College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)

For details of the course listing and prospectus, and for other information about studying at CAFRE, please see the CAFRE website.

CAFRE College Advisory Group

The College Advisory Group provides advice at a strategic and operational level to the College Director and college management team of CAFRE.

The group, which meets four times a year, has a chairperson and 13 members who represent key CAFRE stakeholders.

From Left to Right: Cathal McDonnell (Environment in the Supply Chain), Paul McHenry, Acting CAFRE Director,  Stephen Black (Education) Orlaith McLaughlin (Equine), Ryan Mortimer (Poultry and Pigs),  Bill Harpur (Sustainability), Lawrence Whyte (Production Horticulture), Barclay Bell (Arable Crops),  Seamus McMenamin (Beef and Sheep) Maynard Mawhinney (CAG Chairperson), Dr Kevin Morgan (Higher Education)  Harold Johnston (Dairying), Mark Scott, Acting Head of College Support Service , Craig Blaney (Agri-Food Business Development), Not pictured: Elaine Willis (Food Processing). 

In carrying out its work, the group takes full account of policies and strategies approved by the Minister and DAERA. The College Advisory Group members are:

• Maynard Mawhinney – Chairperson (Independent Food Consultant)
• Craig Blaney – Agri-food Business Development - (Business Owner, Airtight Creative)
• Barclay Bell – Arable Crops - (Arable Farmer from County Down)
• Stephen Black– Education - (Principal of Ballymena Academy)
• Bill Harpur – Environment - (Beef Farmer, Causeway Coast)
• Orlaith McLaughlin – Equine - (Education and Events Manager, Certified Irish Beef, with lifelong involvement in the Equine Industry)
• Elaine Willis – Food Processing - (Retail Operations Director, Linden Foods Ltd)
• Dr Kevin Morgan– Higher Education - (Researcher and Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast)
• Harold Johnston – Dairying - (Dairy Farmer from County Antrim)
• Ryan Mortimer – Pigs and Poultry – (RSPCA Assured Field Assessor)
• Lawrence Whyte– Production Horticulture - (Horticulture Policy Assistant, Ulster Farmers Union)
• Seamus McMenamin – Red Meat - (Sector Manager for Sheepmeat, Livestock and Organics for Bord Bia)
• Cathal McDonnell – Sustainability in The Supply Chain (Head of Business Transformation and Sustainability, Deli Lites Ireland)

Length of each term of appointment	Chair – 3 years Members – 3 years (Option for reappointment to a second 3 year term)
Remuneration	Chair – £424 per day Members – £275 per day
Workload	Chair – Approximately 4 days per annum Members – Approximately 4 days per annum

	Name	Date of First Appointment	Expiry of Appointment
Chair	Mr Maynard Mawhinney	01/07/2021	30/06/2024   Reappointed for a second term to 30 June 2027
Member	Mr Harold Johnston	01/07/2021	30/06/2024 Reappointed for a second term to 30 June 2027
Member	Mr Barclay Bell	01/01/2022	31/12/2024 Reappointed for a second term to 30 June 2027
Member	Mrs Elaine Willis	01/01/2022	31/12/2024 Reappointed for a second term to 30 June 2027
Member	Mr Craig Blaney	01/01/2023	31/12/2025 Reappointed for a second term to 31 December 2028
Member	Mr Bill Harper	01/01/2023	31/12/2025 Reappointed for a second term to 31 December 2028
Member	Dr Kevin Morgan	01/01/2023	31/12/2025 Reappointed for a second term to 31 December 2028
Member	Mr Seamus McMenamin	01/01/2023	31/12/2025 Reappointed for a second Term to 31 December 2028
Member	Mr Ryan Mortimer	01/01/2023	31/12/2025 Reappointed for a second term to 31 December 2028
Member	Stephen Black	01/01/2026	31/12/2028
Member	Cathal McDonnell	01/01/2026	31/12/2028
Member	Orlaith McLaughlin	01/01/2026	31/12/2028
Member	Lawrence Whyte	01/01/2026	31/12/2028