Mayo seafood professionals earn international certification
MAYO seafood professionals Hugh O’Malley of Achill Oysters and Sheila Garvin of The Garvin Seafood Company have completed the inaugural BIM Seafood Innovation Programme, earning an internationally recognised certification from one of Europe’s leading business schools.
Hugh and Sheila were among eight seafood professionals who successfully completed the 2026 programme.
The programme is designed to strengthen innovation and new product development capabilities across Ireland’s seafood sector. It combines practical learning, industry insights and tailored business support to help participants bring new ideas to market and embed innovation as a strategic function within their organisations.
Richard Donnelly, CEO of BIM, congratulated Hugh and Sheila on their achievement.
“I want to congratulate Hugh and Sheila on successfully completing the inaugural BIM Seafood Innovation Programme,” Mr. Donnelly said.
“Through BIM’s partnership with Rotterdam School of Management, they gained access to world-class innovation expertise and practical tools that they can immediately apply within their businesses.
“The awarding of the RSM Executive Education’s Innovation Management programme demonstrates their commitment and dedication to the Seafood Innovation Programme over the last nine months. I would also like to thank Achill Oysters and The Garvin Seafood Company for supporting their participation in this year’s programme.
“The knowledge and insights they have gained means they are well placed to further embed innovation within their businesses, helping to drive value creation, growth and competitiveness.”
A key element of the programme is its executive education component, delivered in partnership with Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Through a course tailored specifically to the seafood industry, participants developed practical innovation management skills and earned the internationally recognised certification.
The course covers innovation strategy, technology management, organisational transformation, open and collaborative innovation, and design thinking. It equips seafood professionals to identify new opportunities, develop customer-focused solutions, build innovation cultures and create strategies that support sustainable, long-term business growth.
The other participants in the 2026 programme were Graham Goff, Atlantis of Kilmore Quay; Yvonne McCarron, Atlanfish; Áine Lynch, Oceanpath; Séamas De Roiste, Bantry Bay Premium; and Saroj Kapadne and Emer Kelly, Keohane Seafoods.