2022 Class Acts - UCD Connections

JACK PIERSE

BBL 2013

In February 2022, Wayflyer, the start-up co-founded by Jack Pierse, who is also Chief Financial Officer, achieved unicorn status when its valuation exceeded $1 billion. In May 2022, the company secured a further $300 million in financing from J.P. Morgan. Wayflyer provides affordable unsecured loans and marketing analytics services to e-commerce companies, which are repaid through a percentage of future revenue. Pierse and his co-founder Aidan Corbett are finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ireland Awards 2022, in the International category.

JIM JOYCE

MBA 1996

In December 2021 HealthBeacon, led by its co-founder and CEO Jim Joyce, raised €25 million in its IPO on the Euronext Growth Dublin market, valuing the company at €98 million. Founded in 2013, HealthBeacon develops solutions to help patients to adhere to injectable medications schedules more efficiently. Its core product consists of a small digital bin in which patients can dispose of their injector pens and syringes while keeping track of their adherence to medication regime.

DARAGH MURPHY

BCL 2010

In November 2021, it was announced that Imprint, the Fintech service co-founded and led by Daragh Murphy, had raised $38 million in Series A funding, bringing the total amount raised since its inception in 2020 to $53 million. Imprint is a payment and rewards provider that partners with businesses to provide branded rewards cards which may be used like standard debit cards. Bypassing traditional banks saves the business money while customers are rewarded with privileges and discounts.

DAVE WALSH

BComm 2013, MSc Marketing 2016

In May 2022, Mathison, the diversity hiring and retention platform co-founded and led by Dave Walsh, announced it had raised $25 million in Series A funding. Founded in 2019, Mathison provides a diversity, equality and inclusion operating system to enable organisations and businesses to accelerate their diverse hiring practices. The company has thus far worked with blue-chip employers such as Sonos, TripAdvisor, 23andMe, BMS, Sundance Film Festival and the World Economic Forum.

FELIX HEMMERLING

BComm 2018

In June 2021, it was announced that Kodehyve, a property technology start-up co-founded by Chairman and CEO Felix Hemmerling in 2020, had closed €1 million in funding from investors. The real estate collaboration platform enables real estate developers and agencies to manage and analyse projects through the digitalisation of real estate work ows. In 2022, it introduced an e-signature platform, allowing for instant signing of documentation that previously took weeks for con rmation.

ANDREA REYNOLDS

BA Economics 1993, HDipBS 1994

In June 2022, Swoop, the Fintech company co-founded by Andrea Reynolds, raised €6.3 million in Series A funding, taking its valuation to €30 million. Established in 2017, Swoop connects SMEs with sources of finance. With 75,000 businesses having used the platform to find over £500 million to date, the company has predicted a 450 per cent increase in revenue in 2022. Swoop partnered with major UK banks and distributed hundreds of millions in loans via a pandemic Bounce Back scheme.

AIMEE CONNOLLY

BComm International 2015

Founder and CEO of Sculpted By Aimee, Aimee Connolly won top prize in the Emerging Category at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2021. She established the cosmetics business in 2016, having worked as a freelance make-up artist prior to this. The business, which ships to 20 countries, is on track to achieve revenues of €8 million this year and is focused on replicating the success in Ireland in further international markets.

ADAM KEANE

BA Economics 2012, MSc Finance 2013

In December 2021, Adam Keane’s nursing home communications technology tool, Altra, won gold at the National Start-up Awards 2021 in the Social or Sustainable Startup category. Altra’s platform helps nursing and care homes provide meaningful, person-centred care for all residents. Altra is currently deployed in almost 150 nursing homes across the UK and Ireland.

ZEBULON PARSONS

MSc Supply Chain Management 2015

Zebulon Parsons is the founder of South Carolina-based company Bricolage Dynamics LLC, which converts glass waste into high-quality sand to be used for landscaping and construction. The company has raised over $250,000 and has serviced over 250 households, producing more than 25 tonnes of sand to date. Prior to founding Bricolage Dynamics, Parsons held various operational and logistical roles at companies in Melbourne and South Carolina.

JOHN MC KENNA

BE Civil Engineering 1993

In May 2022, Sees.ai, the remote drone piloting software start-up co-founded and led by John McKenna, received a €117,000 equity investment from Boeing. The start-up joined the company’s UK start-up accelerator, Aerospace Xelerated, in January. It also joined a trial with Britain’s National Grid to automate the inspection of electricity pylons. The start-up is one of only ten organisations in the Civil Aviation Authority regulatory sandbox programme alongside companies such as Amazon and Boeing.

ALISON DARCY

BA Psychology 1999, MLitt Psychology 2005, PhD Psychology 2007

Woebot, the mental health chatbot company founded by Dr Alison Darcy, secured $9.5 million in funding from the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, in March 2022. The company had previously raised $90 million in July 2021. Woebot is an AI-powered relational agent for mental health that acts as a therapeutic chatbot using an innovative, evidence-based approach to cognitive behavioural therapy, in order to create a therapeutic bond with its users.

STEPHEN O’DWYER

BE Biomedical Engineering 2021

In April 2022, Stephen O’Dwyer, the founder of TrojanTrack, was named one of PwC Sport for Business 30 under 30. Founded in 2021, TrojanTrack is a technology app that uses motion-tracking software to detect early signs of gait issues or injuries in horses, providing an alternative to more invasive diagnostics. In 2021, the company was awarded the Best Impact on Sport award at SportX, a pre-accelerator for sports business ideas.

JOHN FLYNN & DEBBIE RENNICK

BSc Physics and Mathematics 1990 & BCL 1989

Act Venture Capital, led by Managing Partner John Flynn and General Partner Debbie Rennick, launched a €140 million fund to target early-stage technology companies, in June 2022. This is its sixth and largest fund to date, bringing total capital raised by the firm to over €600 million. The company intends to target 35 companies with the fund, investing up to €10 millon into any one company, with a focus on companies prioritising sustainable growth and diversity.

COLUM LYONS

BComm 2003 In March 2022,

ID-Pal, led by founder and CEO Colum Lyons, won the Irish Times Innovation Award in the IT & Fintech category. ID-Pal is an automated identity verification software tool that provides for simple, secure and convenient identity verification in less than 60 seconds. In May 2022, the company launched in the UK. Prior to launching ID-Pal, Co. Mayo-born Lyons worked as a stockbroker. The company has just raised €7 million in Series A funding.

AUDREY MAGEE

BA French and German 1988

In February 2022, Audrey Magee released her second novel, The Colony, longlisted for the Man Booker prize. The novel reflects the tension between foreign visitors and inhabitants of an Irish-speaking island. It has been nominated for an Orwell Prize and optioned for film. Magee’s debut novel, The Undertaking, was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Irish Book Awards and the Dublin Literary Award as well as the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

FINTAN O’TOOLE

BA English and Philosophy 1978

Fintan O’Toole’s latest book, We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland since 1958, was announced as the An Post Irish Book of the Year as well as Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, in December 2021. O’Toole has won the Orwell Prize for Journalism and the European Press Prize and received the UCD Alumni Award in Arts and Humanities in 2018. O’Toole is a member of the Royal Irish Academy.

COLM TÓIBÍN

BA 1975

In January 2022, Colm Tóibín was appointed Laureate for Irish Fiction 2022-2024, following selection by an international panel. As part of his role, he will deliver talks to students in Irish universities and an annual public lecture. In March 2022, Tóibín won the Rathbones Folio Prize for his 2021 novel, The Magician. In December 2021, he won the 2021 David Cohen Prize for Literature. Tóibín is a professor at Columbia University and Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.

SALLY HAYDEN

BCL 2012

Award-winning journalist and photographer Sally Hayden’s first book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, published in March 2022, was a tour de force. An intimate portrait of the lives of migrants involved in the migrant crisis across North Africa, it was recently awarded the Orwell Prize for political writing for 2022. It was also shortlisted for the Michel Déon Prize, awarded by the Royal Irish Academy. Hayden received the UCD Alumni Award in Law in 2020.

JENNIFER JENNINGS

MA Cultural Policy and Arts Management 2004

THISISPOPBABY, the trailblazing theatre company co-founded by Jennifer Jennings, celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Having recently wrapped ‘Party Scene’, a show focused on queer culture, the company will premiere ‘Wake’, in September, celebrating the power of community via Irish funerary practices. Jennings is Artistic Director-in-Residence at UCD Creative Futures Academy.

RODDY DOYLE

BA English and Geography 1979, HDipEd 1980

In October 2021, novelist, dramatist and screenwriter Roddy Doyle released his latest book, Life Without Children, a tender and humorous collection of short stories set during pandemic lockdowns. A prolific author, Doyle is a previous winner of the Booker Prize, a BAFTA Award, and an Irish Book Award. He is a Royal Society of Literature Fellow.

DEIRDRE KINAHAN

BA English and History 1988, HDipEd 1989, MA Modern Drama Studies 1999

Deirdre Kinahan’s latest play, ‘Outrage’, produced by the Olivier Award-winning internationally acclaimed Irish theatre company Fishamble, ran in March and April 2022, as the final part of her Irish Revolutionary trilogy, following ‘Wild Sky’ and ‘Embargo’. The play explored the nature of women’s role in the Irish revolutionary wars and received rave reviews. Kinahan is a member of Aosdána.

MARIAN KEYES

BCL 1984 In May 2022,

Marian Keyes was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards, in addition to her Author of the Year win at the An Post Irish Book Awards in November 2021. Keyes has published 15 novels, most recently Again, Rachel, published in February 2022. One of the most successful Irish authors, Keyes’ warm, witty books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide. She has also played an active role in encouraging and mentoring young writers

JAMIE O’CONNELL

MA Creative Writing 2009, MFA Creative Writing 2015

Jamie O’Connell released his debut novel, Diving for Pearls, in June 2021. The novel, which follows the stories of several characters linked to a death against the backdrop of glamorous but gritty Dubai, won a prize at Listowel Writers Week in 2022. O’Connell’s short stories have been highly commended by the Costa Short Story Award, with one winning the An Post Irish Book Award Short Story of the Year.

GABRIEL BYRNE

BA Archaeology, Irish and Spanish 1972, HDipEd 1973

In January 2022, Tony award-nominated actor Gabriel Byrne premiered his critically acclaimed solo show, ‘Walking with Ghosts’, at the Gaiety Theatre. Adapted from his bestselling memoirs, the one-man show reflects Byrne’s life’s journey, from Dublin childhood to Hollywood stardom. Following a run at the National Opera House in Wexford, ‘Walking with Ghosts’ will make its West End debut in September.

KEVIN POWER

BA English 2002, MA 2003, PhD American Literature 2014

Following the success of his debut novel, Bad Day in Blackrock, Rooney Prize-winning author Kevin Power released his second novel, White City, a satire about class entitlement, shortlisted for the An Post Eason Novel of the Year and the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, in late 2021. In May 2022, Power’s book of essays and reviews, The Written World, explaining literary criticism from his own perspective as writer and critic, was published.

COLIN BARRETT

BA English 2003, MA Creative Writing 2009, MFA 2015

In March 2022, Rooney Prize-winning Colin Barrett released Homesickness, his second collection of short stories. The title of Toronto-based Barrett’s book refers to those who have stayed home in the West of Ireland, but whose resilience is challenged by mental illness, isolation and misfortune. Barrett’s work has been published in The New Statesman and The New Yorker. He released Young Skins, his award-winning debut collection of short stories, in 2013.

AINGEALA FLANNERY

MFA 2019

In June 2022, journalist and writer Aingeala Flannery released The Amusements, her debut collection of linked stories. In 2019, a story from the collection, ‘Visiting Hours’, won the Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition. In 2020 and 2021, Flannery was awarded a Literature Bursary by the Arts Council of Ireland. Her work has been broadcast on RTÉ Radio One as part of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition.

JOANNE MC NALLY

BA English and Sociology 2008

Throughout 2022, writer, actor and stand-up comedian Joanne McNally is taking her 100-night sold-out tour, ‘The Prosecco Express’, across the UK and Ireland. As well as numerous TV credits, McNally is the host of the successful podcast, ‘My Therapist Ghosted Me’, with Vogue Williams. In April 2022, McNally appeared on Channel 4’s ‘The Big Fat Quiz of Everything’. She is set to release her debut book, a collection of essays, in 2023.

NIAMH CAMPBELL

BA English 2009

In February 2022, Niamh Campbell published her second novel, We Were Young. In October 2021, she won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for debut novel, This Happy, which also received nominations for the An Post Book Awards, the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, and the John McGahern Book Prize. Campbell won the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award for ‘Love Many’, in 2020. She has lectured in Creative Writing at UCD.

SONYA GILDEA

MA 2020

Sonya Gildea was one of ten poets selected by Poetry Ireland in September 2021 to participate in its annual Introductions Series, which offers poets in the early stages of their career the opportunity to share their work through workshops and performance. In October 2021, Gildea won the John McGahern Award and also received an Artist Literature Bursary Award and an Agility Award from the Irish Arts Council in 2021. She is currently writing her first poetry collection.

MALACHY BROWNE

BE 1997

In June 2022, ‘Day of Rage’, the New York Times documentary on the US Capitol riot, co-directed by Malachy Browne, received a Peabody Award. It was also shortlisted for Oscar consideration. In September 2021, Browne, a producer on the Visual Investigations team at the New York Times, won two Emmy Awards for his contribution to forensic reporting on the New York Times visual investigation, ‘How the Police Killed Breonna Taylor’.

SINÉAD KEENAN

BA History and Sociology 1999

It was announced in March 2022 that Fair City star Sinéad Keenan will join the cast of ITV drama series Unforgotten in a leading role. Keenan will play D.C.I. Jessica James, the partner to D.I. Sunil Khan. In April 2022, Keenan guest-starred in Series 3 of Derry Girls. Dublin-born Keenan was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 2018 and in the same year won a Royal Television Society Programme Award for her role in 2017 ITV drama series Little Boy Blue.

SHAUNAGH CONNAIRE

BComm International 2006

In June 2021, Shaunagh Connaire became Director of Communications and Media at the Clooney Foundation for Justice. In July 2021, her film Opioid Inc, was nominated for an Emmy Award. She was previously nominated for an Emmy for her PBS Frontline documentary about the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. A former editor at the Financial Times in New York, Connaire has also worked as a producer at the BBC, CNBC and Channel 4.

ÁINE NÍ BHREISLEÁIN

BA Irish and History 2007 ,MA 2011

From January to March 2022, An Cósta Thiar, the new series on TG4 presented by journalist Áine Ní Bhreisleáin, went on air for the first time. In the series, Ní Bhreisleáin travels along the west coast of Ireland to uncover the culture, challenges and benefits of living by the Atlantic Ocean, rowing with a local musician, sea swimming and foraging. Ní Bhreisleáin, who is from Gaoth Dobhair in Co. Donegal, is the presenter of Bladhaire on Raidió na Gaeltachta and of Beo ar Éigean on RTÉ Radio 1.

NICHOLA FRYDAY

BAgrSc 2017

In March 2022, second row Nichola Fryday was named the new Ireland Captain for the 2022 Women’s Six Nations campaign. Having made her international debut in 2016, Fryday has represented Ireland in the Six Nations competition since 2017. In November 2021, the Offaly-born player signed to Exeter Chiefs. She previously played for Blackrock College RFC and Connacht Rugby. Fryday also works for Kerry Group, as a Customer Care Lead.

SARAH LAVIN

BSc Physiotherapy 2018

Physiotherapist Sarah Lavin became the first Irish athlete in 12 years to compete in a World Indoor Championship final, when she finished seventh in the 60m hurdles final in March 2022, breaking the eight-second barrier for the first time in her career. At the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in July, Lavin placed fifth in the 100m hurdles semi- final, recording her best-ever time at that distance. Lavin is currently taking a career break to focus on athletics.

BRIAN DOOHER

MVB 1998

In September 2021, the Tyrone team, led by joint manager Brian Dooher, won its fourth All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Having played for Tyrone himself between 1995 and 2011, Dooher won GAA All Stars in all three of Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning campaigns and captained the team. Playing for UCD while studying for his veterinary medicine degree, he was part of the Sigerson Cup-winning team in 1996. He is also Deputy Chief Vet at Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture.

LIAM SCALES

BA 2019

In a landmark year for the Co. Wicklow-born fotballer, Liam Scales signed a four-year deal with iconic Scottish club Celtic in August 2021 and in September was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior team. Scales joined UCD in 2015 and made over 100 appearances for the Club, helping the team to Collingwood Cup victory as well as the League of Ireland First Division title in 2018. Scales, who also played for Shamrock Rovers, has a bright future ahead in the game.

CHLOE MUSTAKI

BComm International 2018, MSc International Management 2019

When footballer Chloe Mustaki made her debut for the Republic of Ireland senior soccer team in their match against Russia in February 2022, she won Player of the Match. US-born Mustaki was formerly captain of the Republic of Ireland women’s national Under-19 football team which qualified for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 fi Championship nals for the first time in 2014. As well as lining out for Ireland and Shelbourne, Mustaki works as a consultant at Maven Search in London.

PIERCE O’CALLAGHAN

BComm 1998, DipSMgt 2005

In May 2021, Pierce O’Callaghan was promoted to Head of Competition at World Athletics, the first Irish person in this role. Previously, he served as Project Director of the World Athletics Continental Tour and the World Indoor Tour, and as Director of Readiness for the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships. He was also Director of Sport at the 2017 London World Championships in Athletics and Director of Sport at the 2015 European Games in Baku. A former racewalker, he has won 16 Irish national titles.

JOSH VAN DER FLIER

DipSMgt 2013, BSc Sport and Exercise Management 2017

In July 2022, Josh van der Flier was a member of the Ireland rugby team that secured a historic first win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil. He was honoured as the Rugby Players Ireland Players’ Player of the Year and Leinster Rugby Players’ Player of the Year and, in May 2022, Co. Wicklow-born van der Flier was named the first Irish winner in 10 years of the EPCR European Player of the Year award, one of the most prized individual accolades in rugby

KATIE O’BRIEN

MVB 2020

In June 2022, Katie O’Brien won a gold medal in the PR2 women’s single sculls para event at the World Rowing Cup II event in Poznan, setting a new world record, following her record-beating time in the semi-final. O’Brien previously won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships. She also won gold medals at the Henley Women’s Regatta and the Home International Regatta. She currently rows out of Galway Rowing Club and previously rowed for UCD Ladies Boat Club, while studying to become a veterinarian.

TARISAI MAY CHIDAWANYIKA

BCL 2016

Tarisai May Chidawanyika is the founder of Diversity in Law, an organisation which seeks to support and develop the talent of minority law students and promote diversity in the legal profession. Chidawanyika is an employment law solicitor at Matheson. She moved to Dublin from Zimbabwe 15 years ago and was the first Zimbabwean to be registered as a solicitor in Ireland.

PETER STAPLETON

BCL European 1999

In December 2021, Peter Stapleton was appointed Managing Partner of Maples and Calder LLP having previously led the firm’s Irish Funds & Investment Management practice for six years. Highly regarded in the Irish investment funds market, Stapleton has featured in IFLR, the guide to the world’s leading law firms, The Legal 500, Chambers Global and Who’s Who Legal.

STEPHEN HOLST

BCL International 2006

Stephen Holst took up the position of Managing Partner at McCann FitzGerald LLP in May 2022, succeeding fellow UCD alumnus Barry Devereux. He has spent his legal career at the firm since joining as a trainee in 2007. He is a Chambers Europe and The Legal 500 ranked solicitor. Prior to his new role, he was a member of the firm’s litigation department, with specialist expertise in whistleblowing investigations.

DAVID WIDGER

BCL 1992

In May 2022, David Widger took up the position of Managing Partner at A&L Goodbody LLP. Prior to this appointment, he served as Head of Corporate for 12 years. He joined the firm as a trainee in 1992. He is recognised as one of the country’s leading corporate lawyers by global legal publications including Chambers Global, The Legal 500, IFLR and Who’s Who Legal.

SENAN ALLEN, CIAN FERRITER, DAVID BARNIVILLE, CAROLINE BIGG & NUALA BUTLER

COURT ORDERS

In July 2022, Justice DAVID BARNIVILLE (BCL 1988) formerly of the Court of Appeal, became president of the High Court. He is replaced at the Court of Appeal by Justice NUALA BUTLER (BCL 1984, LLM 1989). In April 2022, Justice SENAN ALLEN (BCL 1981) was nominated for elevation to the Court of Appeal. He has served in the High Court since 2018. Barristers CAROLINE BIGGS (BCL International 1995) and CIAN FERRITER (BCL 1992) were appointed Ordinary Judges of the High Court.

EOIN DELAP

BA English and History 2009

In July 2022, Eoin Delap was appointed CEO of the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL). A barrister, Delap practises in the areas of commercial and administrative law, with a particular focus on EU law. He previously worked in the not for profit sector in Ireland and the United States. Delap will lead ICEL’s autumn programme of events, beginning with a conference on the recently enacted Competition (Amendment) Act 2022.

SÍOFRA O’LEARY

BCL 1989

Justice Síofra O’Leary was elected Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in November 2021. She has been a judge at the Court since 2015. Prior to joining the ECHR, Justice O’Leary held various positions in the Court of Justice of the European Union. She is an alumna of the European University Institute in Florence where she received her PhD in European Law and was formerly the Assistant Director in the Centre for European Law

MARY AIKEN & AILBHE SMYTH

BA Psychology and Classics 1983 & BA English and French 1966, MA 1968

UCD alumnae, Ailbhe Smyth and Dr Mary Aiken were awarded Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2022 by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland, during a ceremony at the Mansion House. Activist and campaigner Ailbhe Smyth, UCD academic and founding head of Women’s Studies in UCD, played a key role in Ireland’s REPEAL movement and was awarded for her work in the areas of human rights, social justice and academia. Dr Aiken was awarded Freedom of the City for her important work in the areas of cyberpsychology, online safety and security.

VINCENT KEAVENY

BCL 1986

Lawyer Vincent Keaveny took office in November 2021 as the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London. He has served as an Alderman of the City of London since 2013 and was previously Sheriff of the City of London for 2018/19. As the elected head of the City of London Corporation, his goal is to promote the UK-based financial and professional services industry as a leader in environmental, social and governance and sustainable finance. He is also a partner at DLA Piper LLP.

VIVIENNE DUGGAN & RACHEL BROWN

MVB 1999, Prof Dip 2016 & MVB 1995

In January 2022, the Veterinary Council of Ireland appointed UCD alumnae Vivienne Duggan and Rachel Brown as its president and deputy president respectively. It is the first time two women have held these roles simultaneously. The Veterinary Council of Ireland is an independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of practice of veterinary medicine and nursing in Ireland. Vivienne Duggan is Associate Professor in Equine Clinical Studies at UCD and is widely published in peer-reviewed journals. Rachel Browne is a veterinary practitioner at Moy Veterinary Clinic in Ballina, Co. Mayo.

NIAMH LEINWATHER

BCL 2005

In January 2022, Mullingar-born lawyer Niamh Leinwather was appointed Secretary General of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre, one of Europe’s leading arbitral institutions. In June 2022, she was elected to the Council of the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions. She is the only Irish woman to be admitted to the Austrian bar and was previously a Principal Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London.

MARY HURLEY

BA 1992, MA 1993, HDipEd 1994

Mary Hurley was named Secretary General at the Department of Rural and Community Development in March 2022. She previously served as an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with responsibility for community and rural development, regeneration, emergency management, homelessness and local government. She has worked in other departments including the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht.

SARAH LYNCH

BA History and History of Art 2003

In February 2022, Dr Sarah Lynch was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the UK’s foremost society for historians. Fellowships are awarded on the basis of original contributions to historical scholarship. An Assistant Professor of European History at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, Dr Lynch has published two books on the medieval period. In 2021, she was selected to the inaugural class of Angelo State University Provost’s Scholars.

JOHN POWER

BE 1975, MIE Industrial Engineering 1980, ProfDip Business and Executive Coaching 2017

In June 2022, John Power was elected President of Engineers Ireland, the statutory body for professional engineering in Ireland, which represents 25,000 members. He served as Vice-President for two years and was Director General from 2007-2015. He was Head of Corporate Affairs at ESB, before becoming a Senior Executive Coach in 2017. He is a past president of UCD Engineering Graduates Association.

HUGH BRADY

MB BCh BAO 1982, BSc 1984, PhD 1993, MD 1994

In January 2022, Professor Hugh Brady was announced as the Chair of the newly established Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group. The Group was formed to identify learnings from the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to strengthen health protection and future pandemic preparedness. A former President of UCD and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bristol, Professor Brady is President-designate of Imperial College London and takes up of ce this year.

RONAN CAHILL

MB BCh BAO 1997

Professor Ronan Cahill received the NovaUCD Innovation Champion of the Year Award in March 2022. Professor Cahill’s award recognises his championing of digital innovation and innovative solutions in surgery, as Professor of Surgery at UCD and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Professor Cahill has led the establishment of a Clinical Anatomy Centre at the Mater Hospital, which is the only in-hospital Advanced Surgery Training, Research and Development unit in the country.

SIOBHÁN MC CLEAN

BSc Biochemistry 1988, Prof Cert 2018, Prof Dip 2021

In December 2021, Poolbeg Pharma signed an option agreement with UCD to license MelioVac, a vaccine for melioidosis, invented by Dr Siobhán McClean via NovaUCD. The infectious disease has a rising incidence around the world and has a mortality rate of over 50 per cent, with no approved vaccine currently available. Dr McClean is Head of Biochemistry at UCD and is also an alumna of Imperial College London. Prior to joining UCD, she was a scientist at Elan Pharmaceuticals and ITT Dublin.

TONY HOLOHAN

MB BCh BAO 1991, DipCH 1993, MPH 1996

In June 2021, former Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan accepted the Freedom of Dublin City at the Mansion House. He received the honour on behalf of all healthcare workers for their efforts throughout the pandemic. Dr Holohan has returned to UCD as Adjunct Professor in the UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences.

JONATHAN MC NULTY

BSc Radiography 2000, PhD 2014

In March 2022, Dr Jonathan McNulty won the Eurominnies 2022 award for Most Influential Radiographer for research on neuroimaging and forensic imaging. Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, he is also Vice-Principal in the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences and Associate Dean, School of Medicine. He is editor-in-chief of Radiography Journal.

ALISTAIR NICHOL

PhD Medicine 2008

The Irish Critical Care-Clinical Trials Network case study, led by Professor Alistair Nichol, won the UCD Research Impact Competition 2021 in March 2022. ‘Improving outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19’ informs HSE and WHO treatment guidelines for the clinical management of infection. Professor Nichol was commended by the Irish Research Council for his contribution in this field.

KEVIN LYNCH & FINTAN WHELAN

BE Chemical Engineering 1986& BComm 1978, MBS 1996

Developer of large-scale renewable projects, Source Energie, co-founded by Kevin Lynch and Fintan Whelan, teamed up with ERM Dolphyn, in March 2022, to promote and scale its plan to deploy floating wind turbines with onboard hydrogen electrolysis plants in the Celtic Sea. Its first project is targeted for deployment in 2027/28. Prior to founding Source Energie, Lynch founded and led Amarenco Renewable Energy. Whelan was a founder of Mainstream Renewable Energy and led the finance group at Airtricity.

GERALD MILLS

BA Geography and History 1980, MA 1983

In October 2021, Dr Gerald Mills was awarded the 2021 Luke Howard Award for Outstanding Contributions to the field of Urban Climatology. He is Associate Professor at the School of Geography at UCD. Dr Mills’ research focuses on urban climatology, the links between cities and global climate change and sustainable design. He is also author of Urban Climates, a key textbook for urban climatologists. Dr Mills taught in the US from 1989 to 1997, including at Bowling Green University, Ohio and University of California, Los Angeles.

ROBERT MOONEY

BA Sociology and Mathematics 1998

In November 2021, Dr Rob Mooney was appointed to lead the National Dialogue on Climate Action, which will engage and empower stakeholders and the public with climate action. A social and behavioural scientist and strategist, Dr Mooney previously worked with the Department of Health on COVID-19 and NPHET policy and communications.

VICKY BROWN

BA Psychology 1994

Vicky Brown has launched Rewrite, a climate literacy programme for businesses and schools, designed to educate on the fundamentals of climate change and the solutions to reach net zero. Supported by the government, Rethink Ireland, and the Environmental Protection Agency, Rewrite aims to build responsibility and responsiveness at every level of society.

FIONA DOOHAN

BSc 1994

Professor Fiona Doohan is Professor of Plant Health at UCD and co-founder of CropBiome. She was a recipient of the 2021 NovaUCD Innovation Award.

TADHG Ó hANNRACHÁIN

BA English and History 1984, MPhil 1986

Professor Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin is the former Head of UCD School of History. He was appointed editor of the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy in 2021. He is a leading expert in the history of early modern Ireland and the religious history of early modern Europe.

KAREN CORRIGAN

BA English and Linguistics 1984, PhD 1998

Professor Karen Corrigan is Director of Research in Linguistics at Newcastle University. A leading scholar in language variation and change, she is President of the International Society for the Linguistics of English.

ANN RIGNEY

BA 1978, MA 1981

Professor Ann Rigney is Chair of Comparative Literature at Utrecht University. She has played a leading role in the development of the field of cultural memory studies. She is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences.

RÓNADH COX

BSc 1985

Professor Rónadh Cox is the Edward Brust Professor of Geology and Mineralogy at Williams College. In 2020, she received a Distinguished Service Award from the Geological Society of America.

MARY COSGROVE

BA German and French 1993, MA German 1995, PhD 2002

Professor Mary Cosgrove is Professor in German at Trinity College Dublin. She is a former Germanic Editor of the Modern Language Review.

MARY CANNON

MB BCh BAO 1988

Professor Mary Cannon is a consultant psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health at RCSI. She is a leading researcher in youth mental health. She has published over 200 papers and was listed as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in 2020 and 2021.

GARY DONOHOE

HDipPS 1998, MPsychSc 2000

Gary Donohoe is Professor of Psychology at NUIG. His work focuses on understanding the genetic and neural basis of cognitive defects associated with psychosis, and the development of therapeutic programmes for overcoming these defects. He has previously received a European Research Council fellowship award.

RUTH BYRNE

BA Psychology 1983

Professor of Cognitive Science, Trinity College Dublin was presented with the 2021 Royal Irish Academy Gold, Medal in the Social Sciences by Mary Canning, President of the Royal Irish Academy.

NIAMH SHAW

BE 1990, MEngSc 1995, PhD 2001

In April 2022, Dr Niamh Shaw was recognised as an ESA Champion, which honours her outstanding contribution to space advocacy in Europe.The first Irish person ever to be selected, Dr Shaw, who studied engineering, brings clarity and fun to space education. In March 2022, she reported on the rollout of NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion capsule at the NASA Kennedy Space Center. She is also Core Chair of the Space Studies Programme at International Space University in Strasbourg.

PHILIP NOLAN

BSc 1988, MB BCh BAO 1991, PhD 2003

In January 2022, Professor Philip Nolan was appointed Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the state agency responsible for funding investment in scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical research. Professor Nolan served as Chair of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group from March 2020 to February 2022. He was formerly President of Maynooth University and Deputy President of UCD.

DERVILLA MITCHELL

BE 1980

Dervilla Mitchell was appointed Deputy Chair of Arup Group, a collective of 16,000 designers, advisors and experts across 140 countries, in April 2021. She has been involved in the design of Portcullis House, T2 Dublin, Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal and T5 Heathrow, where she was Head of Design Management. At Arup for over 40 years, Mitchell was previously Chair of the UK, Middle East and Africa region. In 2014, she was awarded a CBE for services to engineering.

SHARON MC GUINNESS

BSc Pharmacology 1986, PhD Pharmacology 1990

In June 2022, Dr Sharon McGuinness was appointed an Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency, which is the EU agency responsible for implementing the regulations that govern the use of chemicals in the EU. She was the Irish representative to the Agency’s board from 2014 to 2020 and chair between 2016 and 2020. She was previously CEO of the Health and Safety Authority in Ireland. Prior to this, she was assistant chief executive for the chemicals division.

WILLIAM GALLAGHER

BSc 1993

In November 2021, UCD Professor William Gallagher was named Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Researcher of the Year, in honour of his achievements in the field of cancer research. He is the Deputy Director of Precision Oncology Ireland, a nationwide research partnership funded by SFI, focused on developing better treatment strategies and diagnostics for cancer patients and co-founder of OncoMark Ltd, focused on development and application of biomarker panels and associated technologies. Professor Gallagher is Professor of Cancer Biology in the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science. He is the former Director of the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research.

JOHN MEE

MVB 1984, PhD 1992, MVM 2013

Dr John Mee became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in October 2021, for his meritorious contributions to veterinary knowledge. Dr Mee is the Principal Veterinary Research Scientist at Teagasc, where he works at the national dairy research centre in Moorepark. He has co-authored over 1,400 scientific publications and is Deputy Editor of the Irish Veterinary Journal. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy.

RÓISÍN QUINN

BE Electrical 2004

In June 2022, Róisín Quinn was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Honorary Awards to Foreign Nationals list, announced as part of the Queen’s 2022 Birthday Honours. Director of Customer Connections at the UK’s National Grid, she has held various positions since 2004 including at the helm of the ESO control room. Her OBE was awarded for services to the Electricity System, Energy Security and Decarbonisation.

CONOR GALVIN

BSc Human Physiology 1996, PhD Cell Biology 2001, MBA 2009

Conor Galvin was appointed CEO of Cork-based Dairygold Co-Operative Society, Ireland’s largest dairy co-operative, in October 2021. A native of Co. Westmeath, Galvin joined Dairygold in 2014, serving in various key positions in its senior leadership team and leading the strategic and commercial growth of the business. Previously, he worked as Finance Director at DCC plc, and was a finance manager at both Diageo Ireland and Procter & Gamble.

GERARD DWYER

BComm 1990, MBS Management Information Systems 1997

In May 2021, Gerard Dwyer, who grew up in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, was appointed Vice-President of Business Finance at Rivian, the California-based electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology start-up that has raised more than $13 billion from investors including Amazon, Ford Motor Co, and Fidelity, making this the sixth-biggest IPO of all time. After starting his career at Telecom Eireann, Dwyer was previously Chief Financial Officer at Waymo LLC and spent ten years at Google.

EAMONN FORBES

MBA 2004

Eamonn Forbes was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at international aircraft leasing firm, Titan Aviation Leasing, in August 2021. He directs all sales and marketing activities and leads the global sales team based in Dublin. He has over 15 years of aviation leasing, legal and finance experience. He serves on the advisory board of LIFT, a non-profit promoting values leadership. Previously he worked at FPG Amentum Ltd and at SMBC Aviation Capital.

EUNICE OREOLUWA FASAN

MSc Business Analytics 2021

In September 2021, Eunice OreOluwa Fasan was announced as one of three winners of the Universitas 21/ PwC Innovation Challenge Competition 2021 for her initiative for skills bargaining in the workplace to improve shared prosperity of employees and reduce skills gaps. She was a finalist in the NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition 2021 and was awarded an Intel Women in Technology scholarship in 2015. She is currently a data and analytics graduate trainee at AIB.

MARGARET GRIBBEN

BA English and Philosophy 1993

In September 2021, Margaret Gribben was selected for the 2021 HERoes Future Female Leaders list, which celebrates 100 inspirational women who are making a significant contribution to gender diversity at work. Gribben is the Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at Irish Life. She leads several gender equality initiatives at Irish Life, and has successfully instigated gender balance targets at the company.

GERARDINE DOYLE

BSc Pharmacology 1985

Professor Gerardine Doyle, Director of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, was named on the 2021 HERoes Future Female Leaders List, which celebrates 100 inspirational women who are making a significant contribution to gender diversity at work. Professor Doyle has championed a series of initiatives to increase female participation across MBA and MSc programmes at the Smurfit School.

MELÍOSA O’CAOIMH

BA Politics and Economics 1985

Melíosa O’Caoimh was selected for the 2021 HERoes Top 100 Women Executives list, which showcases 100 women driving change to increase gender diversity in the workplace. As Country Head for Northern Trust Ireland, O’Caoimh has developed programmes to remove biases from the employment lifecycle. She is Chair of the 30% Club in Ireland, part of a global initiative aimed at achieving gender balance at board level.

SUZANNE RICE

MBS 1990

US-based Suzanne Rice, originally from Co. Longford, was appointed Head of Privacy and Data Practices at Meta in October 2021. She was previously in a global business planning and operations role at Facebook. She has also held senior positions in Apple, Cisco, and Intel. Rice also leads the board of a project offering early learning to low-income families in California. Rice was selected as one of the 100 outstanding Silicon Valley professionals in the 2020 Class of Women of Influence by Silicon Valley Business Journal.

LYN MARKEY

MBA 2018

In November 2021, Dr Lyn Markey was presented with the One to Watch Award at Enterprise Ireland’s Big Ideas showcase for her pitch as co-founder of medtech company XTremedy Medical. Founded in 2020, XTremedy makes surgical devices to address deep tissue and bone infections. Dr Markey is also a researcher at NUI Galway. Prior to co-founding XTremedy Medical, she was a chemist at Henkel and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and an innovation manager at EIT Health.

RYAN MC DONNELL

BComm International 1998

Ryan McDonnell was appointed CEO of Lidl GB to lead its expansion plans in the UK and to meet its target of 1,000 stores by the end of 2025, in November 2021. Lidl GB has over 26,000 employees, more than 800 stores, and sources two-thirds of its products from British suppliers. McDonnell joined Lidl’s graduate scheme in 2000 and went on to set up the company’s buying and marketing divisions. His 21- year career at Lidl includes stints as CCO of Lidl Ireland and NI and CCO of Lidl GB

LORNA CONN

BComm 2001, MAcc 2002

In December 2021, Lorna Conn was announced as the new CEO of Cpl, after fellow UCD alumna and founder of the company Anne Heraty stepped down, following the sale of the talent solutions company to a Japanese firm for €318 million. Previously, Conn served as Deputy CEO and CFO of previously listed Cpl. Prior to joining Cpl, she started her career in Deloitte and is a Chartered Accountant, before holding Chief Financial Officer positions within NTR plc, ISS plc and Mediahuis.

RUTH FARRELL

BE 1996, MBA 2002

In April 2022, Ruth Farrell became General Manager of global speciality materials company Eastman’s Textiles business. She previously served as Global Marketing Director for the company. She is heavily invested in sustainability and innovation in the textile industry and in leading the production of fabrics produced from wood pulp and recycled plastics at a commercial scale. Farrell previously held senior marketing positions in DuPont and Eir.

MARK SPAIN

BComm 1990, DipPrAcc 1991

Mark Spain was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Bank of Ireland in March 2022. He was previously Chief Strategy Officer at Bank of Ireland, having joined the group in 1998 as a client advisory director at IBI Corporate Finance, before becoming Director of Group Investor Relations in 2013, followed by Director of Group Finance in 2016. He has previously worked for Diageo and KPMG.

SUZANNE EADE

BA 1988

In November 2021, Suzanne Eade was appointed CEO of Horse Racing Ireland. She is only the second person to be appointed CEO of the semi-state body, and is the first woman in the role. She previously served as CFO. In October 2021, Eade was named as one of the 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport 2021 by Sport for Business. She has previously had directorial and managerial roles at Boots Ireland and P&G Ireland.

OLIVER LOOMES

BComm 1991, MBS 1992

Oliver Loomes succeeded fellow UCD alumna Carolan Lennon as CEO of Eir in February 2022. He previously spent 21 years at Diageo Ireland, most recently as Managing Director and Chairman. He was previously a board member of Ibec and the founder and Chair of the Open Doors Initiative, which creates pathways of employment for youths from disadvantaged backgrounds, people with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers.

MARTIN TORMEY

BComm 1995, MBS Finance 1996

In September 2021, Martin Tormey was appointed CEO of Goodbody, Ireland’s longest-established stockbroking firm. He has spent over 25 years at the company working in a variety of senior roles, mainly in capital markets. He became Director of Strategic Business Development in 2014, following his position as Head of Equity Trading for 13 years. His appointment was made at the same time that AIB completed its acquisition of the firm for an enterprise value of €89 million.

PATRICK HAYES

BE 1986, MEngSc 1991

Paddy Hayes was appointed CEO of ESB Networks in August 2021, succeeding fellow UCD alumnus Pat O’Doherty. Key objectives include developing decarbonised electricity and investment in infrastructure. Hayes joined the company from British Steel in 1999 to lead the Synergen joint venture between the ESB and Statoil and has held various senior positions at the company including Managing Director of ESB Networks. He has an MBA from the University of Warwick.

JIM MINTERN

BComm 1987, DipPrAcc 1988

In June 2021, Jim Mintern was appointed Group Finance Director at CRH and joined the board of directors. Prior to this appointment, he was Chief of Staff to CEO Albert Manifold. A chartered accountant, he has over 30 years’ experience in the building materials industry and has spent almost 20 years at CRH. Prior to joining CRH, Mintern was Finance Director and Controller at Barlo Group Plc and a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen

CAROLAN LENNON

BSc Information Technology 1988

In March 2022, Carolan Lennon was appointed Country Leader of Salesforce Ireland following her departure as CEO of Eir. Lennon will lead the European headquarters based in Dublin. Lennon is a patron of Chapter Zero Ireland, a community of non-executive directors focused on leading boardroom discussions surrounding the impacts of climate change. She joined the board of Flutter in July 2022.

RONAN GLYNN

BSc Physiotherapy 2002, MPH 2015

In May 2022, following his resignation from the position of Deputy Chief Medical Offcer, it was announced that Dr Ronan Glynn, who is a qualified physiotherapist and medical doctor and holds a PhD in surgical oncology, is leaving the public sector to join consultants EY on their health advisory team. Dr Glynn was acting Chief Medical Officer on two occasions during 2020-2021 while fellow UCD alumnus Dr Tony Holohan was on compassionate leave.

LORNA MARTYN

MBS 1997

Lorna Martyn was appointed Regional Chair of financial services firm Fidelity Investments Ireland in April 2022 and now leads 1,400 associates. She has been with the company for 18 years and was promoted from Head of Technology in Ireland. She previously worked for Bank of Ireland and Saville Systems and has over three decades of experience in the financial services and telecommunications industries. She is also Chair of Technology Ireland.

CHRISTINA CAREY DUNLEAVY

MBA 2010

In April 2021, US-born Christina Carey Dunleavy was appointed Vice-President of Disney CreativeWorks and Multicultural and Inclusive Marketing (MC&I). In her role, she drives diversity and inclusion through creating authentic brand solutions. After her degree, she worked for RTÉ, NBC Universal Media, ESPN, and Viacom before joining Disney from Discovery Inc.

GALVEA KELLY

BBLS 2006, MBS 2008

Galvea Kelly was named among the Top 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology by the Financial Technology Report in August 2021. She was also named as one of Aspioneer magazine’s 10 Disruptive Women Leaders in Fintech 2021. Kelly is the Chief Marketing Officer of Collective, an online concierge financial platform designed to handle financial back office paperwork for the self-employed. She previously worked for LVMH.

HELEN CAHILL

BA Politics and Philosophy 1989, ProfCert 2013

Helen Cahill, co-founder and CEO of InvoiceFair, was announced as a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging category. Founded in 2015, InvoiceFair, based at UCD Nexus, is a platform that allows companies to access funds tied up in its books and convert it into growth capital. In January, the company advanced €1 billion in funding to businesses in the UK and Ireland.

STEPHEN NOLAN

BComm 2006, MBS Finance 2007

Stephen Nolan, Managing Director at Nutritics, was shortlisted as a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging category. Nutritics is a food service business that creates software for diet analysis, meal planning, activity tracking, food labelling, product development, recipe management and cost analysis. Nolan was formerly at Deloitte and Macquarie Group.

CATHAL FAY

BE Electronic Engineering 1990

Cathal Fay, founder and CEO of PrePayPower, was announced as a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, in the Established category. Founded in 2010 to give consumers more control over their electricity costs, PrePayPower.ie introduced pay-as-you-go electricity to the Irish market and has since expanded into gas and broadband. It has a turnover of €200 million.

TOM O’CONNOR

BE Civil Engineering 1998

Tom O’Connor, Managing Director at Conack Construction Ltd, was announced as a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Established category. Founded in 2008, Conack Construction is a building and civil engineering company based in Limerick that delivers specialist construction solutions while prioritising the environment.

YVONNE FARRELL & SHELLEY MC NAMARA

BArch 1974 & BArch 1974

In April 2022, Grafton Architects, the practice led by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, the Mies van der Rohe Award 2022 for Town House at Kingston University, London. Farrell and McNamara, who also lecture at UCD, are the rst Irish architects to win the award. In May 2022, the duo also won the 2022 Daylight Award, an award that honours the use of natural light in architecture.

PATRICK QUINN

BArch 1954

US-based architect Patrick Quinn won the Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality Forum’s (ACSF) 2022 Award for Outstanding Achievement in May 2022. The award recognises exceptional work in architecture and design. Quinn is Professor Emeritus at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Having graduated in 1954 from UCD, he went on to enrol at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Design, where he studied under famous Estonia-born American architect Louis Kahn.

NIALL MC LAUGHLIN

BArch 1984

In 2022, London-based thrice RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated Niall McLaughlin Architects, led by Niall McLaughlin, won a RIBA National Award for a new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge. The practice also won a 2022 Civic Trust Award and two RIBA South Awards 2022 for projects at Oxford University and was nominated for a Mies van der Rohe award for European Architecture for its Auckland Tower project. The practice has also designed an exciting seven-storey brick building in Limerick city’s Georgian quarter that will be home to The International Rugby Experience. This new cultural institution and visitor experience to honour the game of rugby will open this year

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