Having graduated in Agricultural Science (UCD) in the early nineteen eighties, John was accepted on the Confederation of Irish Industry (CII) European Orientation Programme where he spent a year working in the meat industry in Ireland and France. Since then, John has spent his entire career in the beef processing and export business. He has occupied various roles within the industry including export sales manager, plant manager and divisional manager (Glanbia Foods plc). Although primarily involved in the meat business in Ireland he has travelled widely in Europe and the Middle East in relation to the beef export business. In recent years he has set up his own consultancy business providing a sourcing service for quality meat cuts for a number of European retailers. He also regularly provides consultancy to Bord Bia and other food and retail organisations on meat-based projects including meat quality, meat maturation, meat cut displays and meat export certification. John is keenly interested in the evolving beef market (both retail and food service) trends and continues to travel widely in Europe monitoring these trends in relation to his business. This is Johns third time to judge at the World Steak Challenge.