Michael Kelly
Founder of GIY; Expert in Sustainable, Healthy Food; Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur, Author & Presenter of Food Matters TV Series & Podcast
why book michael?
- Michael Kelly is the founder of GIY, inspiring over 1 million people annually to grow their own food and aiming for 100 million by 2030
- He is the producer and presenter of Grow, Cook, Eat and Food Matters, reaching 12 million viewers on RTÉ and Amazon Prime
- Michael is recognised globally for promoting “food empathy” and mobilising communities for wellbeing, climate, and biodiversity
“It’s always about learning, readjusting and progressing through things that we learn about the climate, about what a particular plant likes and where it’s planted and how we need to care for it. It was definitely a learning curve, but I what I loved were the lessons with Michael. It was at times very entertaining, but there were also really important points about growing and going through the whole entire process.”
Biography
Michael Kelly is the visionary founder of GIY (Grow It Yourself), a pioneering social enterprise driving a global movement to transform the food system from the ground up. As a seasoned social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, Michael is an Ashoka Fellow, Ireland Funds awardee, and a passionate advocate for “food empathy”—the understanding of food and its origins that inspires pro-environmental behaviours and mindset shifts.
GIY’s ambitious goal is to empower 100 million people to grow their own food by 2030, with over 1 million participants already engaged annually across Ireland, the UK, and the US. Michael is the producer and presenter of the award-winning TV series Grow, Cook, Eat (RTÉ and Amazon Prime) and Food Matters (RTÉ), reaching over 12 million viewers worldwide.
An accomplished author of five books on food and food growing, Michael collaborates with leading global brands, governments, and foundations to mobilize communities for impactful wellbeing, climate, and biodiversity outcomes. His latest book, The GIY Diaries was nominated for a Book of the Year Award in 2023.
He also founded GROW HQ, an urban farm and sustainable food hub in Waterford, Ireland, recognized with the Sustainability Award from Good Food Ireland in 2024; National Café of the Year 2020 and one of the Sunday Times’ Top 100 Restaurants in Ireland.
Michael’s dynamic speaking style and deep expertise make him a sought-after speaker on food systems, sustainability, and the transformative power of growing food.
Topics
From Seed to System: How Growing Food Transforms People and Planet
This talk explores the powerful ripple effects of growing food, from personal wellbeing to global sustainability. Michael shares inspiring stories from GIY’s journey, highlighting how food growing fosters “food empathy” and drives positive environmental and social change.
Audience Takeaways:
- How growing food reconnects people to the food system and encourages sustainable behaviours.
- Real-world examples of how communities have transformed through growing initiatives.
- Practical steps individuals and organisations can take to create impactful, local food movements.
Growing Purpose: Finding Your Ikigai Through Meaningful Work
In this inspiring talk, Michael explores how the Japanese concept of ikigai—the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for—can help individuals find deeper purpose in their work. Drawing on his own journey from corporate life to founding GIY, he shares how aligning passion with impact can lead to a fulfilling and purpose-driven career.
Audience Takeaways:
- An understanding of ikigai and how it can guide personal and professional growth.
- Practical strategies for identifying your unique purpose and aligning it with your career.
- Lessons from Michael’s experience transitioning from a traditional career path to leading a global social enterprise, offering insights into embracing risk and pursuing meaningful work.
Cultivating Change: The Social Entrepreneur’s Guide to Scaling Impact
Drawing on over 15 years as a social entrepreneur, Michael reveals the challenges and strategies behind scaling GIY from a local initiative to a global movement. He offers insights into leadership, partnership-building, and leveraging media to amplify impact.
Audience Takeaways:
- Key lessons on growing a mission-driven organization while staying true to its core values.
- How to build partnerships with governments, corporations, and communities for mutual benefit.
- Insights into using storytelling and media to inspire large-scale engagement.
Michael Kelly
Masterclasses
You may want to go deeper with your audience. Masterclasses can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass, a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.
Growing Food, Growing Mindset: The Basics of Food Growing and Cultivating Food Empathy
This immersive masterclass delves into the fundamentals of growing your own food while exploring the transformative concept of “food empathy.” Participants will learn practical skills for starting a garden—whether at home, school, or in a community space—while gaining insights into how growing food fosters a deeper connection to the food system and inspires sustainable, pro-environmental behaviours.
What You’ll Learn:
- Practical Growing Skills:
- How to choose the right crops for your space and climate.
- Essential techniques for planting, nurturing, and harvesting.
- Tips for composting, soil health, and natural pest control.
- Cultivating Food Empathy:
- The psychological and environmental benefits of growing food.
- How food growing can shift mindsets toward sustainability and wellbeing.
- Real-life examples of how communities have transformed through food-growing initiatives.
- Interactive Elements:
- Hands-on seed planting and growing demonstrations.
- Guided reflection exercises to explore personal connections to food.
- Group discussion on integrating food-growing practices into daily life.
Takeaways:
Participants will leave with the confidence to start their own food-growing journey, along with a deeper appreciation of how growing food can positively impact health, the environment, and community resilience. Each attendee will receive a practical guide to food growing, including seasonal planting charts and resources to continue their learning.
Resources
Books
“I’m glad I got that experience to actually touch and feel like the growth and the nourishment that came from it. We did have some cucumbers and it was like, “Oh my gosh, I have so much!”, so I could even give some away. I really appreciated the course and I appreciate you, Mick, and your teaching style.”
testimonials
“It’s always about learning, readjusting and progressing through things that we learn about the climate, about what a particular plant likes and where it’s planted and how we need to care for it. It was definitely a learning curve, but I what I loved were the lessons with Michael. It was at times very entertaining, but there were also really important points about growing and going through the whole entire process.”
“I’m glad I got that experience to actually touch and feel like the growth and the nourishment that came from it. We did have some cucumbers and it was like, “Oh my gosh, I have so much!”, so I could even give some away. I really appreciated the course and I appreciate you, Mick, and your teaching style.”
Related Speakers
Founder of GIY; Expert in Sustainable, Healthy Food; Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur, Author & Presenter of Food Matters TV Series & Podcast
Related Speakers
- ESG & Sustainability Speakers
