Appointments to the Board of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara
- Published on: 3 October 2025
- Last updated on: 3 October 2025
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, is pleased to announce the appointment of Loretto Callaghan and John Lynch to the board of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). Ms Callaghan and Mr Lynch will both serve three-year terms.
Announcing the appointments at the BIM Headquarters in Dún Laoghaire today, Minister Dooley said:
“I am pleased to make these appointments. Both candidates bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of the sector, which will help BIM in achieving its objectives in supporting and developing the Irish seafood industry. Ms Callaghan brings international experience across a range of sectors and Mr Lynch has extensive experience of the fisheries sector from both strategic and practical perspective.”
BIM legislation provides for a board of six members. These new appointments bring the BIM board membership to six. Minister Dooley concluded by saying:
“I have no doubt that both new members will make a valuable contribution to the work of BIM’s Board, which has provided, and continues to provide, a clear strategic direction for the work of BIM.”
Notes for Editor
BIM was established under Sea Fisheries Act 1952. BIM is the Irish State agency responsible for developing the Irish seafood industry. It supports fishers, fish farmers and processors through training, grants, technical expertise, sustainability initiatives, and marketing, while ensuring compliance with EU and Irish Regulations. It implements schemes under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme and on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. These schemes are jointly funded by the Irish government and the EU Commission and currently under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Furthermore, it put in place supports for the seafood sector under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve that were vital in allowing the sector to invest in the transformational change that was required in order that seafood sector could adapt to the change operational environment post-Brexit.
Loretto Callaghan is CEO of Vzarii Therapeutics and has international experience in leadership, executive, and board membership across the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and healthcare delivery sectors.
John Lynch is a qualified skipper and is the CEO of Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation. Mr Lynch is a member of various sectoral advisory groups and committees.
Ms Callaghan & Mr Lynch will join Aidan Cotter (Chairperson), Jean Callanan, Marie Gleeson-Prior and George Golden on the BIM board.