Safefood, the all-island body dedicated to promoting awareness and knowledge of food safety and nutrition on the island of Ireland, is pleased to announce the appointment of Joanne Uí Chrualaoich as its new Chief Executive Officer. A Cork-based scientist and public health leader with over 18 years of experience across government, academia, and industry, Uí Chrualaoich steps into the role at a pivotal time, as shifts in how, where and what people eat across the island heighten the importance of Safefood’s work.
Joanne joins Safefood from the Department of Health (IE), where she served as Head of Population Health Screening and Cardiovascular Policy. Her career also includes 16 years at University College Cork’s School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where she was Director of the Food Industry Training Unit.
Reflecting on her appointment, Joanne Uí Chrualaoich, CEO of Safefood, said: “The work of Safefood is a cornerstone of the all-island health and food safety infrastructure, and I am delighted to lead an implementation body that remains central to North-South cooperation. Growing up in a border community, I have a deep appreciation for the vital role these partnerships play. My goal is to leverage my experience in both the food and health sectors to drive organisational growth while maintaining the strong, collaborative links I have built with colleagues in both the Department of Health in Dublin and the Department of Health in Belfast.”
Trained as both a chemist and a psychologist, Uí Chrualaoich brings a unique "science-meets-behaviour" approach to the agency’s mandate. This dual expertise is critical to Safefood’s mission of transforming rigorous scientific evidence into practical, trusted advice for the public.
“Everything we achieve depends on trust - trust in science, in institutions, and in the messages people receive,” Joanne continues. “My background helps me bridge those worlds. It allows me to anchor our work in scientific evidence while also understanding how people interpret information and how behaviours changes.”
Under Uí Chrualaoich’s leadership, Safefood is prioritising the development of its first long-term strategy, Safefood 2036. This project aims to look beyond immediate work programmes to address how rapid changes in technology, supply chains, and consumer habits will impact public health over the next decade.
“The organisation is at a point of real maturity,” Joanne explained. “It’s the right moment to step back and ask ourselves what our long-term goal should be. Safefood 2036 is about thinking boldly. We will listen to our partners, the food industry, academia and critically the public to ensure our work remains credible, relevant, and focused on improving lives across the island.”
