Marie Byrne

Marie Byrne serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Food Science & Environmental Health at the Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), a position she has held since founding the institution's BSc Degree in Brewing & Distilling in 2016. Concurrently, she operates as Operations Director of Church of Oak Distillery and Founder/Commercial Director of Chinnery Spirits, a design award-winning gin brand with established distribution through Classic Drinks, Celtic Whiskey, and major retailers including Dunnes Stores and SuperValu.

Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science Degree from University College Dublin (UCD), which underpins her industry-academia integration. Professional affiliations extend to Board Member of the Single Malt Fund (since 2020), Founding Member of the Irish Whiskey Association (2014), and Enterprise Ireland Mentor, reflecting her leadership across education, regulation, and business development sectors.

Dr. Byrne's research centers on sustainable production methodologies within beverage manufacturing, particularly examining raw material utilization and waste stream management in brewing and distilling operations. Her current PhD co-supervision at TU Dublin investigates circular economy approaches for industry by-products, translating academic research into practical sustainability frameworks through her active distillery operations and industry partnerships.

Student supervision leverages her dual academic-industry position, providing access to real-time production challenges and commercial networks. Her projects include securing international travel retail partnerships (Aer Rianta International, Irish Ferries) and developing distilleries from site acquisition through to operational launch, as demonstrated by the Dublin Whiskey Company's successful sale to Quintessential Brands UK.

Professional recognition includes multiple design awards for Chinnery Spirits' packaging and branding, alongside strategic achievements in establishing distribution channels across retail, hospitality, and travel sectors. Her Prince2 project management certification (P2R/338603) ensures rigorous methodology in both academic research supervision and commercial implementation.