Class Acts 2021

ANNMARIE CULLEN

BA Economics 1992

Singer-songwriter Annmarie Cullen released a heartbreak-inspired single “Circus” in June 2021 collaborating remotely from Dublin with a host of LA music friends. Prior to her return to Ireland from LA – via Barcelona where she worked for a time outside the music industry – Cullen’s career was as a songwriter with Disney and Warner Chappell, working on Nickelodeon shows like iCarly and Drake and Josh, CBS drama Blue Bloods and as a performer in her own right.

JEAN-LUC UDDOH

BA Politics and International Relations 2019

An album by rapper Jean Luc Uddoh, aka JyellowL, was nominated for the 2020 Irish Album of the Year Award at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Awards. The album, “D|Vision”, debuted at number two on the official iTunes album charts and at number one in the hip-hop category. Uddoh’s lyrics reflect issues such as racism and migration. He played a key role in Ireland’s Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, giving a rousing speech outside the US embassy.

SIÂN CUNNINGHAM

BA Music and German 1998, BMus 1999, HDip Arts Administration 2000

In April 2021, Siân Cunningham became CEO of Crash Ensemble, Ireland’s leading new music ensemble, a group of world-class musicians. Cunningham has over 20 years’ experience working in the arts in Ireland across a range of organisations. She started her career with the Arts Council of Ireland, then joined Dance Ireland. More recently, Cunningham worked with the Dublin International Film Festival and Body & Soul Event Creations Ltd.

DAVID FARRELL

BA Politics 1981, MA 1983

In September 2021, Professor David Farrell’s latest book The Oxford Handbook of Irish Politics (co-edited with Niamh Hardiman), was published by Oxford University Press. A specialist in the study of representation, elections, parties, and deliberative mini-publics, Professor Farrell covers Irish politics and society. The book also features contributions by leading scholars in the field. Professor Farrell has twice been Head of UCD School of Politics and International Relations.

ADIBA JAIGIRDAR

BA English and History 2014

Adiba Jaigirdar’s young adult novel The Henna Wars, a story about identity, coming out, embracing who you are and facing your family’s rejection, was named Best Book of the Year 2020 by Kirkus, who deemed it “impossible to put down”, and was a semi-finalist for the Best Young Adult Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. In May 2021, Jaigirdar published her latest novel, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating.

ZÉLIE ASAVA

BA English and Philosophy 2000, PhD Film Studies 2010

In May 2020, Dr Zélie Asava, independent scholar and classifier at the Irish Film Classification cation Office, was appointed to the board of Screen Ireland, an organisation that provides funding programmes to support film, television and animation projects. She is the author of The Black Irish Onscreen: Representing Black and Mixed-Race Identities on Irish Film and Television and Mixed-Race Cinemas: Multiracial Dynamics in America and France.

CHANDRIKA NARAYANAN-MOHAN

MA Cultural Policy and Arts Management 2013

In May 2021, Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan was appointed to the Irish Writers Centre board. In 2017, she became the Marketing and Development Manager of Fishamble, an Irish theatre company that develops and produces new plays. Narayanan-Mohan is the Editor of Poetry Ireland’s Trumpet issue nine and a book reviewer for Children’s Books Ireland’s Inis magazine. In 2020, she won third place in the Fingal Poetry Prize.

NANA NUBI

BCL 2015

In September 2020, Nana Nubi developed Nigerian Heritage, a 50-page colouring book featuring engaging commentary on each page, which allows audiences to connect with Nigerian heritage in a fun, creative and educative way. Nubi is a member of the newly formed Anti-Racism Committee at the Department of Justice and Equality. She is also a board member of Uplift, an organisation taking coordinated action for progressive change in Ireland. Nubi is training to become a barrister.

JAMES HUDSON

BA English and Film 2018, MA Creative Writing 2019

James Hudson was listed in the Irish Times 50 people to watch in 2021: The best young talent in Ireland. He is the co-founder of the Trans Writers Union (TWU), which aims to “give trans creators a point to gather around, pool knowledge, share opportunities and keep one another safe in overtly or implicitly hostile industries” in Ireland and the UK, through connecting trans creatives with publishers and providing outlets to engage with criticisms on transphobia.

JOHN SCOTT

BA English and Classics 1980 In November 2020,

In November 2020, choreographer John Scott was elected to Aosdána for his outstanding contribution to creative arts in Ireland. Scott began his career as an apprentice at Dublin City Ballet, and went on to found John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre in 1991 as a platform for his own work and to develop a contemporary Irish choreographic voice with major international choreographers. He is also a freelance tenor soloist.

MARTHA FITZGERALD

MA Theatre Practice 2019

In 2021, writer and director Martha Fitzgerald directed “Never Mind the Weather”, an outdoor performance for children about adaptivity and resilience. Co-produced with Riverbank Arts Centre, the show was performed through the classroom windows of primary schools. Since graduating from UCD in 2019, she co-founded Fizz & Chips Productions, and has staged the plays “DRAGON” (2019), and “An Lasairéan” (2019) and written their first short film, Faitíos, in 2020.

JIM SHERIDAN

BA English and History 1972

In June 2021, a five-part documentary series .Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie aired on Sky, exploring the investigation of the unsolved 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and suspect Ian Bailey’s conviction for murder by the French courts. Dublin-born filmmaker Jim Sheridan directed the series. The six-time Oscar nominee has directed many iconic Irish films including My Left Foot (1989), In the Name of the Father (1993) and In America (2002).

DONIE O’SULLIVAN

BA History and Politics 20

In April 2021, CNN reporter and Kerry native Donie O’Sullivan was promoted to Correspondent at the US news network. His fearless and calm coverage of the chaotic storming of Washington’s Capitol building in January 2021 went viral. In July 2021, O’Sullivan was nominated for an Emmy Award for his news story on the online disinformation phenomenon from April 2020. The investigative story detailed a conspiracy theory accusing an American woman and US military reservist of bringing COVID-19 to China, and the effects of the hearsay-based conspiracy for the accused. In 2022, O’Sullivan will participate as a guest speaker in UCD’s new world-first graduate programme, the CNN Academy UCD Clinton Institute MA in Journalism and International Affairs. The programme will combine world-leading journalism training with academic expertise in international affairs.

DONAL MACINTYRE

BA Politics and Economics 1988

Investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre specialises in undercover operations and exposés and has worked as a presenter of news and documentaries on various UK channels, including a series on unsolved abductions and murders. His production company, Dare Films, collaborated with Jim Sheridan on Murder at the Cottage: the Search for Justice for Sophie. MacIntyre is working on a documentary to examine the tragic death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe.

RICHARD CHAMBERS

BCL 2010

In June 2021, HarperCollins Ireland announced it will publish A State of Emergency, a book by Richard Chambers, Virgin Media Television’s News Correspondent, on the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland. At Virgin Media since March 2018, prior to this Chambers was a radio reporter at Newstalk and Today FM for seven years. Since the start of the pandemic, his large number of Twitter followers have relied on his regular updates on case figures, vaccine data and restrictions.

AENGUS O’HANLON

BA English and French 1997

In March 2021, Aengus O’Hanlon became Group Head of News at Reach Ireland. Based in Northern Ireland, Reach Ireland is one of Ireland’s biggest news media organisations. The company publishes some of Ireland’s best known media brands including the Irish Mirror, Dublin Live, the Irish Star, Cork Beo and RSVP Magazine. O’Hanlon joined the publishing company from Dublin Live, where he held the position of Editor-in-Chief since 2017.

MARION MCKEONE

BCL 1984

US-based correspondent for the Business Post, Marion McKeone was awarded Best Foreign Coverage at the NewsBrands Journalism Awards 2020 for her coverage of police brutality, COVID-19 and impeachment in the US. She also works with Save the Children, as Director of Media Advocacy and Communications/Media and Advocacy Consultant for the Syria Crisis and the Somalia Emergency Response Team. She is a regular panellist on Today FM.

PATRICK O’CONNELL

BA English and Sociology 2000

In November 2020, Sunday World reporter Patrick O’Connell was awarded Crime Journalist of the Year at the NewsBrands Journalism Awards 2020, for “consistent excellence in reporting”. Among his submitted entries was an article written for Sunday World about former Irish soldier Lisa Smith’s controversial return to Ireland. O’Connell has had a 16-year career in journalism and has been Investigations Reporter at Sunday World since 2015.

COLM O’REILLY

MBA 2000

In April 2021, Colm O’Reilly was announced as the new Chair of NewsBrands Ireland, the representative body for Irish news publishers both in print and online. O’Reilly has been CEO of the Business Post since May 2019. From 2015 up to its acquisition of the Business Post, O’Reilly was CEO of Kilcullen Kapital Partners. He has over 25 years’ experience in business in Ireland, the US and the UK, mainly in the hospitality sector. O’Reilly is also a member of the Press Council of Ireland.

CIARA KELLY

BComm 1991, MB BCH BAO 1997

In October 2020, Ciara Kelly was awarded IMRO Speech Broadcaster of the Year. Kelly began her career as a GP before entering the media industry. Merging her experience and skills, Kelly has been a medical expert for both TV3 and RTÉ and has worked with Newstalk for almost five years as a news presenter. In August 2020, she moved from the Lunchtime Live segment of Newstalk and began co- presenting Newstalk Breakfast with Shane Coleman.

PAUL PERRY

Professional Cert University Teaching & Learning 2020

Paul Perry’s first solo novel The Garden (2021) is described by Sebastian Barry as “exceptional”. An award- winning author of several books and collections of poetry and prose, he has also co-authored four bestselling novels as Karen Perry, including Girl Unknown, which was optioned for screen. Perry is Associate Professor of Creative Writing at UCD.

AILBHE DARCY

BA English and French 2004, MSc Development Studies 2007

Dublin-born poet Ailbhe Darcy featured in New York’s Irish Art Center’s 12th Annual Poetry Fest in October 2020, and is co- editor of A History of Irish Women’s Poetry (Cambridge University Press, 2021). Described recently as the best Irish poet of her generation, Darcy lectures in Creative Writing at Cardiff University.

AONGHUS SHORTT

BE Mechanical Engineering 2008, PhD 2013

Aonghus Shortt’s breath- analysis device, FoodMarble AIRE, was chosen as one of 15 finalists of the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards 2021. The Bluetooth- enabled device measures fermentation in the gut and identifies foods and ingredients triggering users’ digestive issues. Within seven months of its launch in 2018, FoodMarble AIRE recorded 300,000 breath tests. In April 2021, the free mobile app had logged one million tests.

ORLA FEELY

BE Electronic Engineering 1986

In June 2021, Professor Orla Feely, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact and Professor of Electronic Engineering at UCD, was inaugurated as the 129th President of Engineers Ireland. Professor Feely became a Fellow of the organisation in 2012 and was the first Irish woman elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Professor Feely is also a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering and a Member of the Royal Irish Academy.

EDMOND HARTY

PhD Biosystems Engineering 2001

Professor Edmond Harty, Adjunct Full Professor in the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering in UCD College of Engineering and Architecture, became Vice-President of Engineers Ireland in June 2021. He is a chartered engineer with Engineers Ireland and a European Engineer with the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI). In February 2021, Professor Harty joined the Board of Governors of the Irish Times Trust.

CONOR AND RONAN BURKE

BE Electronic Engineering 2017

In April 2021, twin brothers Conor and Ronan Burke, co-founders of fraud detection company Inscribe, announced that the company had raised $10.5m in Series A funding. Dual-headquartered in Dublin and San Francisco, Inscribe detects fraud in customer supplied information, such as online documents given by customers to companies to prove information about themselves when applying for mortgages or insurance. They were listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2020 list.

AISLING MULLIGAN

BSc Arch 2017, MArch 2020

In December 2020, UCD architecture alumna Aisling Mulligan was presented with the Award for Sustainable Design Part 2 by the Royal Institute of British Architects for her post-graduate thesis, “A Methodology for Reuse: Embracing a Circular Economy in a Carbon- Conscious Construction Sector”. The concept aims to increase a building’s use by changing individual components of its structure to adapt to the community and its users’ needs.

PAUL CUFFE

BE Electronic Eng 2009, PhD 2013

In March 2021, Dr Paul Cuffe received the NovaUCD Innovation Champion of the Year Award for his work with UCD engineering students, to unlock the commercial trajectory of their final year projects. In 2020, he supervised Philip Snell’s thesis project to prototype a new MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) controller, the Joyst JV1-MIDI. In September 2020, Dr Cuffe co- founded Joyst Instruments to commercialise the controller.

NÍALL MCLAUGHLIn

BArch 1984

In May 2021, Níall McLaughlin was honoured with the 2021 Outstanding Contribution to Architecture Award at the Building and Architect of the Year Awards, in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of architecture. In October 2020, McLaughlin was awarded an honorary MBE for services to architecture. His practice has been shortlisted for the Stirling Prize on three occasions, in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

COLIN KEOGH

BE Mechanical Engineering 2011, ME 2012, PhD 2020

In January 2021, co-founder of Sapien Innovations Dr Colin Keogh received the Irish Research Council Impact Award for impact outside of academia. Dr Keogh began a global open-source response to the global ventilator shortage, assembling a team of 2,000 engineers, designers and medical practitioners in the global fight against COVID-19. As co-founder of The Rapid Foundation, he largely focuses on using low-cost disruptive technology and innovation to solve global problems.

BEN RALPH AND TADHG CROWLEY

BE Mechanical Engineering 2020

Ben Ralph and Tadhg Crowley’s sustainable energy solution, DemRes, was one of 38 finalists at the Red Bull Basement 2020. DemRes is a demand response platform that aims to solve the challenges of intermittency and lack of grid scale storage that causes potential problems with wind and solar energy. The app enables consumers to schedule their electricity demand over the course of a day, thus reducing their carbon footprint by reducing their electricity consumption.

MERLO KELLY

BArch 1996, MUBC 2011

In March 2021, The White House Historical Association published an edited collection of eight essays titled James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House. Three of the eight essays were written by graduates of the Masters of Urban and Building Conservation programme at UCD.

The essay “The Building Line in Ireland”, written by MERLO KELLY (BArch 1996, MUBC 2011), focuses on the influences of Irish architecture known to James Hoban in his youth. Kelly is a Design Fellow in the UCD School of Architecture and a conservation architect.

BRIAN O’CONNELL

BArch 1968, MUBC 2012

In March 2021, The White House Historical Association published an edited collection of eight essays titled James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House. Three of the eight essays were written by graduates of the Masters of Urban and Building Conservation programme at UCD.

The essay “James Hoban and George Washington Devise the President’s House” was written by BRIAN O’CONNELL (BArch 1968, MUBC 2012). O’Connell is Director and Founder of O’Connell Mahon Architects. He has advised on the conservation of numerous hospital campuses across Ireland.

PROFESSOR FINOLA O’KANE CRIMMINS

BArch 1993, PhD 1999

In March 2021, The White House Historical Association published an edited collection of eight essays titled James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House. Three of the eight essays were written by graduates of the Masters of Urban and Building Conservation programme at UCD.

PROFESSOR FINOLA O’KANE CRIMMINS (BArch 1993, PhD 1999), Professor of Architecture at UCD and a member of the Royal Irish Academy, wrote “Eighteenth- Century Irish Landscape Design, and its Translation to America by James Hoban”.

MARY QUANEY

BComm Intl 1999, MAcc 2000

In August 2020, Mainstream Renewable Power announced Mary Quaney’s appointment as CEO. Quaney joined the wind and solar energy group, founded by fellow UCD alumnus Eddie O’Connor, in 2009. In her career she has held a number of roles within the company, including Chief Financial Officer, a position she has held since 2017. A chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, she was appointed to MRP’s Board of Directors in 2019.

WILLIAM WALSH

Diploma Strategy, Innovation and Change 2015

In February 2021, chartered accountant William Walsh was appointed permanent CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, having previously been interim CEO from September 2019. As Ireland’s national retrofit delivery body, SEAI collaborates with Government and key stakeholders to support businesses and householders to improve energy efficiency and deliver on renewable heat targets.

PAUL GARDNER

MBA 2014

In July 2020, Paul Gardner became Managing Director of Glan Agua UK, a company established in 2008 that provides innovative water and environmental solutions for the water and wastewater industry, operating and maintaining many water facilities nationwide. Gardner joined Glan Agua in 2015 to spearhead the successful expansion of the company into the UK market. He has over 13 years’ experience in the construction industry across multiple sectors, including mining and utilities.

ANDREW KEAN

BE Electrical Eng 2003, PhD 2007

In November 2020, NovoGrid, an Irish software company that optimises energy delivery and was founded by Professor Andrew Keane in 2015, announced the completion of a pilot project GridBoost in collaboration with ESB Networks at SSE Renewables’ Richfield wind farm in Wexford. GridBoost technology prevents the loss of renewable electricity as it moves through the network. The project saved more than 300,000kWh of renewable electricity over two years, the equivalent of 70 homes a year.

AEDAMAR COMISKEY

BCL 1988

In May 2021, Aedamar Comiskey was elected Linklaters’ Senior Partner and Chair and is the first female senior partner in the global law firm’s 183-year history. Prior to this appointment, Comiskey was Global Head of Corporate. She currently chairs the Partnership Board. Recognised as a leading public and private M&A lawyer, she leads the firm’s relationships with many FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients for whom she is a trusted board adviser. In April 2021, she was named one of the 20 Most Influential People in Legal Services by Financial News.

MARY KEANE

BCL 1985

In March 2021, Mary Keane became the first woman to serve as Director General of the Law Society of Ireland in its 191-year history. Keane has worked for the Law Society since 1992, recently holding the post of Deputy Director General. She is the Chair of the National Gallery of Ireland, and a Director of Irish Rule of Law International, a non-profit organisation that promotes rule of law in developing countries.

LUCY MICHAEL

BCL 2001

In July 2020, Dr Lucy Michael was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. In 2019, Dr Michael established Lucy Michael Consultancy Research & Training, of which she is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist, and Managing Director. She is a spokesperson for Fingal Communities Against Racism as well as a co- convenor for the Sociological Association of Ireland Race & Ethnicity Study Group.

IAN NOLAN

MBA 2013

In December 2020, Ian Nolan announced a $28m funding round for his tech start-up Brightflag, an AI-powered platform that enables organisations to take control of their legal spend and reduce administrative effort in processing legal invoices. Co-founded with Alex Kelly in 2014, the company has offices in Dublin, New York and Sydney. Customers include Uber, Telstra and Rimini Street. Nolan previously worked for CORTBase, a software development firm for legal practices.

COURT ORDERS

MR JUSTICE DONAL O’DONNELL (BCL 1980) became Chief Justice of Ireland in October 2021. He has been a Judge of the Supreme Court since 2010. In April 2021, MR JUSTICE GERARD HOGAN (BCL 1979, LLM 1981 and LLD 1997) was nominated to the Supreme Court of Ireland. He is a former Judge of the Court of Appeal and High Court and is an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice. JUDGE PAUL KELLY (BCL 1978) was appointed President of the District Court in March 2021, following eleven years as a Judge of the District Court. MR PAUL GALLAGHER SC (BCL 1975, BA History and Economics 1978) returned to office as Attorney General of Ireland in June 2020. He previously held this post from 2007 to 2011. In November 2020, Barrister NUALA BUTLER SC (BCL 1984, LLM 1989) was appointed Ordinary Judge to the High Court following a vacancy created by the appointment of MS JUSTICE TERESA PILKINGTON (BA History and Politics 1981, LLM 1997) and her elevation to the Court of Appeal.

SHAUN KELLY

BComm 1980, Diploma in Professional Accounting 1981

In January 2021, Shaun Kelly was awarded an Honorary CBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to economic development in Northern Ireland. In 2020, Kelly was appointed Vice-Chair of the board of directors at The Ireland Funds, Chairperson of the Irish Arts Centre, and non-executive director of Park Indemnity Limited. Kelly is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a certified public accountant with AICPA.

DENISE CHARLTON

BSocSc 1984, MA Women’s Studies 2000

Denise Charlton was appointed CEO of the Community Foundation for Ireland in July 2020. The organisation empowers those who want to make a difference through a model of philanthropy. It is currently engaged in distributing €5.5m in donations from ‘RTÉ Does Comic Relief’ in response to COVID-19. Charlton is former Co-Chair of Marriage Equality and was a member of the strategic advisory group of Yes Equality.

HELENA NOLAN

BA English and History 1989, MA Creative Writing 2008

In March 2021, it was announced that Helena Nolan, current Irish Ambassador to Belgium, would take up a new appointment as Consul General of Ireland in New York. Nolan was formerly Director of the Disarmament and Non- Proliferation Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Nolan is also Head of Mission and Partnership at NATO. Nolan takes up her new role later this year.

JAMES O’HIGGINS NORMAN

HDip Education 1996

In February 2021, Professor James O’Higgins Norman led the establishment of Ireland’s first research observatory on cyberbullying at DCU. Professor O’Higgins Norman is the first and only UNESCO Chair to address school bullying and online safety. He is the Director of the National Anti-Bullying Research Centre at DCU, Editor of the International Journal of Bullying Prevention and a Member of the National Advisory Council on Online Safety.

CIARA BYRNE

BA English and Philosophy 2006, HDip Business Studies 2007, MMgt 2009

In October 2020, Ciara Byrne became a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council. The purpose of the Council is to advance a positive future for the media industry, with a focus on creating an economically sustainable, inclusive and thriving media ecosystem. Byrne is a director at global media company Condé Nast. She spoke at UCD’s Women in Leadership conference in February 2021.

EBUN JOSEPH

PhD 2016

In July 2020, Dr Ebun Joseph published her book, Critical Race Theory and Inequality in the Labour Market: Racial Stratification in Ireland. The book employs critical race theory to discuss the impact of racial stratification. Dr Joseph is a race relations consultant and Director of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies. In 2019, she launched the #NoToBrainWaste campaign, which highlights the barriers faced by under-employed and over-qualified migrants and Irish-born ethnic minorities.

PAUL O’BRIEN

BA Philosophy and Economics 1989

Paul O’Brien was appointed Executive Director of Amnesty International USA in April 2021. O’Brien joined the organisation from Oxfam. During the pandemic, he worked with Oxfam to change government policies, corporate practice and public opinion. In November 2020, he released a short book, Power Switch, How We Can Reverse Extreme Inequality.

SARAH KAVANAGH

BA History and Politics 2000, MA Politics 2002

Sarah Kavanagh was appointed Deputy Director of the Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs in September 2020. The unit is responsible for ensuring that human rights concerns are mainstreamed into all aspects of foreign policy. It works across government and with other units within the Department of Foreign Affairs to promote and protect human rights, particularly at the UN in Geneva and New York. Prior to this, Kavanagh was a Government Special Adviser.

CATHERINE MORAN

MB BCh BAO 2006

In March 2021, Catherine Moran became the first female consultant neurosurgeon appointed by the HSE in Ireland, a position she holds within the National Neurological Centre at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. After 20 years in the neuroscience industry, the subspecialist in complex spinal surgery and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) joined a team of twelve neurosurgeons. Moran hopes to inspire younger generations and medical students by being a female role model in the male-dominated field of neurosurgery.

MARTIN TOBIN

MB BCh BAO 1975

In April 2021, Kilkenny-born pulmonologist Dr Martin Tobin gave critical evidence and a clear testimony at the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd. Recognised as an expert in acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation and neuromuscular control of breathing, Dr Tobin was able to pinpoint from video footage taken by a passer-by the exact moment Floyd died. This compelling evidence that Floyd died from low oxygen levels due to Chauvin kneeling on his neck was deemed “the most influential” during the trial.

KERRY MCLAVERTY

Executive MBA 2017

In May 2020, Kerry McLaverty was appointed CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. LauraLynn is the only children’s hospice providing palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions, as well as support for their families, across Ireland. McLaverty joined LauraLynn’s Physiotherapy Department in 2012 and progressed to become the Head of Operations in 2016. She has over 15 years’ experience working as a healthcare professional within the healthcare, non-profit and voluntary sectors.

BRIAN SHIELDS

Executive MBA 2015

In January 2021, Brian Shields, co-founder of Neurent Medical, announced the company had closed a $25m Series B financing round. The company, established in 2015, pioneers innovative treatments for chronic inflammatory sino-nasal diseases. The financing will support the expansion of the company’s clinical and commercial operations as it prepares for US Food and Drug Administration clearance. Shields is also co-inventor of Rhinitis Neurolysis Therapy, the world’s first multi-point nerve disruption therapy for chronic rhinitis.

STEPHEN COX

Executive MBA 2015

In October 2020, innovative medical device company Venari Medical, co-founded in 2018 by CEO Stephen Cox, raised €4.5m in seed funding equity, which will be used to accelerate the development of the company’s BioVena device for the treatment of chronic venous disease (CVD). CVD affects up to 30 per cent of adults across the globe and significantly affects sufferers’ quality of life.

JAMES MCGANN

BComm 2009, MSc Mktg 2010

In January 2021, it was announced that Frankie Health, co-founded by James McGann in 2020, had raised $1.25m in funding. Launched in August 2020, the company aims to work with organisations to support employee mental health, offering personalised mental healthcare and online access to qualified therapists to their clients’ workforces. McGann says the newly raised funding will be focused on building Frankie Health’s team.

CONOR DELANEY

MB BCh BAO 1989, MCh 1995, PhD Surgery 2000

In October 2020, colorectal surgeon Conor Delaney, Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, became President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic Florida, which includes five hospitals, a research centre and out-patient centres across Southeast Florida. Delaney was previously Chairman of the Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute at Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, and is the Vice-President of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

RONAN CAHILL

MB BCh BAO 1997

In June 2021, Professor Ronan Cahill, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon at the Mater Hospital, co- developed an innovative surgical technique that uses AI to detect cancerous tissue in real time during surgery. The method uses a digital camera and dye to allow surgeons to see the exact extent of cancers during a procedure, ensuring the maximum amount of cancerous tissue is surgically removed.

MÍCHEÁL SHERIDAN

Diploma Organisational Change and Transition 2019, MSc Business Leadership 2020

In January 2021, Mícheál Sheridan was appointed CEO of Irish Community Air Ambulance (ICAA). Prior to this, Sheridan was CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation. He has 18 years’ of fundraising experience with Special Olympics Ireland and the ISPCC. The ICAA dealt with a 21 per cent increase in the number of missions in the first quarter of 2021.

NOVAUCD INVENTION OF THE YEAR 2021

Alumnae PROFESSOR PATRICIA MAGUIRE (BSc 1995, PhD 1998) and DR PAULINA SZKLANNA (BSc 2013, PhD 2019), together with PROFESSOR FIONNUALA NÍ ÁINLE and PROFESSOR MARY HIGGINS are the team behind the development of the AI_PREMie diagnostic test, used to diagnose pre-eclampsia. Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication that is notoriously difficult to diagnose. The team discovered the presence of biomarkers in the blood can be used to diagnose pre-eclampsia risk. The AI-powered test determines the presence of these biomarkers. It not only accurately diagnoses pre-eclampsia, but also predicts the severity of individual cases. AI_PREMie is the flagship project of UCD’s AI Healthcare Hub, founded in September 2020. Patient studies were initiated in the three largest maternity hospitals in Ireland. Professor Maguire, Dr Szklanna, Professor Ní Áinle and Professor Higgins won the 2021 NovaUCD Invention of the Year Award for their discovery.

TONY HOLOHAN

MB BCh BAO 1991, Dip Child Health 1993, MPH 1996

In June 2021, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan accepted the Freedom of Dublin City. He received the honour on behalf of all healthcare workers for their efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Holohan met with fellow UCD alumna Lord Mayor Hazel Chu at the Mansion House to sign the Roll of Honorary Freedom. Dr Holohan has held the position of CMO since 2008. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he has kept the public informed and up to date with the ever-changing circumstances and subsequent restrictions.

KARINA BUTLER

MB BCh BAO 1978

In January 2021, Professor Karina Butler was appointed to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Chairperson of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), a member of the high-level task force on COVID-19 vaccination, and a specialist consultant in paediatrics and infectious diseases at Temple Street and Crumlin Hospitals.

MARY HORGAN

MB BCh BAO 1986, MD 1995

In January 2021, Professor Mary Horgan was appointed to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). In 2017, she became the first female President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in the organisation’s 366-year history and was re-elected in 2020 as the first president to serve a second consecutive term since 1894. She is Chair of the National Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19.

CLIONA MCGOVERN

BA English and Philosophy 1996, MA Philosophy 1997, Diploma University Teaching and Learning 2016

In May 2021, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly appointed Cliona McGovern as Chair of the new National Research Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials (NREC-CT B). McGovern is an Assistant Professor in Forensic and Legal Medicine at UCD. In May 2020, she was appointed to the Radiographers Registration Board. She is also a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners Research Ethics Committee.

CIARA KEANE

Executive MBA 2018

In January 2021, Ciara Keane became a lay member of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), established by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, which provides evidence-based advice to the Chief Medical Officer in order to inform policies on vaccines and immunisation. Keane is a Senior Manager of Health and Public Service at Accenture, a position she has held since 2018. Previously she was a Clinical Project Manager at St Vincent’s University Hospital for almost four years.

LINDA MULLIGAN

MBBS Medicine 2002

In February 2021, Dr Linda Mulligan was appointed Chief State Pathologist. In this position, she will lead the Office of the State Pathologist, which conducts post- mortems in the case of unexplained or suspicious deaths and subsequently provides evidence if necessary. Dr Mulligan has worked for the Department of Justice for almost seven years, most recently as interim Chief State Pathologist. She has over 18 years’ experience in forensic pathology, histopathology, and clinical medicine.

MR JUSTICE GERARD W HOGAN

BCL 1979, LLM 1981, LLD 1997

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

MR JUSTICE GERARD W HOGAN (BCL 1979, LLM 1981, LLD 1997) is the current Advocate General to the Court of Justice of the European Union and was appointed to the Supreme Court in April 2021.

PROFESSOR PHILIP NOLAN

BSc 1988, MB BCh BAO 1991, PhD Physiology

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR PHILIP NOLAN (BSc 1988, MB BCh BAO 1991, PhD Physiology) is chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) epidemiological modelling advisory group.

PROFESSOR JOHN CROWN

MB BAO BCh 1980, BSc 1982, MBA HSM 1999

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR JOHN CROWN (MB BAO BCh 1980, BSc 1982, MBA HSM 1999) is a consultant oncologist at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

PROFESSOR BRIAN O’CONNOR

BA English and Philosophy 1988, MA Philosophy 1990, Diploma Psychotherapy 2014

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR BRIAN O’CONNOR (BA English and Philosophy 1988, MA Philosophy 1990, Diploma Psychotherapy 2014) was Chair, UCD School of Philosophy from 2007-2009, when he became Associate Professor, UCD School of Philosophy.

DR RUTH BARTON

MA Film Studies 1994, PhD Film Studies 2000

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

DR RUTH BARTON (MA Film Studies 1994, PhD Film Studies 2000) is a lecturer at Trinity College Dublin. She has written books on Irish cinema, articles on Irish.

PROFESSOR DEIRDRE CURTIN

BCL 1980

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR DEIRDRE CURTIN (BCL 1980) is a professor at the European University Institute of Florence, and Director of the Centre for Judicial Cooperation at the Robert Schuman Centre, in Florence, Italy.

PROFESSOR JOHN BRANNIGAN

MA Modern English and American Literature 1992

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR JOHN BRANNIGAN (MA Modern English and American Literature 1992) is Professor and Head of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film. He has written five books on history, literature and critical theory.

PROFESSOR NOEL GERARD MCELVANEY

MB BCh BAO 1982

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR NOEL GERARD MCELVANEY (MB BCh BAO 1982) is Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Medicine and Respiratory Research Division at Beaumont Hospital.

PROFESSOR LORRAINE O’DRISCOLL

BSc 1988, MSc Pharmacology 1991

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

PROFESSOR LORRAINE O’DRISCOLL (BSc 1988, MSc Pharmacology 1991) is Professor of Pharmacology and Biomedicine at Trinity College Dublin.

JOHN FEEHAN

BAgrSc 1960

NEWLY ELECTED TO THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY Ten UCD graduates were among 27 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2021. Membership is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

JOHN FEEHAN (BAgrSc 1960) was for over 20 years a senior lecturer in UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science.

NIALL ENGLISH

BE Chemical Engineering 2000, PhD Chemical Engineering 2004, Certificate University Teaching and Learning 2011

Professor Niall English’s AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd won the 2020 IChemE Global Award in the water category, the only Irish company to be named winner at the annual presentation. The company developed a method to generate ozone nanobubbles in water, with multiple uses including disinfection and aeration. Ozone is more effective at disinfection than chlorine, and visibly effective at high speed.

ISEULT LYNCH

BSc Chemistry 1995, PhD Chemistry 2000, Executive MBA 2012

In March 2021, Professor Iseult Lynch became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Professor Lynch is the Chair of Environmental Nanosciences at the University of Birmingham, where she started as a lecturer in Environmental Nanosciences in 2013. Previously, she was a Strategic Research Manager at UCD. In June 2020, she was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry John Jeyes Award for her research into microparticles and plastic waste.

STAN LALOR

BAgrSc Animal and Crop Production 2002, MAgrSc Crop Science 2005

In September 2020, Dr Stan Lalor was appointed Director of Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc. He is responsible for leading Teagasc’s education and advisory services and has worked with Teagasc for over ten years. He moved to Teagasc Soils and Environment Research Centre at Johnstown Castle, Wexford in 2006. Dr Lalor joined fertiliser and soil conditioner retailer Grassland AGRO in 2014 as Head of Business Specialty.

FIONA DOOHAN

BSc Industrial Microbiology 1994

In March 2021, Professor Fiona Doohan was honoured with the NovaUCD Innovation Award 2021 for her success in enhancing the diversification, safety, and transparency of Irish food systems. Professor Doohan is the project leader of Healthy Oats, a collaborative research project between UCD, two Welsh universities and Teagasc. In February 2021, the project was awarded €2.7m to explore the development of climate-resistant oat varieties with high nutritional value and superior health benefits.

SHANE KIERNAN

BBLS 2004

In June 2021, AI agricultural start-up Iamus Technologies, led by CEO Shane Kiernan and based at UCD, was named one of ten finalists for the 2021 Future Food Asia Award, which carries a $100,000 prize. The company developed Gallus to monitor key welfare/environmental variables in chicken sheds to improve efficiency. First launched in 2018, Iamus Technologies also won the Alfie Cox Best Start-Up Award 2020.

DAVID O’CONNOR

Diploma Business Studies 1998

In January 2021, David O’Connor became a Research Associate at the world’s largest museum and research complex, the Smithsonian, in Washington DC. In June 2020, O’Connor also became President and Chief Conservation Officer of the non-profit organisation Save Giraffes Now. O’Connor has worked for National Geographic as a contract researcher since 2007, and before that as an ecologist at San Diego Zoo.

ANNE-MARIE BUTLER

BAgrSc 2001, PhD 2006, Diploma Financial Advice 2010, Diploma Financial Services 2011

In March 2021, Dr Anne- Marie Butler became Honorary President of the Irish Agricultural Science Teachers Association. In September 2020, she was inaugurated 71st President of the Agricultural Science Association, the professional body for graduates in agriculture, forestry, and food science. She is Senior Agricultural Manager of Ulster Bank.

AOIBHINN NÍ SHÚILLEABHÁIN

BSc Theoretical Physics 2005

In October 2020, Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, academic and broadcaster, received the Maths Week Ireland award for her work in raising public awareness of mathematics. An Assistant Professor at UCD’s School of Mathematics and Statistics, she has been a TV and radio presenter with RTÉ since 2007, and is also a member of the executive committee of Women in Technology and Science Ireland.

DENIS O’BRIEN

BA History and Politics 1980

In June 2021, Denis O’Brien exited the Irish media market when he sold Communicorp, including Newstalk and Today FM stations, which he founded in 1989, to the German media conglomerate, Bauer Media Audio, reportedly for over €100m. Communicorp is Ireland’s largest commercial radio group with a weekly audience of more than 1.75m listeners and has been at the forefront of Ireland’s media industry for over 30 years.

MICAELA CONNERY

MBA 2017

In February 2021, social entrepreneur Micaela Connery, founder and CEO of The Kelsey, was selected as one of 25 business school graduates honoured by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s largest business alliance, as the 2021 Class of Influential Leaders. The alliance recognises notable graduates from AACSB- accredited business schools across the world. Connery’s organisation, The Kelsey, pioneers disability-forward affordable housing solutions.

DES MCCARTHY

BA Economics 1986, MBS 1989

In May 2021, Des McCarthy was appointed CEO of Microfinance Ireland, a company which provides loans to newly established and growing micro-enterprises. McCarthy has over 20 years’ experience in the finance sector, having held a number of roles, including Chief Financial Officer at KBC Bank. He is a non-executive director at Cluid Housing, the largest approved not-for-profit housing association in Ireland, and also a non-executive director and council member at the Institute of Banking.

ASHLEY MCDONNELL

CEMS MIM 2016

In January 2021, Ashley McDonnell was appointed Global Digital Media and e-Commerce Manager at Geneva-based fashion and fragrance house, Puig, after working for Google and the LVMH Group. Puig’s brands include Jean-Paul Gaultier, Paco Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Dries Van Noten and Charlotte Tilbury. McDonnell won the Next Generation Award at the Digital Business Ireland Awards 2020, and was a keynote speaker on innovation and sustainability at the 2019 Vogue Business Conference.

GARETH LAMBE

BComm 1995

In January 2021, Gareth Lambe, Head of Facebook Ireland, was inaugurated President of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. Lambe has been on the board of directors since 2016. He is also VP International Business Planning and Operations at Facebook Ireland, responsible for the health and success of Facebook’s International Headquarters in Ireland. He is a member of Facebook’s board of directors.

BARRY O’SULLIVAN

BA Geography 1995, Executive MBA 2008

Barry O’Sullivan succeeded fellow UCD alumnus Oliver Loomes as Managing Director of Diageo Ireland in June 2021. O’Sullivan joined Diageo Ireland after a 13-year career in which he held various roles, including Managing Director of Mars Petcare in Australia and New Zealand. O’Sullivan is also an alumnus of London Business School Global Business Consortium and Harvard Business School.

ANNE HERATY

BA Maths and Politics 1984

In January 2021, Ireland’s leading employment services company, CPL Resources, was sold to Japanese company Outsourcing Inc for €318m. Anne Heraty co-founded the company in 1989 and in 1992 became sole shareholder. In 1999, Heraty became the first female CEO of an Irish company floated on the stock exchange. She was appointed to the global Board of Directors of Outsourcing Inc following the completion of the acquisition of CPL.

CATHAL MARLEY

BA English & Geography 1988, Diploma Advanced Management 2002, MBA International Executive 2003

Ervia, formerly known as Bord Gáis, appointed Cathal Marley as CEO in September 2020, overseeing the semi-state company and subsidiaries Gas Networks Ireland and Irish Water. The Donegal native previously had a 20-year career with the ESB and held senior positions at the World Bank and Ernst & Young LLP. He is a member of the Irish Management Institute (IMI) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

DALTON PHILIPS

BA Geography & Classics 1990

In October 2020, UCD Alumni Awardee Dalton Philips, CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority, was appointed Chairman at Rethink Ireland, previously Social Innovation Fund Ireland, which provides supports to charities and social enterprises to achieve social change. In 2020, Dublin Airport saw fewer than 7.5 million passengers pass through its doors, less than a quarter of the record 32.9 million in 2019. Philips believes Rethink Ireland will play a pivotal role in Ireland’s pandemic recovery.

MARTINA FITZGERALD

BA History & Politics 1995

In November 2020, Martina Fitzgerald became CEO of Scale Ireland, an organisation to promote Irish tech start-ups and scale-ups. She is a member of the National Screening Advisory Committee and a board member of Dóchas, a network to connect, inspire and represent people and organisations working for global justice. Its platform provides a data-driven approach to diversity and inclusion. Fitzgerald spoke at UCD’s Women in Leadership Conference 2021.

WILL QUINN MCMAHON

BSc Economics and Finance 2012

British nutrition company Kendamil, led by Commercial Director Will Quinn McMahon was recognised by the Financial Times as one of the 1,000 fastest-growing companies in Europe for 2020. Kendamil was also honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2020 for its 360 per cent growth in global exports of infant formulas and baby cereals over a period of three years. Quinn McMahon also has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

ALICE DELAHUNTY

BE Electrical Engineering 2003, MMgtSc 2005

In December 2020, Alice Delahunty became President, Electricity Transmission at National Grid UK, a utility focused on the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas. Prior to this she was Head of Network Optimisation, leading a team of more than 300 engineers and technical specialists. Delahunty is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

TERENCE O’ROURKE

BA History and Economics 1975

Terence O’Rourke, a retired Managing Partner and Board Member of KPMG Ireland, became Chair of the ESB in November 2020. O’Rourke is a Fellow and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He is Chair of Enactus Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and a member of the boards of the Irish Management Institute, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Irish Film Institute, Rethink Ireland, and Dublin Theatre Festival.

RÓISÍN HENNERTY

BA English and German 1988

In February 2021, Róisín Hennerty, Managing Director of Ornua Foods, spoke at UCD’s Women in Leadership Conference. In 2019, Hennerty and her team made history by growing Kerrygold retail sales to €1 billion annually, cementing it as Ireland’s most successful food brand. In September 2020, she was named Irish Times Business Person of the Year due to the company’s reported record sales and profit for 2020.

CATHERINE GUBBINS

MAcc 1997

In May 2021, Catherine Gubbins became Group Chief Financial Officer of state airports company, the DAA. In this position, she is responsible for overall group finance function as well as playing a key role in managing the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and is a former Chairperson of the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants.

NORAH WALSH

MAcc 2005

In October 2020, Norah Walsh was promoted to the role of Partner/Principal in the subservice line of International Tax and Transaction Services at EY in New York. Walsh first joined Ernst & Young (now EY) in 2005 as a Tax Manager on the Irish tax desk in Dublin. After receiving her master's degree in accounting from UCD in 2005, Walsh became a qualified accountant at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland and a chartered tax consultant at the Irish Taxation Institute in 2008.

LUCY MCPHAIL

MA History 2008

In April 2021, Lucy McPhail was appointed Head of Buying at luxury department store Liberty London. McPhail moved to London in 2019 to work on a project for Harrods. An experienced buyer, McPhail began her career in Dublin as an assistant buyer at Arnotts, and as a buyer at Lifestyle Sports. McPhail is also director and founder of online beauty boutique Fetch Beauty, which she launched in 2017. Fetch Beauty offers personalised beauty and skincare products.

JOE HENEGHAN

Diploma Governance and Risk 2015

In June 2021, Joe Heneghan, CEO of Revolut Ireland, was appointed to the new role of CEO for Europe, overseeing Revolut’s further expansion in the European Economic Area (EEA). As CEO of Revolut Ireland since October 2020, Heneghan led the rapid growth of Revolut’s Irish business to 1.5m customers. He has more than 25 years’ experience in financial services, including senior leadership positions at Ulster Bank and Permanent TSB.

TARIQ ZAKI

BE Electrical Engineering 2010, MSc Business Analytics 2012

Commerce marketing start-up Shopbox raised €765,000 in seed funding from private investors in June 2021. Co- founded by Chief Technology Officer Tariq Zaki and Alan Gormley in 2020, investors include Gerry Rogers, former senior executive at Nike and Ikea, and Paul Kealy from pram and nursery retailer Tony Kealys. Zaki was previously a member of the leadership teams at SAS, Popertree and Red Sift.

KAROL DEVANEY

BAgrSc Food & Agribusiness Management 2019

In May 2020, Sligo farmer Karol Devaney founded Eweknit, an agricultural clothing company, whose mission is to “give back to the farming community”. Devaney hosts a weekly podcast, the Eweknit Agricast Farming Podcast, with updates on the farming and agri-business sectors. He has also been Managing Director of Devaney Shearing since 2015 and is a former shearers representative of the Irish Sheep Shearers Association.

PETER FOLEY

MSc Management 2010

In June 2021, Peter Foley, founder and CEO of health diagnostics company LetsGetChecked, closed a $150m Series D financing round to expand the business after increased demand during COVID-19. The company, split between Dublin and New York, offers at-home testing in a variety of healthcare specialisms. To date, the company has conducted over two million tests. Foley is a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021.

AIMEE CONNOLLY

BComm Int 2015

Sculpted by Aimee Cosmetics is an Irish cosmetics brand founded in 2016 by make-up artist Aimee Connolly. The brand, which creates innovative products, has grown rapidly since and is continuing expansion into new markets. Connolly was named one of 24 finalists for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2021. Connolly previously worked as an independent make-up artist.

ANNE GALLAGHER

BA English and History 2000

Lux Life Magazine named The Beauty Kit Best Online Beauty Store in Ireland at its Health and Beauty Awards 2021. Founder Anne Gallagher offers consumers a curated range of products and informative content to help make purchasing decisions easier. Gallagher returned to her alma mater as a PR and marketing lecturer at the UCD Professional Academy in June 2020.

CHARLIE GLEESON

BComm 2019

Charlie Gleeson won the NovaUCD Founder of the Year Award in March 2021 for his electric scooter-sharing company, Zipp Mobility. Gleeson founded Zipp Mobility in 2019 with a mission to reduce congestion. He surpassed his initial funding target of €400,000, raising more than €2m in total. Zipp Mobility has plans to launch across Ireland and mainland Europe. Gleeson featured in Independent.ie’s 30 Under 30 Young Irish Entrepreneurs 2020 list.

SHARON KEEGAN

MA Innovation 2017

In April 2021, Sharon Keegan, founder and CEO of Peachylean, secured a £100,000 investment on BBC’s Dragon’s Den for her body-positive women’s athleisurewear brand, which honours her sibling Alan, who died in 2020. Three dragons agreed to 30 per cent equity in the business in return for their investment. Keegan is actively seeking further funding as she plans to expand her brands into Australia and the US while promoting women’s self- esteem and mental health.

MAXENCE VIDAL

BComm International 2020, MSc International Management 2021

In June 2020, Maxence Vidal founded PreviewUni, an online platform for constructive academic feedback. Also an experienced consultant, Vidal began his most recent venture in the European Space Agency in Milan in February 2021. Vidal conducts research, assessing both the risks and benefits of Digital Twin technology, a digital replica of a physical object that can be examined and tested without having adverse effects in the real world.

MARIA FLEMING

BA Psychology 1990

In May 2021, First Fortnight, an Irish organisation utilising arts and culture to challenge mental health stigma and support vulnerable people through creative therapies, announced Maria Fleming as CEO. Fleming has worked in the arts for over 20 years, with experience as general manager, producer, programmer and arts consultant in Ireland’s leading companies, theatres and events, including Dublin Theatre Festival, The Ark, and Druid Theatre Company.

CIARA CLOSE

BE 2004, PhD 2012, MBA 2020

Following her work on Comfort4Covid in 2020, Ciara Close began working with Primer for Life, a company that makes exercise easy, fun and safe for older people. In June 2021, she founded Technobabble, a company that helps older people reap the benefits of technology. She is a member of the Board of Directors at GenerationTech and The Umbrella Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to alleviate the impact of trafficking on young people in Nepal.

AILEEN CARVILLE

BA Entrepreneurial Studies 2000

In September 2020, the first B2B SMARTShowroom wholesale platform, SKMMP, founded by fashion tech entrepreneur Aileen Carville, was selected for a twelve- month residency at Creative Valley in Paris. SKMMP uses voice AI and an online wholesale order platform for designer showrooms. The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in demand for Carville’s virtual showroom. SKMMP now partners with global brands such as PRADA and Stone Island.

JACK PIERSE

BBL 2013

In May 2021, Jack Pierse, co-founder and Chief Financial Officer at fintech start-up Wayflyer, a financing platform for ecommerce merchants, announced the company had raised $76m in Series A funding, and secured a $100m debt facility. Wayflyer helps ecommerce merchants by providing access to working capital. In November 2020, Pierse, a chartered accountant, appeared in Independent.ie’s 30 Under 30 Young Irish Entrepreneurs 2020 list.

PAUL O’HARA

MSc Marketing 2000

In May 2021, social entrepreneurship platform ChangeX announced a partnership with the Lego Foundation on projects to learn through play. Co- founded in 2015 by CEO Paul O’Hara, ChangeX is backed by investors such as Ben & Jerry’s Jerry Greenfield and Storyful’s Mark Little. O’Hara stated that the undisclosed level of funding from the Lego Foundation, the company’s first institutional backer, is the largest that ChangeX has secured.