It is with great shock and sadness that we heard of the untimely death of a dear friend of the Institute and of the worldwide environmental health community, Ray Ellard.
Ray was a former Principal EHO in the Eastern Health Board , Ireland before he joined the Department of Health as Chief EHO and upon the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland he became its first Director of Regulation and Compliance, where he remained until his retirement in April 2021.
Ray was a highly esteemed and popular member of the Environmental Health profession nationally and internationally and was a Life Fellow of the Environmental Health Association Ireland, having been its former Honorary Secretary. He was Honorary Secretary of the International Federation for Environmental Health from 2006 until 2011. In the past he was a regular speaker at REHIS conferences.
A true subject matter expert Ray held three MSc Degrees and various post graduate qualifications. He carried his ability, expertise and experience lightly and shared it readily with all, usually in very entertaining presentations. Ray was a natural public speaker and raconteur and was adept at building relationships across all stakeholders, whether that was across rooms or across continents. He will be greatly missed by us all.
Our deepest condolences are extended to his wife Nora, daughter Ruth and extended family.
