationally. I always envisioned a career that allowed me to share the story of Irish food with the world and I knew that joining the OGA programme would enable me to do that.
This programme offered a valuable opportunity to learn about our food supply chain, the origins of our food, industry challenges, and the significance of sustainability within the sector. I also aimed to combine my skills in digital transformation with sustainability to enhance my CV. Plus, the chance to work with three leading food companies within two years and travel the world was an amazing prospect.
My journey so far as an OGA
We began with three months of intensive lectures at UCD – Smurfit Executive Development, featuring outstanding lecturers, some from INSEAD and IMD. During this time, we enhanced our skills in sustainable supply chains, the ESG legislative landscape, and project management. I also formed great friendships with the eight other OGAs, which has been wonderful. The interactive lectures significantly boosted my confidence in presenting and encouraged me to ask important questions in a supportive environment.
Each week, we visited different farms, factories or supplier offices which was a highlight for me. Witnessing sustainability efforts from the farm level to manufacturing was eye-opening. In January 2024, I started my first placement at Ocado Retail in the UK, focusing on responsible sourcing strategies, including animal welfare and deforestation policies.

My second placement was with Nestlé at their Global Headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, where I developed the financial business case for regenerative agriculture in dairy and an IT strategy for agriculture. Working for these two diverse organizations was a great experience. Although the seven-month placements were challenging, I appreciated the autonomy I had over my projects and the strong support from my managers and the Bord Bia/Smurfit team.

Personal and Professional Growth
Being an OGA has significantly boosted my confidence as a professional navigating my career. I have gained clarity about my goals and strengths, and I now feel well-equipped with the skills necessary to lead my own path within the food and drinks industry. I am comfortable entering challenging situations, such as meeting influential leaders, presenting to decision-makers, and developing complex strategies. Over the past two years, I have experienced rapid career acceleration, and navigating the challenges of starting new jobs and relocating three times has greatly enhanced my resilience. My knowledge of sustainability and agriculture has grown immensely through the OGA programme. Starting from a business background, I initially had limited knowledge in these areas. However, my business expertise has proven invaluable for the commercial aspects of my projects, which are critical in any organization.
Why Apply?
If you are in any way considering this programme, just go for it! Why? The career exposure you will receive, the rewarding feeling of working in sustainability and lastly, it gives you some breathing space to actually understand what it is you want from your career. If you are thinking of applying and have any questions, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn.

A day in the life of an Origin Green Ambassador

"It’s not every day you get to travel the world, continue to grow your career and leave with a world class masters at the end of it."

A day in the life of and Origin Green Ambassador

"After working for five years, it was refreshing to be a student again and have the opportunity to question and discuss issues related to sustainability with a diverse group of peers, professors, professionals and other industry experts."

I have always had an interest in food and agriculture and after studying Food and Agri-Business Management in UCD I worked in a commercial role for an animal feed ingredient importer in Ireland. Here I gained a lot of experience in global supply chains but also became more aware of the growing need for action on sustainability in supply chains in Ireland and globally. Eventually, I knew I wanted to focus more on sustainability, and I was fortunate to gain a place on the Origin Green Programme to help me achieve this goal.

Throughout my time on the programme, I was encouraged at every stage to learn and take as much as I could from our modules and placements. After working for five years, it was refreshing to be a student again and have the opportunity to question and discuss issues related to sustainability with a diverse group of peers, professors, professionals and other industry experts. During the programme I moved to London to work in the wholesale and then retail industry, during these two placements I experienced first hand the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability for these two very different supply chains in the food industry. My final placement was with an environmental consultancy, here the importance of collaboration between businesses, NGOs, governments, and civil society was highlighted and I experienced what collaboration can look like. Each placement brought different experiences and I enjoyed the variety; in some I was able to focus on areas linked to my previous work experience but in all I was encouraged to work on different areas of sustainability that were relatively new to me.

What I enjoyed most about the Origin Green Programme was getting the opportunity to work in different types of leading businesses on different projects, meeting and becoming friends with interesting and passionate people I would never have met otherwise and representing the Irish food and drink industry abroad. During the programme I got the opportunity to attend conference’s, supplier meetings, NGO meetings and I also met with stakeholders from technology providers to government departments. The Origin Green Programme is well known and respected in many placement companies which can help you hit the ground running but it is also great to go to a new company where you can introduce or enhance what they know about Origin Green, Bord Bia and the great food and drink producers we have here in Ireland. 

A day in the life of an Origin Green Ambassador

"I have learnt so much from the other (fantastic) Origin Green Ambassadors and brilliant colleagues I have met along the way. The programme is a fantastic opportunity to build a strong network in the industry – which is really important as I have learned over the course of the programme just how small the food sustainability space is."

I joined the Origin Green Ambassador programme in September 2021 having completed a masters in Co-operatives, Agri-food and Sustainable Development the previous year. Prior to that I had spent 3 years working as a Food & Agribusiness Consultant where I worked with a range of client types across the food supply chain. I have always been interested in agriculture and grew up on a mixed livestock farm in Co. Cork.

During my time on the Origin Green Programme I did a 1-year placement with McDonald’s in a hybrid role with their Global Impact and UK & I sustainability team, and I am currently in the middle of a 6-month placement in the Environment team with Tesco. I have been based in London for all of my placements which I have really enjoyed. Throughout the programme I was fortunate enough to attend different events such as the EAT DRINK THINK Sustainable Nutrition event run by Kerry and the Sustainable Food & Drink Conference held in London. I also got onto farms through supplier or knowledge-sharing visits – for example I went to FAI regenerative farm in Oxford which was an amazing opportunity to see regen-ag in practice.

I am currently on my placement with Tesco, and on a typical day I will either travel to the Tesco head office based in Welwyn Garden City, or their central office which is based in Farringdon. My work in Tesco is focused on developing their nature strategy and a lot of my time is spent identifying biodiversity risk hotspots in their supply chain. Tesco has a longstanding partnership with WWF and it is really exciting to see in practice the projects taking place and the impact being made through the partnership. One thing I really enjoy about this role is that I spend a lot of time talking to various start-ups or tech companies who provide innovative nature-based solutions to see if they could play a role in enhancing nature and biodiversity – not just in Tesco’s supply chain but at a wider landscape level.

The most enjoyable aspect of the programme for me has been meeting so many amazing people in the sustainability and wider food industry. I have learnt so much from the other (fantastic) Origin Green Ambassadors and brilliant colleagues I have met along the way. The programme is a fantastic opportunity to build a strong network in the industry – which is really important as I have learned over the course of the programme just how small the food sustainability space is.

I think people should apply for the Origin Green Ambassador Programme as in my experience, the placement opportunities have been second to none and it is a fantastic way to gain a masters in sustainability in a really practical and hands on way.