The inaugural "Changing Landscapes" conference, held on 30th May 2024, aimed to drive practical actions for national forestry and biodiversity. This ambitious, outcome-focused event brought together business leaders, financiers, policymakers, farmers, landscape stakeholders, and technologists to the West of Ireland to provide valuable insights into specific focus areas. The emphasis was on leveraging the multifunctional benefits of trees and promoting collaborative action for better environmental outcomes.
The first Changing Landscapes conference was a resounding success, revealing a strong demand for collaborative efforts and practical actions in forestry and biodiversity. The event laid the foundation for future initiatives and highlighted the crucial role of trees in our national landscape. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities, and how we can work as a collective towards a sustainable future.
We are excited about the possibility of hosting another event like this next year. This year's event was partially funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We will not have that funding next year, so if you are interested in sponsoring the next event, please get in touch.
For any inquiries as to how you can work with us or support us, please reach out to us, we would love to talk to you:
Matt, Hometree CEO: matt@hometree.ie
Ray, Development Lead: ray@hometree.ie
Sarah, Hometree Executive Assistant: sarah.oconnor@hometree.ie
Read the overall summary report from the Changing Landscapes conference 2024.
2024 Changing Landscapes Programme
8:30 REGISTRATION
9:30 WELCOME ADDRESS
Philip Boucher-Hayes, RTE, Broadcaster
9:40 KEYNOTE
Dustin Benton, Green Alliance, Policy Director
PART 1 - RE-IMAGINING A THRIVING LANDSCAPE
9:50 THE CHALLENGE
Feature presentation and panel discussion.
Understanding current landscape challenges, barriers to transformational change and opportunities to realise ambition. Exploring strategic land use, trade-offs, emerging economic models, policies, stakeholder sentiment and biodiversity value.
Pádraic Fogarty, Openfield, Ecologist (feature speaker)
Niall McCaffrey, IPSOS B&A, Director (panel chair)
Dustin Benton, Green Alliance, Policy Director
Catherine Farrell, Trinity College Dublin, Senior Research Fellow
Orlaith Delargy, Former KPMG, Nature and Biodiversity Lead EMEA
10:35 A PRACTITIONER’S PERSPECTIVE
Feature presentation and panel discussion.
Hearing from those closest to the ground about where they see concerns, points of tension, challenges and obstacles, but crucially constructive paths forward, opportunity and critical needs to deliver impact at scale to benefit all participants.
Barry O'Donoghue, NPWS, Principal (feature speaker)
Rob Yorke, Environmental Dialogue Broker, Founder (panel chair)
Pat O’Toole, Irish Farmers Journal, Journalist
Fergal Anderson, Talamh Beo, Founding Member
Olive Leavy, Irish Forest Owners & Pro Silva, National Coordinator & Administrator
Grainne Hassett, SAUL - School of Architecture, Professor & Architect
PART 2 - ACCESSING AND SCALING FINANCE
12:05 FINANCING CHANGE
Panel discussion.
Exploring financing mechanisms to drive impact at scale across Ireland, with lessons learnt from international nature finance experts. Deep dive into how to access, deploy and manage finance for impact at scale, and how to avoid pitfalls and cowboys.
Tom Popple, BE IMPACTFUL and Hometree, CEO & Board Director (panel chair)
Cain Blythe, CreditNature & Ecosulis, CEO
Pat Leahy, Department of Finance, Principal
Joe Keenan, Former The Nature Conservancy, VP
Fiona Patterson, Arup, Associate and Nature Lead for Europe
Mieke Siebers, Executive Director, Foundation for Sustainable Development
PART 3 - NEW MODELS FOR IMPACT
14:00 FROM THE GROUND UP
Feature presentations and panel discussion.
Discovering what it takes to deliver transformational change from those who have and are doing it. Drivers, solutions, challenges and opportunities for landscape change from dune restoration in Kerry to rainforest conservation in South America.
Allan Mulrooney, Western Development Commission, CEO (panel chair)
Margaret Flaherty, Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE, Community Engagement Officer (case study)
Martha Farrell, Maharees Conservation Group, Founding Member and Director (case study)
Stephen Robb, The Farmers Journal, Renewables Editor
Joe Keenan, The Nature Conservancy (fmr), VP
Bryan Irvine, Peatland Standard Advisor, Peatland Finance Ireland
14:50 UNLIKELY ALLIANCES
Quick-fire photo-stories and panel discussion.
New partnership structures are required to deliver transformational and inclusive change. Discovering how creativity plays a powerful role in building shared visions, rethinking knowledge as an active disruptor, using technology as a tool and more.
Tania Banotti, Creative Ireland, Director (panel chair)
Laura Costello, Thinkhouse, Head of Sustainability
Stuart Green, Teagasc, Research Officer
Jeremy Turkington, Hometree, Seed Bank Coordinator
15:40 CLOSING REMARKS
16:00 NETWORKING AND DINNER
2024 Changing Landscapes Speakers
Fergal Anderson, Talamh Beo, Founding Member
Fergal is a founding member of Talamh Beo, Ireland's newest representative organisation for farmers, and worked for a number of years with La Via Campesina, the International movement of Peasant farmers in their Brussels office. Fergal and his partner Emanuela have a 30 acre horticulture and woodland farm in East Galway, where they aim to rebuild local food systems and reconnect people with the land, food and each other.
Tania Banotti, Creative Ireland, Director
Tania Banotti is the Director of the Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-government initiative to place creative arts at the heart of Irish communities. One area of its work is ‘Creative Climate Action’ a partnership of three government depts: Culture, Climate Action and the Taoiseach to use the talents of artists and the wider creative sector around climate action. Tania has extensive experience in performing arts, advertising and media. She was Chief Executive of Advertising Practitioners of Ireland and of Theatre Forum Ireland.
Dustin Benton, Green Alliance, Policy Director
Dustin is the policy director at Green Alliance, overseeing initiatives related to energy, resources, and the environment, with a key emphasis on achieving net zero emissions. He has a background in advising government agencies, including a recent role as chief analytical advisor for the National Food Strategy at Defra. His previous work at Green Alliance focused on low-carbon energy, resource stewardship, and circular economy solutions. Before joining Green Alliance, Dustin led projects at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, addressing the intersection of landscape protection, climate change, and energy infrastructure. He holds master's degrees in Political Thought and Theory, as well as International Relations and French.
Cain Blythe, CreditNature & Ecosulis, CEO
Cain Blythe is a founder, author, public speaker and thought leader on nature finance. He has made numerous speaking appearances to promote awareness of the interdependency between our global economy, nature and the climate. He is the founder and CEO of two pioneering organisations, CreditNature and Ecosulis, as well as the co-author of 'Rewilding: The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery', alongside Dr Paul Jepson. He is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and has been recognised as one of the UKs 100 most influential environmentalists in 2022, a LinkedIn Top Voice in the UK and finalist for Environmental Professional of the Year in 2023.
Philip Boucher-Hayes, RTE, Broadcaster
Philip Boucher-Hayes is a broadcaster and journalist. His work is primarily in the area of the twin climate and biodiversity crises. On television his documentary work includes Rising Tides, Hot Air and Future Shock: The Last Drop. On Radio he presents the climate change series Hot Mess on RTÉ Radio 1 as well as that station's rural affairs and farming programme, Countrywide.
Laura Costello, Thinkhouse, Head of Sustainability
Laura has over 10 years experience in the communications industry. Her speciality is in leading transformative communications campaigns that connect, convince and create change. She works for a sustainable world by accelerating cultural and business transformation toward a joyful, just and liveable future. She works with the likes of the Irish Environmental Network, Musgrave, Fair Seas, IMMA, RTÉ, Tony’s Chocolonely, Heineken, Creative Ireland, Ben & Jerry’s, Innocent drinks and Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard. She helped THINKHOUSE achieve B Corp certification in 2023. Laura is also growing a community of creative professionals working to reshape the advertising and marketing industry to tackle climate change. In 2022 she was named by Forbes as one of 43 People Changing Advertising For The Climate. She is currently leading the Creative Ireland funded project Good Life 2030 Ireland.
Orlaith Delargy, Former KPMG, Nature and Biodiversity Lead EMEA
Orlaith is a sustainability professional with nearly a decade of experience in the private and third sectors. Most recently, she held the role of Nature & Biodiversity lead for the EMEA region at KPMG, where she worked with industry clients across sectors on emerging regulations and frameworks such as CSRD, TNFD and SBTN, as well as with the Irish government on Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan.
Catherine Farrell, Trinity College Dublin, Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Catherine Farrell is a Senior Research and Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. A lifetime restoration practitioner and ecologist, her current research focuses on developing mechanisms to support, monitor and communicate the benefits of nature restoration across environmental and social impact levels. A founding member of Natural Capital Ireland, she worked on the EPA funded research project INCASE, applying the UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework at catchment scale in Ireland. She is a Board member of Hometree, and a member of the Community Wetlands Forum, with extensive experience in wetland, coastal, peatland and woodland conservation projects. Catherine has a strong commitment to community engagement and innovation in nature conservation and restoration (bottom up), while recognising the integral need for strong and functional supporting systems (top down).
Martha Farrell, Maharees Conservation Group, Founding Member and Director
Martha Farrell is a lecturer at Munster Technological University and a founding member and director of Maharees Conservation Association CLG (MCA) - an award-winning, community and volunteer-led registered charity which was set up to protect the Maharees tombolo on the Dingle Peninsula. It is now a recognised exemplar in community-led climate adaptation and successful community-deployment of nature-based solutions. Due to its exposure to Atlantic storms and the low-lying nature of much of the land form, the Maharees is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With help from state agencies, NGOs and academics, a series of community-driven efforts using nature-based solutions, supported by regenerative tourism is making a difference. By raising awareness about the unique heritage of the Maharees, and taking steps to protect the sand dune habitat, the members of Maharees Conservation Association are building community resilience in the face of climate change.
Margaret Flaherty, Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE, Community Engagement Officer
Margaret, a Community Engagement Officer with LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, brings extensive experience in environmental awareness and education having worked in the area since the early 2000s. Her career intertwines with her academic pursuits, holding a PhD in Zoology, an MSc in Nature Conservation, and a degree in Ecology. With roots in Connemara, Margaret's childhood amidst diverse ecosystems sparked her lifelong passion for nature. She advocates for understanding and valuing Irish natural heritage, essential for its conservation and enjoyment by future generations. Additionally, she actively supports initiatives safeguarding the nocturnal environment.
Pádraic Fogarty, Openfield, Ecologist
Pádraic Fogarty is an ecologist and environmental scientist who was chairman of the Irish Wildlife Trust from 2009-2013, editor of 'Irish Wildlife' magazine and IWT campaign officer until 2023. He is the author of 'Whittled Away - Ireland's Vanishing Nature', published in 2017.
Stuart Green, Teagasc, Research Officer
Dr Stuart Green is Senior Research Officer in the Department of Agribusiness and Spatial Analysis in Teagasc. He has a PhD in Earth Observation and has been the remote sensing specialist in Teagasc for 25 years. His research focus is on the use of EO to support sustainable Agriculture. He has lead projects producing national scale datasets from EO on land cover, land use, habitats and forestry in Ireland.
Grainne Hasset, SAUL - School of Architecture, Professor & Architect
Grainne Hasset is a practising architect, Senior Lecturer and member of the Advisory Board at the new School of Architecture, University of Limerick (SAUL). She regularly reviews work in other Irish Architecture Schools and has reviewed work at Yokohama, Turin, Stockholm and StrathclydeSchools of Architecture. Grainne works to shape the culture and accreditation of SAUL at UL, leading and developing pedagogy, developing ongoing teaching initiatives, SAUL IU (SAUL Intelligence Unit) Projects, developing policy, developing other University wide projects and connections with industry, local government and the international community.
Joe Keenan, The Nature Conservancy (fmr), VP
Joe Keenan, retired former executive vice president and managing director of The Nature Conservancy's Latin America Region, led a team of over 320 across sixteen countries. His tenure was marked by impactful conservation efforts, including initiatives for water and food security, infrastructure sustainability, indigenous collaboration, and private sector partnerships. Keenan held various key roles within the Conservancy, including managing director for South America and director of Conservation Strategy for Brazil. Before his conservation career, he spent nearly a decade as a journalist and editor in Mexico, focusing on Latin American politics, economics, and the environment. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Swarthmore College.
Bryan Irvine, Peatland Standard Advisor, Peatland Finance Ireland
Bryan Irvine is the Peatland Standard Advisor to Peatland Finance Ireland, a not-for-profit initiative to drive peatland restoration through the creation of a standard to facilitate the involvement of private finance. He has managed restoration capital works and monitoring on open drained blanket bog and forest to bog projects for CAFRE and has decades of experience with DAERA in previous roles as a Senior Biodiversity Technologist, and Agricultural Advisor.
Andrew Jackson, UCD, Assistant Professor in Planning & Environmental Law
Andrew Jackson is an environmental and planning lawyer with extensive experience spanning international, EU, and Irish jurisdictions. He has worked for prestigious organizations including Slaughter and May in London and Paris, as well as the UK government's legal service at Defra. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise to NGOs like Friends of the Irish Environment and An Taisce, serving as Natural Environment Officer and in-house Solicitor. Dr. Jackson is renowned for his involvement in public interest environmental and planning litigation, appearing before courts in Ireland, England, and the EU. He is an active member of global alliances such as The Access Initiative and ELAW, as well as the Environmental and Planning Committee of the Law Society of Ireland.
Pat Leahy, Department of Finance, Principal
Pat Leahy is a Principal Officer in the Department of Finance. He is a graduate of UCC and DCU. He has worked across the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Currently he has responsibility for policies on Central Bank powers and functions and National Treasury Management Agency funding and investment strategies. He is also responsible for the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund legislation which is currently before Dáil Éireann.
Olive Leavy, Irish Forest Owners & Pro Silva, National Coordinator & Administrator
Olive Leavy is a forest owner committed to the promotion of farm forestry and sustainable forest management through CCF. She is the National coordinator at Irish Forest Owners. Olive has a PhD in immunology in Trinity College, and worked as a scientific editor with Springer Nature in London for 11 years before returning to manage her forest in Kinnegad County Westmeath
Niall McCaffrey, IPSOS Polling, Director
Niall is the Director of Ipsos B&A, Ireland's longest-established full-service market research agency. He is a facilitator and award-winning qualitative researcher with 25 years of experience across Ireland, Europe, and the US. He leads the Ipsos team responsible for the National Dialogue on Climate Action contract for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. He holds a BA in Psychology from UCD and an MSc in Applied Psychology from the University of Ulster. He is also a former chair of the Marketing Society of Ireland.
Allan Mulrooney, Western Development Commission, CEO
Allan Mulrooney is the Chief Executive Officer at Western Development Commission.Prior to taking over as Interim CEO Allan held the role of Head of Communications and Atlantic Economic Corridor Development at the WDC for over three years. Preceding this he worked at IDA Ireland, the State’s inward investment promotion agency that is tasked with growing and sustaining FDI in Ireland. Allan has held several senior positions in private sector companies including the telecommunications sector, in public relations and has long been involved in community building projects across the Northwest focused on tourism and the growth of micro-enterprises.
Barry O’Donoghue, NPWS, Principal
Barry O'Donoghue, hailing from Tralee, Co. Kerry, brings a unique blend of nature conservation and farming expertise. With bachelor's and master's degrees in agriculture and environmental science, and a PhD focused on Hen Harriers, Barry is renowned both nationally and internationally for his work in this field. Currently serving as a Grade 1 Wildlife Inspector with the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Barry leads various research and policy initiatives, with a particular focus on agriculture. He has played a central role in establishing numerous conservation programs, including Corncrake LIFE, the Hen Harrier Project, the Curlew Conservation Programme, and a recent €30m initiative targeting Breeding Waders EIP. Barry's passion lies in engaging landowners and rural communities, recognizing their vital role in safeguarding nature, water, soil, and heritage for future generations.
Pat O’Toole, Irish Farmers Journal, Journalist
Pat is a tillage farmer from Ferns, County Wexford. His is a journalist and the current political correspondent of the Irish Farmers Journal. He is a figure who commands wide respect across the environmental and agricultural sectors.
Fiona Patterson, Arup, Associate and Nature Lead for Europe
Fiona has over 22 years' experience in environmental consultancy, primarily in the delivery of large-scale complex projects through the planning process. Her role includes leading teams in the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, SEA, ecological assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Fiona has a deep interest in nature services, particularly nature restoration and Nature based Solutions, aiming to deliver projects across a multitude of client sectors which will have net positive environmental outcomes. She works closely with clients, designers and key stakeholders during the design process with this particular focus in mind. She has a comprehensive understanding of related global drivers and sensitivities across the nature agenda and how organisations are responding and where to position. She was part of the first Arup delegation to attend the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 in Montreal, Canada in 2022.
Tom Popple, BE IMPACTFUL and Hometree, CEO & Board Director
Tom is CEO – Founder of BE IMPACTFUL, an impact advisory for leaders on climate and nature financing. Tom unleashes changemakers with the insights, solutions and partnerships they need to reach set climate, nature and community ambitions through net zero, positive and restorative goals. For the last decade Tom has built impact programmes for more than 200 organisations with delivery values exceeding USD 500m, including Accenture, Sky, BBC, Marks and Spencer, Diageo, Logitech, PwC, An Post and more. Tom is a Board Director of GIY, member of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance and Founder of the Climate Cocktail Club.
Stephen Robb, The Farmers Journal, Renewables Editor
Stephen Robb is the Renewables Editor at the Irish Farmers Journal. His focus is on renewable energy opportunities in the agricultural industry. Stephen, who is from a tillage farming background in Donegal and is involved with a community anaerobic digestion project, had previously worked as a tillage, ag innovation and renewables specialist with the company for 5 years. Stephen has an undergrad degree in agribusiness management from UCD and an MSc in Agricultural innovation support from Teagasc/UCD with a focus on bioenergy.
Mieke Siebers, Executive Director, Foundation for Sustainable Development
Mieke Siebers gained experience in ecosystem services and nature valuation through working with various nature conservation organisations on their business development and communication strategies. She has been leading FSD`s activities on ecosystem services valuation for sustainable (financial) decision making by gaining better understanding of what different (financial) stakeholders need and want. Over the past years she has built a solid network of private and public partnerships, spearheading FSD’s work on the economic valuation of nature and more specifically the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD). Mieke is active in a number of international organizations and initiatives such as the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP), developing domain- overarching partnerships on the topic of Ecosystem Services and Health. She is a sounding board member of the Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF) and a leading professional within the Dutch Natural Capital Community of Practice. She has organized many webinars on Ecosystem Services valuation and leads the newly established Ecosystem Services working group for financial institutions at PBAF. She gave the closing address at the European Business and Nature summit (EBNS) in Brussels. And was the Master of Ceremony during last year’s EBNS in Milan.
Matt Smith, Hometree, CEO
Matt Smith is the CEO of Hometree Charity. In 2013 Matt also co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm. Matt is a published writer and owns an annual ocean-based publication. For a decade Matt has been a consultant and ambassador for Finisterre, a UK ethical clothing company. Matt holds a foundation degree in Natural Science and recently completed a ‘critical leadership’ course with Cumbria University with Prof Jem Bendell.
Jeremy Turkington, Hometree, Seed Bank Coordinator
Jeremy has an Honours Degree in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry and a foundation degree in Rural Development and Countryside Management. He is an arborist with 17 years experience across the ecological and environmental charity and land based sectors in Ireland, specialising in ensuring genetic integrity of Forest Reproductive Material in Irish tree nurseries and fostering a consciousness of our indigenous trees and wild woodlands at local level. He has conducted research into improving biodiversity at a catchment scale without the use of subsidies.
Rob Yorke, Environmental Dialogue Broker, Founder
Rob has lived across the wilder parts of the UK and as a self-confessed ‘naturalist – hunter’, winning a Nature Prize at aged 9 cemented a lifelong interest in the environment. Wearing two hats: as a rural chartered surveyor he's managed projects involving land and people, while as a seasoned broadcaster, he's contributed to The Times, hosted a range of events, weekly 90sec vlogs, and fronted a TV fishing survival series in west Ireland. Rob's diverse experiences over 25 years led him to found his Environmental Dialogue Broker (diplomatic) services.
