David Scallan is a 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar. He graduated from Kildalton College with a Level 6 in Dairy Herd Management (2012) and a Level 7 Professional Diploma (2014). Since returning home full-time, David has expanded the herd and transitioned the enterprise fully to dairy production.

Actively involved in his community, he is a member of Macra na Feirme, IFA, and his local GAA club. His Nuffield research explores how the sector can attract and retain young people in farming careers.

Nuffield study topic: “How do we as an industry get more youth into farming.”

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Kenny McCauley is a 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar. Based on the family farm near Mohill, the business processes around 500 tonnes of wood biomass weekly—displacing almost 200,000 litres of fossil oil. Its customer base spans poultry, pig, and mushroom farms, as well as hotels and large heat users nationwide.

Kenny is passionate about linking forestry, farming, and rural enterprise to create short, reliable supply chains that keep value local and reduce fossil-fuel dependence. An early advocate of the WFQA quality standard, he continues to work with farmers, co-ops, and energy users to advance sustainable biomass systems. His international experience in East Africa reinforced his belief in locally driven, renewable solutions.

Nuffield study topic: “Mobilising rural biomass: unlocking renewable heat, carbon storage and bioeconomy value from farm forest resources.”

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Paula McCooey is a 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar. After graduating from UCD in 2014 with a BSc in Animal and Crop Production, she began her career with a major poultry integration in England. Since returning to Ireland in 2017, Paula has held advisory roles across the industry and, in 2021, moved into poultry nutrition. She now works with Trouw Nutrition, supporting poultry accounts across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia.

Paula combines technical expertise with a practical, farm-focused approach and remains actively involved in agriculture through life on a mixed sheep and beef farm with her husband.

Nuffield study topic: “Living with bird flu: global lessons for Ireland’s poultry future.”

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Conor Horgan is a 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar. He graduated from UCD with a BAgrSc in Dairy Business (2018) and completed a PhD in dairy farm labour management and productivity in 2022.

At Teagasc, Conor manages multidisciplinary research focused on improving workplace attractiveness, productivity, and generational renewal in Irish dairying. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer in Cork University Business School, contributing to the UCC Agricultural Science degree programme.

Conor broadened his international perspective through work with DairyNZ’s Farm Systems team in New Zealand. Alongside his research career, he remains active on the home farm and plays hurling with his local club, Lorrha-Dorrha.

Nuffield study topic: “Future entry, progression and succession pathways for Irish dairy farms.”

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Joh Donlon is a 2026 Nuffield Ireland Scholar. After earning his veterinary degree from UCD in 2018, he completed a production animal internship at the Royal Veterinary College and later a PhD at UCD on housing and calf pneumonia.

John worked with Teagasc to improve animal health in the dairy calf-to-beef sector and is a member of the Progressive Veterinary Network, co-authoring a landmark paper on veterinary workforce retention. In May 2025, he joined Atlantic Technological University (ATU) as a Lecturer, contributing to the launch of Ireland’s new veterinary school.

Nuffield study topic: “Stopping the brain drain: retaining young veterinary professionals in rural Irish communities.”

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