UL graduate appointed director of Dairy Processing Technology Centre

Dr Anne Marie Henihan has been appointed as the new Centre Director of Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC), the Enterprise Ireland Technology Centre hosted at the University of Limerick.

The DPTC is an industry-academic collaboration with a research agenda in dairy processing and innovation, driven by the long-term growth opportunities in the dairy sector.

Dr Henihan, who is a Limerick native, is a graduate of University of Limerick with a PhD in Waste Management and Renewable Energy.

She has more than 15 years’ experience working in Research, Development and Innovation at the interface of industry and academia and brings a wealth of experience in technological innovation and development to the role.

As the new Centre Director of DPTC, Dr Henihan’s key priority will be to ensure that the Centre delivers innovative impact for one of Ireland’s most important indigenous industries.

The Centre will be the essential differentiator for Irish dairy processors, fuelling sustainable growth.

She has held strategic leadership positions within the DPTC since 2016, firstly as the Strategic Development Officer, and recently as Interim Centre Director. Based at the University of Limerick, she will lead a high performance team responsible for business development, funding, marketing and programme coordination.

DPTC was founded in 2014 as an academic-industry collaboration and partners include – Arrabawn Co-op., Carbery Food Ingredients Ltd., Dairygold Food Ingredients, Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, Kerry Group, Lakeland Dairies Co-op, and Tipperary Co-op.

DPTC research is allocated among the partner Research Performing Organisations (RPOs). Currently, the Centre collaborates with seven RPOs, namely the host institution University of Limerick (UL), Teagasc, University College Cork (UCC), University College Dublin (UCD), National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Dublin City University (DCU) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD).