Professor Thia Hennessy is Head of the College of Business and Law at University College Cork and a member of the University Leadership Team. She is a senior, experienced academic leader with a track record of achievement in academia and business.

A highly cited economist with strong quantitative skills, Prof Hennessy has published numerous articles on the economic performance of the agri-food sector and is a regularly invited expert to policy-making bodies such as the European Parliament and the OECD. Prior to joining UCC in 2016, she was employed by Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, where she was responsible for the National Farm Survey (NFS) which produces the official statistics on farm income in Ireland. In this role, she led a multidisciplinary team to adapt the survey to develop a unique suite of sustainability indicators.

Professor Hennessy is a frequent contributor to tv, radio and the printed press clearly disseminating complex information supported by statistical evidence. In recognition of her research contributions, Thia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by her alma mater, the University of Reading in 2019.  

Professor Hennessy’s research interests include the sustainable development of the agri-food sector with a particular interest in the impact of public policy on the farm sector. She is a member of a number of international research consortia examining issues such as the economic performance of farms, the sustainability of food production and the impact of climate change on agriculture.