UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
HONORARY CONFERRING
Monday, 31 August 2015 at 5.30 p.m.
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PROFESSOR ALEX EVANS on 31 August 2015, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa on OWEN BRENNAN
President, Colleagues, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Today we honour the vision, achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of Owen Brennan. Owen Brennan is presently Executive Chairman of Devenish Nutrition, an agri-technology company, which has grown from being a small local supplier to an international technology-driven, research-focussed organisation.
Owen Brennan's commitment to the agriculture and food industries stems from his strong farming and business background. Owen Brennan grew up on a small family merchant and farming business in Co. Carlow. After attending School in Kilkenny (check this) he attended UCD studying Agricultural Science and he graduated in 1982 with a Bachelors of Agricultural Science.
Looking at the records from his undergraduate days I see that first year in those days comprised of only modules on Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. These basic sciences still underpin our degree programmes and provide knowledge that can then be applied in practical situations. Following that Owen Brennan studied modules that our most recent graduates will identify with including Economics, Soil Science, Animal Nutrition, Animal & Crop Breeding, Animal Health, Farm Mechanisation and Farm Management – to name a few. In first year Owen was a slightly better than average student but in his later years he was excellent, winning a number of prizes including the Hussey Prize in Agricultural Economics.
Since leaving UCD Owen’s business career has focused on animal nutrition - firstly with Connolly’s Red Mills and then with Nutec and now with Devenish.
His formal education did not end however as in 1992 he graduated again from UCD with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
The next big step came in 1997 when Owen Brennan led a team to acquire Devenish feeds of which he is now Executive Chairman.
Devenish provide leading edge nutritional solutions for the livestock sector and provide products from farm to fork. In the early years of the acquisition Owen’s drive, determination, courage and intellect were vital in making Devenish Nutrition the largest independently owned manufacturer of premix, creep and speciality feed products in the UK. The Group has expanded rapidly in the last 18 years, growing from a turnover of £5m with 23 staff in 1997 to a turnover in excess of £150m and 300 staff this year. The Group now has 6 manufacturing sites across the UK, Ireland and the USA, as well as offices in Dubai and India, and is exporting to over 25 countries worldwide.
From what I have learned about Owen Brennan he has applied the principals of a scientist to the work that Devenish does. The company are actively engaged in research and the generation of new knowledge. They continue to make substantial investments in research and development and technical capabilities, resulting in a more complete and value driven service for its customers. As a consequence, Devenish Nutrition has been able to introduce a number of innovative specialised products, which were developed and manufactured in house. Customers are primarily looking for greater efficiencies in their food production systems. However, Owen Brennan is taking this a step further now where the company have the vision to provide advanced animal nutrition for the benefit of human health – in other words feeding animals to produce superior healthier foods for you and me the consumers of agricultural products. I am sure there is a lot more to come in this area.
As well as recognising Owen Brennan the scientist today, we recognise that he continues to give generously of his time and talents to several bodies. He has served three terms as President of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association, and also as Chairman of the Livestock and Meat Commission. He is currently serving on the Northern Ireland Agri-Food Strategy Board.
It is also in this spirit of generosity that Owen Brennan and his team have been lending their expertise and support to the development of agriculture in Africa. They are supporting Traidlinks and the Africa Agri-Food Development Fund in Uganda to develop a co-operative of pig producers. The aim of the project is to assist local people build profitable businesses and help improve the nutrition of the surrounding population. The co-operative was officially launched a year ago and has thus far recruited 75 pig producers who will reap the benefits of a piggery and a mill but who also have access to knowledge and expertise in pig nutrition.
Owen Brennan is also a philanthropist and supports activities in his community and education and excellence in its many forms.
We here in UCD are pleased to acknowledge Owen Brennan’s considerable achievements by conferring on him the title of Honorary Doctor of Science. He has demonstrated the vision and entrepreneurial drive to build a world class international business. We also hope that Owen Brennan can be an example and an inspiration to you, our latest group of Agriculture and Food Science and Human Nutrition graduates.
Praehonorabilis Praeses, totaque Universitas,
Praesento vobis hunc meum filium, quem scio tam moribus quam doctrina habilem et idoneum esse qui admittatur, honoris causa, ad Gradum Doctoratus Scientiae; idque tibi fide mea testor ac spondeo, totique Academiae.