Michael Hayden

Dr. Michael Hayden is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Maynooth University School of Business. He holds a PhD in financial management in agriculture from Dublin City University and has extensive industry experience as a chartered accountant and financial controller. His research focuses on agricultural financial management, sustainability in food systems, generational renewal in farming, and rural economy challenges.

Hayden has led significant research projects including the AgriRenew initiative (2024–2025), exploring renewable energy adoption in agriculture, and the Sustainable Transition of the Rural Economy project (2021–2023), addressing succession planning and retirement income provision. He has published widely in journals like Journal of Rural Studies and Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, with a focus on policy-relevant topics such as farmer pension provision and collaborative farming structures.

• Professional Roles: Chairperson of the Irish Accounting & Finance Association (2022–2024), Member of the European Accounting Association’s External Relations Committee.
• Awards: Irish Accountancy Awards Winner (2017, 2024), Shortlisted for Maynooth University Teaching Award (2023).
• Teaching: Leads modules in management accounting, financial accounting, and strategic finance, with external examiner roles at multiple institutions.

His work bridges academia and practice, influencing policy through research on sustainable farming, generational renewal, and economic viability of agricultural enterprises.