Des Rice

Des Rice qualified from UCD with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) in 1972.  In his initial career, he was a specialist in livestock nutrition and diseases. After two years in veterinary practice in Ireland, he spent four years developing a Veterinary Investigation Laboratory in El Salvador. This was followed by ten years as a nutritional-disease researcher in Belfast, where he obtained a PhD and went on to co-author close to 100 scientific publications.

Des then co-founded two livestock nutrition businesses that for 18 years advised farmers, veterinarians, feed manufacturers, and food processors. He was also an adviser to the UK’s Food Standards Agency post-BSE. For services to the Agrifood Industry, Des received an OBE from the British Government in 2004. He then sold these businesses to Associated British Foods, because his passion had transformed from animal performance to human performance.

Des subsequently retrained as a Business Coach and Psychotherapist who provides coaching, therapy and team training to businesses and community groups including VetSupport.  He has also founded a charity, Lifeskilz to teach emotional wellbeing to young people.