Ballindine woman elected to Green Party Executive Committee

Michael Commins

MAYO native Pippa Hackett (nee Powers) has been elected to the Executive Committee of The Green Party. The Ballindine woman topped the poll at the party’s annual Convention held in Waterford last week, finishing ahead of the other 12 candidates.
Pippa, who is daughter of Lucien and Jeannie Powers and a sister of Jay (who played all grades of football with Davitts GAA Club), is a past pupil of Ballindine NS and Mount St Michael Secondary School in Claremorris.
She graduated with a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Essex and returned to Ireland where she was conferred with a Higher Diploma after a year at UCD before later doing her PhD in Equine Biomechanics at the University of Limerick.
In her younger years, Pippa had a passion for showjumping where she achieved much success and won the Winter League at Hanley’s School of Equitation, Claremorris, in the early 1990s.
A dedicated athlete, she has always had a great love and affinity for nature and the outdoors and it comes as no surprise that her area of expertise has been noted by the Green Party who have chosen her as their spokesperson on both Agriculture and Animal Welfare.
Pippa is married to Mark Hackett from Geashill in Co Offaly and they have a family of four, Charlie (13), Poppy (10), Heidi (8) and George (5). They operate an organic farm near Geashill and are totally committed to all aspects of the green environment.
The Mayo woman will now enjoy a high profile as The Green Party’s spokesperson for both Agriculture and Animal Welfare and joins the party’s committee alongside party leader Eamon Ryan, TD, and Deputy Leader, Catherine Martin, TD, as they prepare policies and plans for the next General Election.