Rathlin’s Kate shortlisted for awards

RATHLIN Island business woman Kate Burns, managing director of Ocean Veg Ireland Ltd, is one of three finalists shortlisted in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship category for the 2015 Women in Business Awards.
Kate BurnsKate Burns
Kate Burns

The ceremony, which will be held on Thursday November 19 at the five-star Culloden Estate & Spa, aims to honour and celebrate the achievements of the many business women who make a valuable contribution to economic life in Northern Ireland.

Ocean Veg Ireland are growing kelp just off Church Bay in Rathlin Island. Rathlin is synonymous with clean, cold waters due to the mix of Irish Sea and Atlantic currents. This makes it ideal for growing and harvesting of Kelp forests.

Kate spend most of her younger life on Rathlin Island and raised a family there. Now they are working with her producing and processing Islander Kelp. Kate has been involved in rural and marine development for many years, running her own consultancy from 2007 to 2013. During this time she prepared coastal community plans for all of the Rep. Of Ireland for the irish seafood Board. Prior to 1994 Kate lived on Rathlin Island where she ran a regeneration program as well as her own restaurant and interpretive tours business.

Roseann Kelly, chief executive of Women in Business said; “We are absolutely delighted with the huge response to our fifth Annual Awards, we’ve had close to 200 entries this year. “The exceptional standard of entries and breadth of sectors represented made the judging panel’s job very difficult. Our 36 finalists are all amazing women and great role models to encourage other women to reach their full potential.”