Episode 216: Trust, Traceability and the Quiet Work of Leadership

In this episode of AIBF Business Talk, AIBF Co-CEO Elaine Carroll sits down with Ursula Kelly, Managing Director of Cormac Tagging, for a grounded conversation on leadership, standards and trust in Irish agribusiness.

Cormac Tagging is a family-owned Irish business supplying animal identification products across the livestock sector. Under Ursula’s leadership, the company entered and reshaped the cattle tag market, challenging a long-standing monopoly and introducing greater choice in a highly regulated environment.

A central theme of the discussion is traceability. Ursula explains why Ireland’s ability to trace livestock from farm to fork is one of its strongest assets, particularly as consumers become more conscious of food origin and quality. Traceability, she notes, is not just compliance. It is proof.

The episode also explores leadership in a traditionally male-dominated sector, the responsibility that comes with growth, and the importance of building teams aligned around clear values. Ursula speaks candidly about backing yourself when decisions feel risky, learning from costly mistakes, and why human connection still matters in an increasingly digital world.

It is a practical, honest conversation about doing business where standards are tested daily and trust must be earned, not claimed.

🎧 Listen now on AIBF Business Talk