Leadership Team
Patrick Cunningham, PhD., Non-Executive Chairman
Dr. Cunningham is a co-founder of IdentiGEN Ltd. and serves as Non-Executive Chairman. He was recently appointed as the Chief Scientific Advisor in Ireland, providing the government with high-level scientific advice and input into policy formulation. He is Professor of Animal Genetics at Trinity College, University of Dublin and was formerly Deputy Director (Research) in the Irish National Agriculture and Food Research Institute (1980-1988), Visiting Professor at the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank (1988), and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, Rome (1990-93). He has published extensively on the genetics of domesticated animals. Dr. Cunningham has been President of the European and World Associations of Animal Production, and served on the European Life Sciences Group, which advised Commissioner Busquin. Dr. Cunningham, one of Ireland’s preeminent scientists, serves in a wide range of other advisory roles in the state and semi-state sector.
Read more about Dr. Cunningham’s appointment as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Irish Government.
Ciaran Meghen, Managing Director, IdentiGEN Ltd.
Mr. Meghen provides the ongoing management function for IdentiGEN’s Irish operations and supports the current initiatives of IdentiGEN North America, Inc. Mr. Meghen developed the initial concepts that provided the foundations for IdentiGEN’s incorporation. While pursuing doctoral studies investigating the molecular genetic relationships of cattle breeds, the emergence of BSE (mad cow disease) in the UK focused his attention on opportunities to employ genetic technologies to assure consumers of the safety and integrity of meat. He and his academic colleagues co-founded IdentiGEN Ltd., and he was appointed its Managing Director. Mr. Meghen led the company through its seed financing and secured its first customers. Mr. Meghen graduated in 1992 with a B.A. Mod. Science degree from Trinity College Dublin, where he also obtained his post-graduate diploma in statistics in 1994.
Ronan Loftus, PhD, Commercial Director, IdentiGEN, Ltd. and President & CEO, IdentiGEN North America
Dr. Loftus is a co-founder of IdentiGEN Ltd. and oversees the company’s global commercialization and strategic development. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the agri-biotech sector and a track record in technology licensing, key account management and international business. In his role with IdentiGEN he has been successful in positioning the company’s technology in consumer markets and in winning key customer contracts. He led the company’s 2005 financing. Dr. Loftus received a BSc and Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Trinity College and an International Executive MBA from UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School.
John Heffernan, Group Financial Controller
John Heffernan joined IdentiGEN with more than 22 years’ experience in finance management in the U.S., Europe and Asia for Solar Turbines, Inc., a subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc., and Intertek Testing Service (UK) Ltd. Early in his career, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dublin and Chicago. Mr. Heffernan graduated from University College Dublin with a B.A. degree in economics and received a post-graduate diploma in accounting from Dublin City University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
David Juday, Consulting Director of Business Development
Mr. Juday is an economist and entrepreneur who specializes in the agricultural and food sectors. He has worked for the American Meat Institute, International Dairy Foods Association, and on a number of livestock- and meat-related projects for the United Soybean Board, as well as a wide variety of agribusiness corporations. Prior to his private sector career, Mr. Juday served as a senior agriculture policy advisor in the White House as Deputy Director of Domestic Policy in the Office of the Vice President. Mr. Juday also served as Task Force Investigator to the US Senate Committee on the Budget. He has written extensively on agricultural, trade and environmental issues. Mr. Juday received a B.S. degree in economics from Purdue University in 1984.
Key Staff
Carol Scott, Technical Manager
Ms. Scott joined IdentiGEN Ltd. in 1999 and currently serves as Technical Manager. She was instrumental in establishing the systems to support the first DNA TraceBack® customers in 1999, and in delivering product support to IdentiGEN’s UK and continental customers. More recently she led the establishment of the BSE testing facility in IdentiGEN’s Irish headquarters. She was promoted to Technical Manager in 2005 to roll out the Company’s DNA TraceBack® offering internationally. Ms. Scott supports the current initiatives of IdentiGEN North America Inc. Ms. Scott graduated in 1994 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Science with honors, and in 1997 with a Masters of Agricultural Science from University College Dublin, Ireland.
Jasbeer Goolam Hossen, Quality and Compliance Manager
Ms. Goolam Hossen joined IdentiGEN Ltd as Quality & Compliance Manager in August 2007. Ms. Goolam Hossen worked previously as Assistant Quality Manager from 2002 to 2007 with British American Tobacco and was instrumental in achieving both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. Prior to her role with BAT, she worked as Technical Assistant with New Maurifoods Ltd. from 2001 to 2002. Graduating in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Food Science, and in 2007 with a Master in Quality Management from University of Mauritius, Ms. Goolam Hossen is responsible for the expansion of IdentiGEN’s quality systems and accreditations. Ms. Goolam Hossen is an associate member of the UK Chartered Quality Institute.