UCD Alumni Awards
Celebrating Success and Global Impact
The UCD alumni community is filled with individuals making a significant difference across every field — from business and industry to healthcare, science, culture, sport, and the arts.
With a global network of more than 350,000 alumni in 183 countries, the UCD Alumni Awards honour the outstanding achievements of our graduates and their far-reaching impact. Their success is a source of immense pride to UCD, inspiring current and future generations of students while recognising and showcasing the powerful role our alumni continue to play in shaping the world.
Deepak Chaudhari
Deepak Chaudhari is Chairman of the Ireland India Business Association (IIBA) and Country Head for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). With over 25 years of international leadership experience across India, USA, UK and Ireland, he has led TCS Ireland's rapid growth into one of the country's largest IT services organisations. As Chairman of IIBA, he drives trade and investment between Ireland and India, fostering collaboration across technology, SMEs, education, aviation, pharmaceuticals and medtech. Deepak holds an Engineering degree from Pune, India, and is an alumnus of IMD, Haas School of Business, and IIM Bangalore.
Frances Fitzgerald
Frances Fitzgerald is a globally recognised leader and advocate for equality and justice. With over 20 years in parliament, she served as Tánaiste, Minister for Justice and Equality, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and Ireland's first Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. As a Member of the European Parliament (2019-2024), she was rapporteur for the landmark EU Directive on Violence Against Women. She was awarded France's Légion d'Honneur in 2024 and the RCSI Emily Winifred Dickson Award in 2026. She also serves on the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council and is an Ambassador for Ruhama.
Jim O’Toole
Jim O'Toole was appointed CEO of Bord Bia in 2022, leading the advancement of Ireland's food, drink and horticulture sectors, and championing sustainability and premium quality in global markets. He was previously CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), and held other senior roles at Bord Bia, where he led the development of Origin Green, the world's only national food and drink sustainability programme. With 15 years of international experience in London, Milan and Paris, he also served on the boards of the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) and the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies (ACESA).
Paul Collins
Paul Collins is an experienced corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions advisor. He has held senior leadership roles at Centerview Partners, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Blackstone, and Salomon Brothers. Throughout his career he has advised on more than $200 billion in global transactions, and he is currently a board member of Standard Lithium Ltd. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School. Founder of Moonlight Puppies Press, Paul has authored 13 children’s books, with all proceeds supporting children’s charities. He also advocates for men affected by prostate and other cancers.
Cathal Goan
Cathal Goan is a broadcaster and media leader. He started his career at RTÉ as an archivist, before becoming the first Ceannasaí of TG4 in 1994 and later serving as RTÉ's Managing Director of Television and Director General from 2003 to 2010. A lifelong advocate for Irish language, music and folklore, he currently chairs the Folklore of Ireland Foundation and Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann. Both Ulster University and the University of Galway have awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters.
Nora Stapleton
Nora Stapleton joined Sport Ireland in 2019 and is the Director of Strategic National Governing Body Programmes, leading national governing body initiatives and the implementation of the Women in Sport Policy. She previously held roles with the IRFU and Dublin GAA. Nora is a recognised leader in advancing gender equality in sport. She is a former elite athlete and has won two All-Ireland medals with Donegal and three FAI Women's Cups with UCD, as well as earning 50 caps with the Irish rugby team, competing in three Rugby World Cups.
Dr Desmond J. Green
Dr Desmond J. Green is a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, educational pioneer, and cultural philanthropist. He founded Min Chem (now Indaver Ireland Ltd), Ireland's leading waste management company, and helped establish the Chemical Industry Association. He also founded Ireland's first multi-denominational primary school, the Dalkey School Project, and advance university-industry collaboration. An internationally recognised James Joyce collector, his collection is on loan to the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), and the fine arts book James Joyce: A Life in Books, the Desmond J. Green Collection was launched in 2026.
Dr Jenny Melia
Dr Jenny Melia is a dedicated leader in positioning exporting businesses as the primary engine of the Irish economy. As CEO of Enterprise Ireland, the government agency that supports Irish-owned companies to start, scale, and compete globally, she leads a team of almost 900 people across Ireland and 42 international offices, supporting the growth, profitability and competitiveness of Irish businesses. During her 30-year career with Enterprise Ireland, Jenny has held several senior leadership roles, including Chief Client Officer, Head of the High Potential Start-Up Division, and Head of National Research Programmes.
Sheila Porter
Sheila Porter is the founder and CEO of SciFest, Ireland's largest second-level STEM fair programme. A former science teacher, she founded SciFest in 2006 to allow students to explore STEM through inquiry-based learning. It has grown into a nationwide programme engaging over 15,000 students annually, with up to 60% female participation. Sheila has lectured in science education at third level, trained teachers internationally and spoken at Intel's Educator Academy on numerous occasions. Her contributions to STEM education have earned multiple national and international awards.
Deepak Chaudhari
EMBA 2021
UCD Alumni Award in Business
Deepak Chaudhari has over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles and has worked in India, USA, UK and Ireland. Now settled in Ireland with his family, he is the Chairman for the Ireland India Business Association (IIBA) and Country Head for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a major technology services company. Under his leadership, TCS has grown rapidly, and is now one of the largest IT services-based organisations in Ireland, creating a Global Delivery Centre and services across technology and business needs for Ireland, UK, US and Europe. The company also won the pensions auto-enrolment programme, a national initiative to boost Irish citizens’ financial well-being. As Chairman for IIBA, he leads activity in helping Irish companies to increase trade in India and Indian companies to expand in Ireland. IIBA has several key partner members, including UCD, TCS, Deloitte, PwC, William Fry, Dublin City Council, and Amneal. Under Deepak’s leadership, vibrant interactions take place across industry sectors such as technology, SMEs, education, aviation, pharma and medtech.
He is also a member of several other industry bodies, including AmCham, IBEC (Ireland’s largest lobby and business representative group), and BICC (British Irish Chamber of Commerce). He regularly participates in interactions with IDA, Enterprise Ireland, the Indian Embassy, IIBA, DFA, and other forums. Deepak’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Engineering (Pune, India), an Executive MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and awards from IMD (Switzerland), Haas Business School (California), and IIM (Bangalore).
Frances Fitzgerald
BSocSc 1971
UCD Alumni Award in Social Sciences
Frances Fitzgerald is a globally recognised leader and advocate for equality. With over 20 years of parliamentary experience, she has held some of the country’s highest offices, including Tánaiste; Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Minister for Justice and Equality; and Ireland’s first-ever Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Before her election to the Dáil, Frances was Chair of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and Vice President of the European Women’s Lobby. From 2019 to 2024, Frances served as a Member of the European Parliament, where she was an influential voice on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee, and the Development Committee. She served on the committee on the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware and was a representative delegate for the European parliament for EU/USA and EU/China relations. She was rapporteur for the groundbreaking EU Directive on Violence Against Women.
Frances was awarded the Légion d’honneur by the French government in 2024 for her work in equality. She received the Emily Winifred Dickson Award from the RCSI in 2026. She also serves on the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council as a European Representative, and is an Ambassador for Ruhama.
Jim O’Toole
BAgrSc 1989, MAgrSc 1992
UCD Alumni Award in Health and Agricultural Sciences
Jim O’Toole was appointed CEO of Bord Bia in November 2022, a role in which he promoted Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture sectors, championing responsible food production and premium quality to position Ireland as a leader in global markets. He is a former CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, and has held other senior positions in Bord Bia, including spearheading the development of Origin Green, the world’s only national food and drink sustainability programme. He has extensive experience in the global marketplace, having spent 15 years with Bord Bia in London, Milan and Paris.
Jim has been a board member of the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) and the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies (ACESA). He holds a masters degree in Agricultural Science from UCD and has completed executive programmes at Hult Ashridge, Cranfield University, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and Harvard Business School.
Paul Collins
BCL 1995, LLM 1996
BCL 1984
Paul Collins has advised on company strategy, mergers, and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance. He was Senior Advisor and Partner at Centerview Partners LLS from 2014-2023, where he worked with C-suites and boards on long-term strategic issues, M&A, and financing in the industrials sector. From 2008 to 2014, he served as a Vice Chairman of Barclays PLC’s North American Investment Banking Division, Energy and Chemicals. Previously, he held various leadership positions at Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, the Blackstone Group, and Salomon Brothers. Paul started his career with the Jefferson Smurfit Corporation, and during his tenure in investment banking he advised on over $200 billion of M&A transactions and related financing, worldwide. He is currently a board member of Standard Lithium Ltd.
The founder of Moonlight Puppies Press, he has authored 13 children’s books, inspiring and encouraging kids everywhere to do the right thing, to care for others, to appreciate the importance of family, and to always be the very best they can be. All the proceeds from his book sales go to various children’s charities. Paul also devotes his time to advocating for and supporting men navigating prostate and other cancers. Paul holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree with Honours from UCD. He lives in Connecticut, USA, with his three children.
Cathal Goan
BA Irish 1975
UCD Alumni Award in Arts and Humanities
A native of Belfast, Cathal Goan graduated from UCD in 1975 with a degree in Celtic Studies. He began his career in RTÉ as an archivist before becoming a radio producer and television producer/ director. Cathal was head of RTÉ’s Irish language TV output before being appointed first head (Ceannasaí) of Teilifís na Gaeilge in 1994. In 2000, he became RTÉ’s Managing Director of Television, and in 2003 was appointed Director General, a position he held for seven years. He has a lifelong interest in Irish music, contributing occasional pieces to the journals Ceol and Béaloideas. He also teaches at the annual Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy.
Cathal has served as chair of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and is currently chair of Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann and the Folklore of Ireland Foundation. He has been awarded the degree of Honorary Doctor of Letters by both Ulster University and the University of Galway.
Nora Stapleton
BSc Sports Management 2004
UCD Alumni Award in Sport
With over 20 years’ experience in the sport sector, Nora joined Sport Ireland in 2019 as Women in Sport Lead and is now Director of Strategic National Governing Body Programmes. She supports the development and delivery of national governing body initiatives, alongside continued responsibility for implementing the Women in Sport Policy. Prior to this, she held roles with the IRFU and Dublin GAA. Nora is a recognised leader in advancing gender equality in sport, with expertise in policy development, strategic programme design and implementation, and stakeholder engagement, working closely with national governing bodies, local sports partnerships, government departments, and key stakeholders.
A former elite athlete, Nora represented Donegal in Gaelic football, winning two All-Ireland medals, was a member of the UCD team winning Dublin Women’s Soccer League titles (2003-2006) and three successive FAI Women’s Cup finals. She earned 50 caps for the Irish rugby team, competing in three Rugby World Cups (2010-2017).
Dr Desmond J. Green
BE Chemical Engineering 1961
UCD Alumni Award in Engineering and Architecture
Dr Desmond J. Green is a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, educational pioneer, and cultural philanthropist. Over several decades, he has combined a distinguished professional career with significant contributions to Irish education and culture. A graduate in Chemical Engineering from UCD, where he served as Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society, Desmond also studied and lectured at the University of New Brunswick, which later awarded him an honorary doctorate. Returning to Ireland in 1971, he helped establish the Chemical Industry Association and, in 1977, founded MinChem, now Indaver Ireland Ltd, Ireland’s leading waste management company. He was a founder of the Dalkey School Project, Ireland’s first multi-denominational primary school.
Desmond helped establish the UCD Engineering Graduates Association, the University Industry Centre at UCD, and the first Campus Companies Venture Capital Scheme. He chaired the Ireland Canada University Foundation from 2014 to 2023. While living in Portugal, he was a founder member of the Ireland Portugal Business Network and of Oeiras International School. The fine arts book James Joyce: A Life In Books, the Desmond J. Green Collection was launched this year, and his internationally significant James Joyce collection is on loan to the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI).
Dr Jenny Melia
BSc Chemistry 1992, PhD Chemistry 1997
UCD Alumni Award in Research, Innovation and Impact
Dr Jenny Melia is the CEO of Enterprise Ireland, the government’s enterprise development agency, which supports Irish-owned companies to start and scale, and to become global leaders in their field. It is her long-term ambition that exporting Irish companies will become the primary driver of the Irish economy. As CEO, Jenny leads and supports the dedicated Enterprise Ireland team of almost 900 people, working across Ireland and the agency’s network of 42 offices around the world. Their focus is to help Irish businesses to grow and scale, to be profitable, productive, and competitive, and to create quality jobs across the country.
Over her 30-year career in Enterprise Ireland, Jenny has held various leadership positions within the organisation, including Chief Client Officer, Head of the High Potential Start-Up Division, and Head of National Research Programmes. A scientist by background, she holds a BSc and a PhD in Chemistry from UCD.
Sheila Porter
BSc Botany & Microbiology 1970
UCD Alumni Award in Science
Sheila Porter is the Founder and CEO of SciFest, and for more than 50 years she has been a driving force in promoting equal access to STEM education, inspiring generations of young people to discover the excitement, creativity, and life-changing opportunities STEM offers.
A former science teacher, Sheila founded SciFest in 2006. It is Ireland’s largest second level STEM fair programme. She believes every student should have the opportunity to explore STEM through inquiry-based learning, regardless of gender, ability, or circumstance. Under her leadership, it has grown from a single fair into a nationwide programme of more than 165 events engaging over 15,000 students annually, with up to 60% female participation. Each year, SciFest students represent Ireland and win awards at prestigious international STEM competitions.
Throughout her career, Sheila has contributed extensively to STEM education. She has been a teacher at second level, a part-time lecturer in science education at third level, and a Master Trainer for Intel’s Design and Discovery Programme, training teachers in Ireland, Egypt, and Romania. She was also a guest speaker for a number of years at the Intel Educator Academy in the USA.
Sheila’s outstanding contribution has been recognised with honours including the Intel Educator of Excellence Award on three occasions, a British Council Teacher Award, the PharmaChemical Ireland ISTA Educator of the Year Award, and the Women in STEM Mentor of the Year Award.
