Mary Mulvey, Ceo of Greenbox Ecotourism Organisation
LIKE MOST PEOPLE, unfortunately, the first part of my day is spent dealing with e-mails.
Greenbox is an ecotourism- development organisation, and there are a number of elements to our work.
We are trying to develop ecotourism not just in this region but across the island. As part of that we have developed our own ecotourism label, the first in Ireland. We are also involved in running a number of training programmes, so what I'm working on at any one time varies.
The kind of small businesses we support are people who are into responsible travel. They are operators with a very strong type of green offering. But the overall product has to be strong, too. I'm always telling them that people don't go on holidays to look at light bulbs. Helping people develop their product to its full potential is challenging, but the market for green tourism is growing, and that certainly helps.
We are cross-Border funded and have invested in 64 projects to date, from yoga centres to artisan food producers. Today I'm also working on the launch of a Skillsnet training project with members of the Ireland's Blue Book hotel group.
Before I came here I was saving the bogs, and before that I worked in heritage tourism. Before that again I had worked for two tourist boards, so this job ticks every box for me.
I've been on every side of a grant application form, and I think it's important to know all sides of a fence. Too often a person is only aware of one perspective. We are funded by three agencies, and, although the applications are in, our funding is four months late, so right now cash flow and overdrafts are preoccupying me. Crisis management, you might call it.
As things stand about 25 per cent of my time is spent figuring out how to keep six people paid, which isn't good for people, particularly as this isn't the kind of work you can do if you're a clock watcher. It's more like community- development work.
Lobbying is a big part of my day. We recently had 16 MEPs and 16 members of the EU Commission staff here to hear our story. We're really trying to change the hearts and minds of people when it comes to ecotourism.
This afternoon is being spent getting ready for our new ecotourism-training- course graduation.
I'll typically have two functions a week, again giving people the benefit of what we've learned the hard way about developing ecotourism.
If I'm not out I'll go home to my cottage, six miles away, and weed. It's not for stress -
I don't do stress, I just get on with things.
The most challenging thing about my work is the fact that most of the factors concerning me are out of my control.