Give your career history in 25 words or fewer.
I worked in construction and hospitality for years, and then sales brought me to energy, with Electric Ireland, and subsequently, to the renewable oil industry.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Driven. Fair. Progressive.
What were your childhood / early ambitions?
My dad was a truck driver when I was young, and I always loved machinery/driving!
Describe your dream job (if you weren’t doing this?)
A postman, driving around the hills and valleys of West Cork!
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
When you’re going through hell, keep going! And when you have bad news to deliver to superiors, don’t take the stairs, take the elevator. The faster you get to the source of the problem, the faster you can fix it!
Share your top tips for business success.
Do not give up. Ever. Just keep pushing forward, admit when you are wrong, and find solutions.
What’s your most recent business achievement of note?
Our upcoming expansion of Tria Energy into the UK is a testament to how our HVO journey in Ireland has gone over the last 3 years. We have pioneered an alternative, and made ourselves a part of our customers’ operation by doing more than just “selling a litre of fuel”.
Tell us your greatest fear.
Fear itself.
Which is most important – ambition or talent?
Ambition. Give me someone who is eager and committed and I will do everything in my power to help them achieve their goals. I’ve seen loads of people run out of talent, but someone with ambition will always drive on!
What’s the best thing about your job?
Delivering a service; I spent a long time in hospitality and it’s great to still get that buzz of delivering for the customer. And the team! We have some fantastic minds in our company at all levels.
Which is the quality that you most admire?
Honesty. No matter how bad a situation may be, the easiest way out is to tell the truth.
What are you most likely to say?
“I’ll do that”. I’m a serial offender when it comes to taking too much on.
What are you least likely to say?
“I told you so”. It achieves absolutely nothing. At that point, a problem has occurred and what’s important is finding a solution.
Describe your perfect day.
A specific group of people (they know who they are!), in the corner of The Blue Loo (Glengarriff, West Cork) drinking Guinness until the kegs go dry!
Do you have a favourite sports team?
Munster Rugby, and Cork GAA
What’s the biggest challenge of our time?
Offering a viable alternative to fossils. Business must go on!
Cheese or chocolate?
Cheese. I’m from West Cork, the home of Irish Farmhouse Cheese and live next door to the wonderful Manning’s Emporium!!
Share your greatest personal achievement.
Going back to UCC in 2021 and getting a degree in management
What’s your pet hate or biggest irritant?
Poor timekeeping, and bad grammar!
If you were on ‘Mastermind’, what would your specialist subject be?
Father Ted Trivia. That would be an ecumenical matter.
If you were elected to government what would be the first law you’d press for?
No tax on renewable fuels. It’s time to back viable alternatives!
If your 20-year-old self saw you now what would they think?
That I’ve achieved an awful lot. I’m married, bought a house in our home area and no signs of stopping yet!
What is number 1 on your bucket list?
At the moment, it’s Nashville in the USA. Spent a week in phoenix last year around the time of the Superbowl with ten great friends and saw what the real red-blooded Americans get up to! Rodeos and country music are now a part of my life!
What 3 things would you take to a desert island?
A knife, cable ties and duct tape. Not much you can’t do with those 3!
Tell us something about you that people would be very surprised by.
I trained in college as a primary school teacher.
Who would you most like to ask these questions of?
Roy Keane. I’m biased as a Cork man, but I love to hear him talk!
Image credit: Pat Murnane
