Jacinta Dalton appointed Head of Dept of Culinary Arts & Services Industry

GMIT has appointed Jacinta Dalton as Head of GMIT’s Department of Culinary Arts & Services Industries, succeeding Gerry Talbot who retired earlier this year.

Welcoming Ms Dalton to the GMIT Management Group, GMIT President Dr Fergal Barry, says: “Jacinta’s wealth of management experience in the food and hospitality industry, her lecturing role in GMIT and her international role as a Fáilte Ireland Food Champion will enhance GMIT graduates’ career prospects and the Institute’s engagement with stakeholders in Ireland and abroad”.

Ms Dalton joined the Institute in 2010 as a lecturer in Marketing and Hospitality Management. Prior to joining GMIT, she worked as a freelance mentor to the food and hospitality sectors and has developed and delivered a number of training programmes for Fáilte Ireland.

Jacinta has had direct operational experience at senior management level in the food and hospitality industry over the past 20 years. She is one of eight appointed food champions for The Wild Atlantic Way, a role that is peer nominated and appointed by Fáilte Ireland. The role recognises “individuals who actively influence and shape the future of food tourism in their regions” (Fáilte Ireland, 2013). Jacinta represents Galway and Ireland at overseas symposiums and takes every opportunity to promote Galway and the West of Ireland as a food destination. 

In 2011 Jacinta co-founded The FoodieForum, an interactive, collaborative, educational showcase of Irish craft produce, designed to create a networking platform for food producers, chefs, restaurateurs and members of the public who have a strong interest in food education and the support and promotion of local food producers and food businesses. The FoodieForum has since developed into a forum for children’s food education at food festivals and events. 

Jacinta continues to have close links with industry, is a member of Galway’s European Region of Gastronomy Steering committee, a mentor with the Local Enterprise Office, and she also consults with a number of regional food festivals and events.

Jacinta is a member of the Board of the Institute of Gastronomy, Culture Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) and a member of their International panel of Experts.  

Commenting on her appointment, Jacinta Dalton says: “I look forward to further engagement with industry stakeholders in an effort to develop additional programmes in our Department of Culinary Arts & Service Industries that meet the needs of a growing industry and the demand for services that this creates.”

"Our department is holding two open days in October and we look forward to welcoming prospective students and their parents to learn about the range of courses we offer. The open days will take place on Friday 13th and Saturday 15th October, 2017.”