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IN MANY WAYS, UCD’s success as a global university is evident from a simple scan. Thirty per cent of staff at UCD are from outside Ireland and some 60 per cent of UCD research publications are co-authored with researchers from other countries. Twenty-nine per cent of UCD’s student body in Dublin is now drawn from overseas, and the University enrols a further 4,000 students in transnational education programmes in Asia. UCD is home to academic centres with a focus on the USA, Canada, China and Japan (among others) and runs 40 global alumni chapters, recognising that 30 per cent of alumni live overseas.

For UCD, this concentration of international activity flows from the conscious adoption of a strategic institution-wide approach to global engagement, as reflected in UCD’s leadership and management structures and written strategies. UCD seeks to nurture the international dimension of all of its activities – in teaching, research and outreach – through the involvement of all members of the UCD community, be they faculty, professional staff, students or alumni.

As part of the National University of Ireland system, UCD’s approach to global engagement is closely aligned with Ireland’s national priorities, including the Irish strategy for international education –“Irish Educated, Globally Connected: An International Education Strategy for Ireland, 2016-2020”– and the Global Ireland strategies pursued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Government strategies recognise that international engagement is crucial to Ireland’s economic success, and that the Irish diaspora represent an invaluable opportunity for the promotion of Irish values and Irish culture abroad. Universities similarly reflect on the fact that global engagement is not an optional extra, but embedded in the fabric of what it means to be a university, given the fundamentally collaborative nature of research and discovery and the pressing need to prepare graduates for an increasingly competitive global jobs market.

As Director of UCD Global, the University’s international office, Dr Douglas Proctor is tasked with supporting UCD in the implementation of its Global Engagement Strategy and with implementing key international programmes on behalf of all Colleges and Schools, specifically in relation to student exchange and international student recruitment and support.

“One key responsibility of UCD Global is to run the five Global Centres which UCD has established,” he says. “UCD Global employs some 20 staff across the network of UCD Global Centres in the USA (New York, Chicago and Los Angeles), China, India, Malaysia and Dubai. The international office at Ireland’s Global University now operates six days a week across eight timezones in support of UCD’s global engagement.”

UCD Global Centres have been central to growing UCD’s reputation overseas from a scholarly and research perspective, as well as enabling key activities locally, whether focused on student recruitment or alumni engagement.

“Through the coordinated work of UCD Global, Colleges and Schools, UCD now enrols over 8,000 international students in Dublin, with students from over 140 countries,” says Dr Proctor.  “This diversity is valued on-campus and by the broader Irish community, with many international students contributing to the Irish workforce during or after completion of their degrees.”

UCD’s global reputation is further enhanced by its capacity to teach a range of programmes in Asia, with over 4,000 students enrolled in programmes delivered in Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Flagship transnational activities include the RCSI-UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC), one of only ten foreign university branch campuses approved by the Malaysian Government and the only such branch campus affiliated with Ireland. Founded over 20 years ago as the Penang Medical College, RUMC has been a pioneer in transnational medical education, and has significantly boosted awareness of Irish education in South East Asia.

UCD was also the first Irish university to receive approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education to establish a joint international college in China.  Founded in 2012, the Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC) is run in partnership with Beijing University of Technology and offers programmes to over 1,300 students in computer science, internet of things, electronic and information engineering, and financial economics.

In early 2020, UCD gained further approval to establish two new joint international colleges in China – Chang’an-Dublin International College of Transportation in Xi’an and Guangzhou- Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology in Guangzhou. “Through dual degree programmes, research collaboration and jointly supervised PhD students, these new partnerships mark a major milestone for UCD’s collaboration with one of the world’s fastest opening and most significant economies,” says Dr Proctor. “They will serve to cement the University’s place as an international and global university.”

UCD is also responding to the disruption of its international activities due to Covid-19. Having called exchange students home when Ireland went into lockdown, and encouraged international students to return home and continue their studies at a distance if they wanted to be close to their families, UCD has since made the difficult decision to suspend student exchange for the first semester in 2020. In relation to staff, UCD has suspended all overseas travel until further notice, and international research conferences and other collaborative activities have moved online. Although UCD has seen very strong interest from prospective international students to commence their studies in September, continued travel restrictions and concerns for public health will prevent many of these students from travelling to Ireland for the start of the academic year.  “UCD  was  well-prepared for the global health crisis, and is using the lockdown as an opportunity to re-think its global engagement activities.” The UCD Global Lounge moved quickly to develop virtual offerings for students, and live and recorded webinars are now being produced faster and more professionally than ever before. Major improvements to the IT systems which support student exchange were also finalised over the summer.

“Ireland’s Global University is resilient,” says Dr Proctor. “International collaboration and a global mindset have never been more important, even if international travel is difficult in the short-term. With the support of our alumni community in Ireland and around the world, UCD is well-positioned for future success in its global engagement.”

UCD’s approach to global engagement is aligned with Ireland’s national priorities …

Michelle Tiong, Malaysia

“Studying at UCD, I made friends from all over the world and learned so much about various cultures. It broadened my mind.”

Shankar Kulkarni, India

“UCD helped me grow professionally and personally and I developed wonderful international connections with professors and costudents.”

Petter Opthun Wikdal,
Norway

“UCD is a great school with fantastic professors, and a wonderful social life. Dublin is a great city for international students.”

Sinéad McGowan,
France

“The Erasmus experience influenced the way I approached my studies, and career, and expanded my world view. I became more confident and independent.”

www.ucd.ie/global

ON DECEMBER 11 2019, in a packed O’Reilly Hall, then Special Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, launched “Rising to the Future”, UCD’s new strategy for the period 2020-2024. This launch was the culmination of a year-long strategic planning process which engaged stakeholders within and outside of the University.

The starting point was an assessment of achievements made over the previous years under the last strategy, which was launched in November 2014. Over those years, UCD truly became “Ireland’s Global University”, establishing global centres in the USA, China, Malaysia, India, and the Middle East whose purpose is to facilitate research collaborations, alumni networking and student education. Engagement with the alumni community increased by 302% over the same period. UCD also increased engagement with industry, and built on its research quality, quantity and impact, and the number of spin-out companies increased by 100%. Despite cuts in Government funding, the University was able to increase the number of employees by 13.3%, supporting a 10.5% increase in students based in Dublin. This increase in students accommodated demographic increases in Ireland, augmented by a 50% increase in students from outside the EU. The result is a cosmopolitan campus and a higher likelihood of Irish students taking part of their UCD degree at a partner university overseas. Careful recruitment of faculty led to an improved student-to-staff ratio, which had been dramatically affected by cuts during the period of austerity, and together with some curriculum and systems reform, improved student satisfaction by 5%, as measured by the Irish Survey of Student Engagement.

These achievements were enabled by a significant increase (almost 40%) in non-Exchequer income and an increase of 53% in philanthropic support over the previous five years.

“The world is now a very different place to that of five years ago,” UCD President, Professor Andrew J Deeks told those gathered for the launch as he set the scene for the new five-year strategy. “The last strategy was about rebuilding out of an era of economic crisis. In today’s world there is much more awareness of the fragility of the environment in which we live; about the need to think of sustainability, but also transformation. We are more aware of the impact of human activity on the environment in which we live and at the same time, society is more connected than ever before.”

During the consultation process for the new strategy, four themes emerged organically. These strategic themes will shape our research, influence the teaching of our faculty and our students’ learning in the future, and impact on the way we behave and function as an institution.

THEME 1: CREATING A SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL SOCIETY

As a matter of urgency, humanity must learn to live sustainably, without degrading our shared planet. “This theme encourages thinking about sustainability in the biggest possible manner; beyond the campus, beyond Ireland, contributing globally through research as well as embracing those principles in everything we do,” said Professor Deeks.

THEME 2: TRANSFORMING THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Digital technology has been truly transformative as huge swathes of society have had to adapt due to the impact of Covid-19.

At the launch of the strategy Professor Deeks said: “The digital technology transformation goes through every discipline and indeed everything that we do as a University. All of our graduates need to be equipped to make use of these technologies and to adapt to the changing society that these technologies are going to create.”

As the University prepares for the autumn semester with the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the place of digital technology is central to guarantee teaching and learning, to ensure intergenerational connection, to enhance operations and decision-making, and to accelerate research for the benefit of society.

THEME 3: BUILDING A HEALTHY WORLD

Elsewhere are some of the stories of the UCD alumni, staff and students who play a role in tackling Covid-19. Although an enormous global effort is being exerted to treat and care for the victims and to develop a preventative vaccine, work must also continue to look at health and wellbeing more broadly.

UCD is the only Irish university which brings together human and animal health sciences, agriculture and food sciences, and environmental and social sciences.

“And UCD is very well-positioned to contribute to the One Health agenda: looking to the health of society rather than just the health of the individual,” Professor Deeks said.

THEME 4: EMPOWERING HUMANITY

Understanding what shapes human thinking and motivates behavioural change holds the key to successfully addressing the societal challenges represented in the first three strategic themes.

“As more and more work is enhanced by digital technology, human skills become more important. We need to prepare the transferable skills of our graduates, the interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, leadership, teamwork, and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds and different cultures,” Professor Deeks said.

The four themes are embraced in four core objectives and facilitated by six key enablers.

True to the vision and mission of the University, Objective 1 relates to the quality, quantity and impact of research, scholarship and innovation and seeks to nurture academic faculty to be the very best. Objective 2 focuses on students and the educational and life experience provided by the University to prepare them to thrive in present and future societies. Objective 3 sets out to build engagement locally, nationally, and internationally. And the fourth objective recognises the importance of diversity and excellence in the University community. The focus of the strategy is very much long-term, hence the title “Rising to the Future”. Of course, Covid-19 has put society into crisis mode and the University has responded – not only through adaptation of its teaching, assessment, and campus experience but also in its contribution to public health through expertise, healthcare and research. Rising to the Future remains a rallying call for everyone in the University community as we adapt to the impact of the pandemic and equip our students with the skills to really empower humanity.

strategy.ucd.ie

Covid-19 is having a profound impact on all of us. The pandemic has brought enormous uncertainty for students and recent graduates – and for established alumni who may find themselves gravely impacted by the economic downturn.

Now, more than ever, the team at the UCD Alumni office are keen to help our alumni community to weather this unprecedented challenge. These alumni staffers, along with volunteers from the alumni community as well as colleagues from across the University, are committed to doing all they can to support you in addressing the difficulties presented by the crisis and to help you to plan for the future.

And one of the key ways of doing that is through the UCD Alumni Network – a free online platform to help alumni build new relationships with other former students and to reconnect with old classmates.

“Together, we are stronger,” says Ria Flom, Alumni Relations Coordinator. “While it might seem like there are fears around every corner, the UCD Alumni Network has great strength in depth. This difficult period has shown us that there is a rich resource in the connections we make and the relationships that exist within the wider UCD community.

“This community encompasses a whole world of professional contacts from diverse industries and subject areas – all of whom already have one thing in common – they are fellow alumni. And through our online platform, they can forge relationships and foster support communities.”

WHAT DOES ALUMNI MEAN ANYWAY?

You may not know this but anyone who has studied at UCD is officially part of the alumni community – whether they graduated from the University or not. If you have studied here at any point, we welcome you. So, if you’ve done a short course, an Erasmus scheme or even if you started here and finished your studies elsewhere, you are regarded as a UCD alumnus.

That community is vast: there are nearly 300,000 alumni working around the globe in every conceivable sector. There’s a wealth of knowledge and contacts easily accessible to you on the online UCD Alumni Network.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE

“The benefits of your connection to UCD do not end when you turn in that final assignment,” Ria says. “The power of the alumni community is greater than you might have expected.

“University can be expensive and we all know it’s hard work. Education is a great deal more than just the qualifications you receive at the end. It’s about the lessons you learn, the people you meet, and the relationships you build. So why would you expect to leave all of that behind once you have left UCD?

“Support networks are often hard to come by once you leave university,” Ria adds, “so having access to a ready-made one, full of people who are already part of this new community you now find yourself in, with shared experiences, waiting and willing to connect, is a luxury filled with opportunity.”

Right now, there are over 7,500 registered members – and 70 per cent of these alumni have indicated that they are happy to help students and fellow alumni, whether it’s in a mentoring capacity, offering advice or helping with contacts.

“Looking for a career mentor or seeking support as you navigate various stages of your career and personal life can sometimes seem like a daunting task,” Ria says, “but the online UCD Alumni Network can make that process so much easier. It’s a ready-made tool to help you reach out to those who may be able to help you during this pandemic.”

MAKING IT EASIER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER

“UCD alumni can be found in leading roles in almost every industry all around the world,” Ria says, “so they are an invaluable resource for our students and recent graduates starting the next phase of their careers in these challenging times. Having this central place to connect virtually makes networking a little easier. It can open so many doors.”

A number of alumni who are active users of the online UCD Alumni Network say the resource is invaluable.

“My student life in UCD was amazing,” says one. “I learned and experienced so many new or interesting groups. It’s great now to have this online network where I can still network with current students and fellow alumni. You can advertise your business, find job opportunities and learn about upcoming events.”

Another alumnus is just as enthused: “I understand the value of mentorship and hope I can help others through my experience. I hope to maintain a connection with UCD as it played a significant role in shaping my life.”

LEVERAGING THE NETWORK TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT

Need to get a foot in the door for your next job, or curious about whether an organisation you are interested in is the right fit? The online UCD Alumni Network is the place to start.

“Reaching out online to fellow alumni and simply having a chat is a great first step,” Ria says. “Utilise our searchable online directory of alumni, join a group to keep up to date with your School, former society or assignment – the Alumni Network is a more powerful tool than you might expect.”

The mentoring section on the online UCD Alumni Network is especially useful. “It can help you to make contact with people who could help you learn more about an industry you are interested in,” she says. “It could lead to informal interviews, introductions or referrals. You can also keep up to date on in-person and virtual events and join interest groups.”

Ria Flom’s discussions with existing members demonstrate just how vibrant and useful the online UCD Alumni Network has already become. “Our members talk about the benefits and invaluable advantages to becoming a member of this network,” she says. “We look forward to meeting you there.”

www.ucdalumninetwork.com

THE GENEROUS SPIRIT of philanthropy that shines brightly in the UCD alumni community has a ripple effect. It touches every aspect of our University, from the great student experience to our beautiful and ever-evolving campus, where cutting- edge teaching, learning and research facilities are integrated within the unique natural landscape of Belfield.

Indeed, the effect of alumni giving extends far beyond our campus. It is evident in the excellence of our graduates as they go out into the world, bringing fresh ideas and strong leadership qualities into their communities and workplaces. It is evident too in our innovation and research, and in the significant breakthroughs we’re making as we tackle some of society’s most complex challenges.

A COMMON MYTH

A common misconception about philanthropy is that it is the exclusive preserve of wealthy individuals and organisations. UCD is fortunate and grateful to have received significant major gifts down through the years, which have had a transformative impact on our facilities, our faculty, our research, and the teaching and learning experience. While significant income is raised from major gifts, most of our alumni support the University through regular giving, and your collective generosity makes a profound and lasting difference for UCD and our students.

The many donations received through UCD’s annual giving programme enable the University to meet its strategic goals in a planned and sustainable way. They benefit students directly through vital scholarships and support programmes. They enable us to break down the barriers of social and economic disadvantage and provide life-changing educational opportunities for all of our students.

With state funding covering only one third of UCD’s running costs, and 32 per cent of incoming students hailing from underrepresented groups, the majority of eligible students in need receive no scholarship support due to lack of funds. That’s why every gift, no matter the size, is important. What’s more, 100 per cent of every donation towards UCD students goes directly to the cause.

YOUR IMPACT

Last year, thanks to the incredible support of close to 4,000 alumni, we raised €10.36m in support of students, research and teaching facilities. As a direct result of receiving €3.4m in cash and future pledges to support UCD  students, 120 new scholarships were awarded, including 104 Cothrom na Féinne scholarships. We also received dedicated funding for student mental health, Choral Scholars, Sports Development, the Men’s Graduate Boat Club and the library, and a significant founding gift led to the creation of a new Health Sciences student support fund.

This crucial alumni support enables talented students like Ellen O’Beirne to overcome barriers to university access. Ellen recently completed her first year studying Medicine. For her, the scholarship has relieved a huge burden of financial worry, meaning that she could take time off from her part-time job at exam time to focus on her studies and perform at a high level.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported my scholarship. I find it really difficult to fully articulate or convey the difference that this scholarship has made to my studies and to my hopes for the future,” she says.

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER

At the start of this year, few of us could have imagined what 2020 had in store. The devastating spread of Covid-19 through our communities has left no one unscathed. Normal life as we knew it was paused indefinitely, social interaction was curtailed, and many plans for the future were put on hold. An unnatural quietness descended on our campus.

Yet in these difficult times, generosity and community spirit have emerged as beacons of hope, not least in our own UCD community. Our students have stepped up to staff the  UCD  Contact Tracing Centre, to help with testing, to deliver medicines to the elderly and vulnerable, and to raise funds for healthcare workers. Our researchers have mobilised rapidly to design and manufacture critical medical equipment and to develop effective clinical treatments for Covid-19. Our faculty and students in Medicine and Public Health work tirelessly and courageously on the frontline in our hospitals. And our alumni have rallied to support us in these valiant efforts.

OUR COVID-19 EMERGENCY APPEAL

The Covid-19 crisis will undoubtedly have far-reaching impacts on UCD. Philanthropic support is more important than ever as the University moves forward into a post-pandemic world, guided by four strategic themes: Creating a Sustainable Global Society; Transforming through Digital Technology; Building a Healthy World; and Empowering Humanity. At this critical time, UCD Foundation is focusing its fundraising efforts on a number of key priorities under the umbrella of the UCD Covid-19 Emergency Appeal.

These include ensuring that students have access to the financial and mental health resources they need; funding pioneering research to address the immediate problems facing our society as well as ensuring that we are prepared to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities as they arise in the future; and adapting our learning environment for a changed world. We  are immensely grateful for the outpouring of goodwill and generosity from our alumni community as we endeavour to engage proactively with alumni on the areas that matter most to them.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Many students have struggled to deal with the challenges arising from the campus closure and the restrictions on their day-to-day lives. Some are under stress because they do not have access to essential technology, broadband, or a suitable study space. Others are faced with increased caring responsibilities, strained financial circumstances, and illness. There are fewer opportunities for summer or part-time work, resulting in hardship for the many students who rely on seasonal jobs to see them through the academic year.

Philanthropic support can help ensure that students experiencing disadvantage, hardship, or psychological stress will have the resources they need to excel in their education at UCD. We are mindful that today’s students have the potential to change the world in the future, and our society cannot afford to risk losing this potential or allow fate to leave talented students behind.

That is why we are committed to ensuring equality of access and opportunity for our students. Supporting underrepresented groups to overcome adversity, flourish and thrive broadens classroom diversity, which research suggests can improve career outcomes for every class member.

BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH

As a leading research-intensive university, UCD is at the forefront of impactful, innovative research that makes a valuable contribution to society and transforms people’s lives. The projects showcased on pages 32-34 exemplify the breadth of our multidisciplinary research programme.

The current crisis underscores the importance of research investment as we urgently seek solutions to the many challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic across the spheres of medicine, science, engineering, psychology, economics, and social and public policy. UCD is driving critical clinical research to identify effective treatments for Covid-19 and understand the long-term effects of the disease. Our researchers are also seeking to address the longer term fallout from this pandemic, to identify and mitigate the social impacts, and to support Ireland’s economic recovery.

The new government has acknowledged the critical role universities and research play in driving investment and promoting social cohesion, equality and inclusion.

We welcome the creation of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which recognises the significant role third-level institutions play in contributing to the economy and to society.

With the support of our alumni and friends, we can advance our research to make a real difference for the health and economic wellbeing of our society and respond effectively to emerging priorities.

A CAMPUS FIT FOR THE FUTURE

The face of university education will change in the wake of the pandemic. A hybrid approach that combines online teaching and learning with on-campus labs, tutorials, and socially distanced small-group activities will likely take shape as we prepare for the safe re-opening of the University. Before this became a necessity as a result of Covid-19, UCD was already working towards a strategic vision for a campus designed around flexible, adaptable spaces.

Our campus development plan has acquired a new urgency in light of the pandemic, as it will enable the University to safely accommodate a growing student population. The University has been able to access historically low interest rates to borrow funds needed to commence our plans – an opportunity that is likely to save money over time.

Progressing with these plans now is the right thing to do for the benefit of future UCD students. As part of this strategic plan we will invest in outstanding science facilities, cementing UCD’s position as a global leader in digital technology and innovation, advancing our reputation and standing globally to attract a diverse cohort of excellent students, faculty and staff from all over the world.

ONWARDS WITH GRATITUDE

We are thankful for our wonderful community of highly engaged alumni, who are very much a part of UCD’s success. Your generosity and commitment strengthen us as we pursue our mission to empower people through education, and create a better, healthier and more sustainable world through innovation and research. The students who have benefited from your support aspire to follow in your footsteps. In time, many of them will also become philanthropists, and will continue to pay it forward to help future generations of UCD students achieve their potential.

To learn more or to give to UCD, go to www.ucdfoundation.ie

FOR MORE THAN 50 years, the UCD campus at Belfield has witnessed the arrival of new buildings and the latest addition is among the most striking. It is the UCD University Club, located just across the road from the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Opened in May 2019, and designed by acclaimed Irish architects Scott Tallon Walker, this wonderful, light-filled building has been specifically built for UCD’s alumni and UCD staff.

With nearly 300,000 former students, it was only fitting that Ireland’s largest university created the country’s first on-campus centre dedicated for the use of alumni and UCD staff.

The idea, according to Anne-Marie Fisher, Sales and Marketing Manager at the UCD University Club and O’Reilly Hall, is to give alumni a world class private members’ club and venue at the heart of Belfield.

“We can cater for all alumni,” she says, “and we have wonderful facilities here for them to socialise with fellow graduates and UCD staff, enjoy family celebrations, have business meetings, conferences and even product launches. We like to think of it as a home away from home for our alumni.

“BMW chose the UCD University Club to launch the new all-electric Mini, while past pupils from Blackrock College had their Union lunch here – two very different events, with great feedback from both.”

It is not difficult to see why. The UCD University Club has been designed to accommodate virtually any need an alumnus might have, whether it’s a catch- up with a former classmate over artisan coffee or a delicious lunch in the Club Café, availing of one of the high-spec meeting rooms (each complete with the very latest in audio-visual technology), or using the large Bar and Restaurant for a professional or social function or family occasion.

Unlike many hotels and conference centres, natural light plays a key part in making the UCD University Club such a pleasant place to be. There are floor to ceiling windows throughout the ground and first floors and a huge skylight ensures that the foyer is bathed in sunlight.

“One of the things our members most love about the UCD University Club is the fact that it’s at the very heart of the campus,” Anne-Marie says. “Being here can bring them back to their student days and the time they spent at UCD.”

If you take a seat at the Bar, you can see what she means. The heart of the UCD campus, with its distinct library building designed by Polish architect Andrzei Wejchert, can be seen on the other side of the man-made lake, a familiar place, of course, to any student who studied at UCD over the past half-century.

The large scale of the UCD University Club makes social distancing considerations ideal. “We weren’t to know when we were building this space with large, well-ventilated rooms with high ceilings, just how important it would be for our members to be able to come here and be able to observe social distancing,” Anne-Marie says.

“We have fantastic staff who will ensure that any time you spend with us is as comfortable as possible. Your safety is of paramount importance to us and we guarantee that we will take each and every social distance and hygiene measure very seriously. If you visit us here you will be able to see for yourself just how easy social distancing can be. We have taken great care to follow the latest health and safety guidelines and we’re confident that you’ll have no concerns.”

Ever since the UCD University Club opened its doors, Anne-Marie has seen the positive impact on alumni. “They really love it here,” she says, “especially because it brings them back to their UCD days. And it has been really heartening for us to see just how alumni have been able to catch up with new friends here, and how they’ve formed new contacts and relationships too. That’s how we see it – very much as a club in a really great building that alumni and UCD staff can feel is their own.”

The UCD University Club adjoins O’Reilly Hall, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland’s premier conference centres. And that building, also the work of Scott Tallon Walker Architects, received a substantial makeover this summer, allowing it to be used in a host of different ways.

The latest refurbishment of O’Reilly Hall ensures that the venue, which can normally seat up to 1,200 people for conferences, concerts and gala dinners, can be quickly and easily subdivided into meeting rooms of various sizes. The new changes ensure that the space can be reconfigured with ease thanks to “moving walls” engineering and the latest in audio-visual technology.

“It means that alumni who require meeting rooms and conference facilities will be spoiled for choice at Belfield, with both the UCD University Club and O’Reilly Hall offering a range of facilities to suit all needs and budgets. Companies may opt for virtual or hybrid events, utilising the new technology facilities we have put in place. But while physical distancing and other measures must be observed, the ‘new normal’ does not mean postponing events which are important, or vital, for your business to survive and thrive,” Anne-Marie says.

The proximity of both the UCD University Club and O’Reilly Hall to the manicured lawns adjoining the lake ensure that large outdoor spaces can be utilised. “There’s so much room for outdoor events such as barbecues, drinks and canapés on the lawn in front of the lake,” says Anne-Marie. “And what a beautiful setting it is too. Again, having this extra space is invaluable when social distancing is so important. It means that we can accommodate a lot of people and we can ensure that everyone enjoys the requisite personal space.”

There are individual and corporate memberships and Anne-Marie says the rates are exceptionally competitive. “I think we’re offering something unique here,” she says. “Not only is it the first of its kind in an Irish university, but both the UCD University Club and O’Reilly Hall are world-leading in terms of design and facilities. And, for our alumni, there’s the fact that they’re getting to spend time again on a campus that, hopefully, meant a lot to them in their student days.”

Membership comes with numerous benefits, including the fact that each member is permitted to bring three people with them on each visit and they don’t have to have been former students of UCD.

“We would really love to see you here,” says Anne-Marie. “Let us know if you’re coming to Belfield and we will happily give you a tour. We think you’ll be impressed with what’s on offer.”

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

With fantastic facilities coupled with competitive corporate membership rates, it’s easy to see why corporate membership of the UCD University Club is growing. The flexibility of meeting spaces, private members’ lounge and superb dining facilities add up to productive time well spent away from the office. Corporate membership is open to companies on application and subject to meeting UCD University qualification criteria.

Membership and Event Enquiries
Anne-Marie Fisher, Sales and Marketing Manager
annemarie.fisher@ucd.ie
www.ucd.ie/universityclub
www.ucd.ie/conferenceandevents

“The UCD University Club is a refreshing new dimension to campus life, a place to bring visiting academics and corporate partners for meetings over lunch or dinner in a bright, cheerful setting with a very warm welcome from the team.”

Professor Gerardine Doyle, Director, Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

“The UCD University Club is a super venue with excellent modern comms and catering facilities. Anne-Marie and the team are always on hand to make sure that everything works well. In the post Covid-19 world there’s lots of space, with safe solutions for our new ways of working. It’s also a great location with plenty of parking and transport options.”

Alan Holmes (BComm 1989) Consumer Digital Leadership, Websure

“The UCD University Club is fantastic. The Restaurant’s attentive service makes the experience extra special. Staff are friendly and helpful.”

Rosemarie Gannon, Project Manager, UCD School of Computer Science

“I enjoy meeting former classmates for coffee or lunch in spacious, bright surroundings. I attended one of the themed dinners in the Restaurant: the food was excellent.”

Patricia O’Loan, BA 1969, DipSoc Admin 1979

“The Club gives me access to so many activities. I use the Café every day.”

Mairéad Magee, Student Records Administrator, UCD Registry

“It’s so nice to step into the oasis of quiet and calm which is the UCD University Club. The food is great and you can recharge, catch up with colleagues and return refreshed to your desk.”

Emma Acton, Operational Purchasing Coordinator, UCD Finance Office

“The UCD University Club has become my daily starting point: I prepare my lectures and research while enjoying the Club’s excellent cappuccino.”

Professor Jan Rosier, Professor of Business and Biotechnology, School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science

“We host our annual Blackrock Union lunch every year in O’Reilly Hall. The University Club Bar was the perfect spot for the reception. With over 600 members, friends and guests attending the event in November, we couldn’t have been happier with the service received from the events team. O’Reilly Hall and the UCD University Club are the perfect settings for our events and we look forward to returning again and again.”

Stephen Mullin, President, Blackrock College Union

“Aware hosted its Future of Mental Health conference at UCD in October 2019, its first conference involving both the general public and professionals from the medical community. UCD provided a convenient and accessible location with O’Reilly Hall the impressive focal point for keynote talks. The events team were very professional and responsive, dealing with all our queries and requirements quickly and efficiently. Their extensive experience is evident and their support, in advance and on the day itself, was invaluable.”

Dominic Layden, CEO, Aware

“Our three-day conference took place in O’Reilly Hall and the Conservatory. As news of the Covid-19 lockdown broke, the team quickly sprung into action and the programme was realigned to accommodate as many parallel sessions as possible. A big shout-out to the team at O’Reilly Hall, the catering team and the wonderful facilities at UCD.”

Lynne Hughes, Professor, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine

“We have used the UCD University Club on many occasions for individual meetings and larger group presentations. It is bright, modern and impressive. The Restaurant is excellent and the management and staff have always treated our team and our clients with great professionalism. The membership of the Club has proven to be very successful and adds great value to our business.”

John Molloy, Managing Director, Orca Financial

“Huge thanks for all your help with my event. The breakfast meeting went superbly well, feedback was brilliant, and breakfast buffet delicious. Pre-booked parking and the natural light in the meeting room was a big bonus along with excellent AV support. I am delighted to continue to recommend the UCD University Club to all my clients as my number one venue.”

Sarah Mortimer, Founder, Babylon events

“The launch event for BMW’s all-electric Mini was fantastic: it was great to work with an organisation that was very accommodating to our requirements and requests; the staff ensured the event was seamless and the food was spot on. We would love to organise more meetings and events at the UCD University Club as a result.”

Laura Condon, Communications, Sponsorship and Events Manager, BMW Group

Click to enlarge

The Conservatory at O’Reilly Hall

Socialising in the Bar at the UCD University Club

Informal meeting in the Lobby at the UCD University Club

The Member’s Lounge at the UCD University Club

The Mezzanine at the UCD University Club

Members’ event at the UCD University Club

Stephen Mullin and Joe Schmidt at the Blackrock College Union Rugby Lunch at O’Reilly Hall

Launch of the all-electric Mini at the UCD University Club

The Aware Conference

Private event in the Restaurant at the UCD University Club

HERE AT THE UCD Alumni office, it is our mission to maintain the important connection between the University and you, our alumni. Every year, this magazine, UCD Connections provides a valuable means for us to communicate with you. We love the great feedback it generates from alumni all over the world.

Like families, friends and colleagues everywhere, we are finding new ways to stay connected. In normal circumstances, we would meet you face to face through our extensive events programme but, with in-person events cancelled or postponed, that programme is now a virtual one.

From volunteering opportunities on the online Alumni Network to conversations with alumni, career-building sessions to fundraising activities, opportunities to expand your professional network to welcoming the Class of 2020 as new alumni, we look forward to continued engagement with you.

We remain committed to helping our community of alumni, staff and students who have all shown immense agility and resilience, whether juggling family life or dealing with isolation, adjusting to Zoom meetings and home study.

We will be in touch via our e-newsletter to tell you more – please update your contact details at www.ucd.ie/alumni/updateyourdetails so we can stay in touch. We would also ask you to visit our website www.ucd.ie/alumni or engage with us through our social channels. Email the team at alumni@ucd.ie. We would love to hear from you!

NICOLE BLACK

Director of Alumni Development

JENNIE BLAKE

Student Experience,
Corporate Engagement

SINÉAD DOLAN

Communications, Global Engagement

SHEILA MORRIS

Mass Events, College Engagement

GILLIAN DURNIN

Business

MELISSA BYRNE

Law

RIA FLOM

Alumni Volunteering

CAMILLE ROGERS

Arts and Humanities

JENNA BJORKMAN

Engineering and Architecture

JUDE CANNIFFE

Science & Clubs and Societies

JONATHAN WEIR

Social Sciences

FIONA BOLGER

Health and Agricultural Sciences

MICHELLE POWER

Global Alumni Engagement

PAULINA MARTYNIAK

Business

SELENA WALSH

Digital Engagement

1 Defending the coast

Coastal communities in Ireland face significant climate hazards such as coastal erosion, rising sea levels and flooding with risks to infrastructure, property and built heritage sites. Construction of physical barriers can often be problematic, so the focus is now on managed retreat from at-risk areas. The GeoPlan project by iCRAG, the SFI Research Centre for Applied Geosciences based at UCD, and UCD’s Dr Mick Lennon are developing a new framework to allow coastal communities best adapt to upcoming environmental changes.

2 Monitoring coastal waters

Led by Professor Wim Meijer from UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Acclimatize is a €9.2m EU-funded project that identifies and quantifies pollution streams and determines the impact on these waters. Work in Ireland focuses on large- scale urban at-risk bathing waters in Dublin Bay (Sandymount, Merrion and Dollymount strands) and Donabate and Portrane beaches in North County Dublin.

3 Spatial management of deep water ecosystems

Associate Professor Jens Carlsson from UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science is a principal investigator in ATLAS, a dynamic partnership between multinational industries, SMEs, governments and academia to assess the Atlantic’s deep-sea ecosystems and marine genetic resources to create integrated, adaptive planning products needed for sustainable ‘Blue Growth’. ATLAS is gathering new information on sensitive Atlantic ecosystems to fundamentally change our understanding of their connectivity, functioning and responses to future changes in human use and ocean climate. The ATLAS consortium has already developed a programme of 25 deep-sea cruises studying Atlantic wildlife including sponge, cold-water coral, seamount and mid-ocean ridge ecosystems.

Sustainably Powering Our Lives

4 Zero Carbon Power

The UCD Energy Institute plays an integral part in the energy transition, working towards a net zero carbon energy system. The Institute is involved in several major international research projects including PANTERA, the EU H2020 project led by Dr Paula Carroll, aimed at creating a European research and innovation forum focused on smart grids, storage and local/renewable energy systems, including policy makers, standardisation bodies and experts representing the EU-28 energy system.

5 Electricity Revolution

Led by UCD Energy Institute director Professor Andrew Keane and Dr Terence O’Donnell, the SFI-funded programme ‘Adept’ investigates new approaches to the operation of the electricity distribution network with a particular focus on exploiting the controllability of power electronics devices such as smart transformers. Driven by concerns about climate change, the electricity industry is in the midst of a revolution with increasing connections of variable renewable generation.

Other projects such as Professor Mark O’Malley’s RealValue (Realising Value from Electricity Markets with Local Smart Electric Thermal Storage Technology) use information- communications technology to encourage consumers to smarten their own energy usage through local small-scale energy storage. This solution brings benefits to market participants throughout the EU, while gathering techno-economic and behavioural analysis that will be used to inform regulation and policy decision makers, and business models which quantify the potential of small-scale storage.

Nano Technology

6 Nanofacturing Nanopharmaceuticals

Led in Ireland by Professor Kenneth Dawson, ‘Nanofacturing’ is an EU-funded project that brings together a number of expert companies throughout Europe to establish a manufacturing platform to tackle the bottlenecks in the delivery of new- generation nanomedicines to the market. The project also supports later stage products with large potential markets by developing clinically compliant, sustainable, large-scale manufacturing processes capable of taking these products through to commercial manufacture and supply.

7 Nanobubbles

UCD researchers Professor Niall English and Dr Mohammad Reza Ghaani have discovered a new energy-efficient method to make metastable, nano-scale gas bubbles in water that has the potential to disrupt several industries. The tech has multiple commercial applications, such as in the fermentation processes of the food and brewing industries.

Sustainable Agriculture + Food Systems

8 Viable food value chains

Professor Nick Holden from UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering is a principal investigator in the Valumics (value chain dynamics) project to provide decision makers throughout food value chains with strategies and tools so they can evaluate the impact of their operations, and enhance the resilience, integrity and sustainability of food value chains for European countries. The project is driven by a consortium of 19 European partners from 14 countries and two Asian partners.

9 Green tech for crop growth

Feeding an increasing global population in the face of global climate change is a challenge for the agricultural sector and governments alike. The development of new species of crops with more desirable characteristics is critical, but so is their regulation. Professor Fiona Doohan is UCD lead on the InnoVar project (next-generation variety testing for improved cropping on European farmland). It addresses the need for fast, effective, harmonised testing of high-performance low-risk (HPLR) varieties for “value for cultivation and use”– using high-tech genomics, imaging and machine learning technologies.

10 Biomass answering natural food additive demand

The demand for phycocyanin, a natural food colourant, led to the establishment of SpiralG, an industrial biorefinery concept for the production of phycocyanin from the algae spirulina. The SpiralG project, with UCD’s Dr Fionnuala Murphy and Professor Kevin McDonnell, includes the construction of a demonstration plant with industry partners Greensea, Milis, Algaia and Mial. UCD is in charge of the Life Cycle Assessment, to undertake a sustainability evaluation over 48 months. The project aims to support new jobs, growth and investment in biomass production while ensuring environmental sustainability and a low environmental impact.

11 Food nutrition security cloud

Food and nutrition security (FNS) is about ensuring sufficient, affordable and nutritious food is accessible to all. Associate Professor Eileen Gibney’s EU-funded FNS- Cloud project is to federate FNS data on diet, health, and consumer behaviour as well as sustainable agriculture and the bio-economy. Ultimately, the aim is to facilitate informed and healthy choices by consumers.

12 Digital agriculture

Professor Greg O’Hare leads CONSUS, a five-year, €17.6m partnership between UCD and Origin Enterprises, supported through the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Strategic Partnership Programme. Its research areas include machine learning in farm decision-making, delivering farm innovation using augmented reality, optimising crop establishment to overcome soil compaction, enabling optimum nitrogen use efficiency and predicting disease outbreaks and biostimulants. Professor Colm O’Donnell also recently won funding for his part in DiTECT, the European project to develop an integrated framework for real-time detection, assessment and mitigation of biological, chemical and environmental contaminants throughout the food supply chain. Bringing together research, industrial and food authority partners from the agri-food industry in the EU and China, DiTECT aspires to establish the foundation for future food safety monitoring platforms, through the development of a Big Data platform.

13 Innovation Hub for Agriculture

Coordinated by UCD’s Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, NovaUCD, the new AgTech Connector Innovation Hub at UCD’s Lyons Farm in Kildare brings together the agriculture-technology ecosystem in Ireland to accelerate the launch and scaling of Ag-Tech companies. The hub provides these businesses with access to on- farm research, collaboration opportunities, a location to test and trial their products and services in a real-world environment, and access to dedicated acceleration programmes and incubation facilities – with a view to growing and evolving these industries in Ireland.

14 Sustainable farming with drones

The use of drones and other remote sensing tools in agriculture has seen significant growth in recent years. Drones have the potential to assist assessment of key decisions on the farm, such as when and where to spray for pests and diseases, predicting yields, how much fertiliser to apply and if the farm is compliant. Professor Nick Holden from UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering is co-founder of ProvEye, which aims to remove the barriers associated with poor data and consistency through the use of advanced processing software to derive quantitative data from images collected by drones and other platforms.

15 Climate friendly livestock farming

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the vast majority of planted livestock pasture is perennial ryegrass (95 per cent of annual forage grass seed sales in Ireland), a nitrogen-hungry species that has serious negative environmental impacts including water pollution, increased emissions of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, and loss of biodiversity. To address this, Dr Helen Sheridan and Professor Tommy Boland have developed SmartGrass on UCD’s Lyons Farm, with the aim of diversifying pasture to other species to match or even out-perform monocultures, while at same time needing much lower levels of nitrogen fertiliser.

Greener Urban Environments

16 Using citizen science for cleaner air and transport planning

Associate Professor Francesco Pilla from UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy has become a leader in UCD in the area of Smart Cities and sustainable urban environments, notable for their incorporation of citizen science. His project iSCAPE aims to integrate and advance the control of air quality and carbon emissions in European cities through the development of air pollution remediation strategies, policy interventions and behavioural change initiatives. It will tackle the problem of reducing air pollution at target receptors with an innovative SME-led approach, focusing on the use of Passive Control Systems and “Living Labs” in urban spaces. The project has created a guide for community groups, SMEs and local authorities in the six participating cities who want to explore low-cost air quality sensors and citizen science methodologies. Professor Pilla is also a principal investigator (PI) in “WeCount: Citizens Observing Urban Transport”, which follows participatory citizen science methods to co-create and use innovative low-cost, automated, road traffic-counting sensors and multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms in five pilots in Madrid, Ljubljana, Dublin, Cardiff and Leuven.

17 Smart urban planning

In order to be sustainable, cities need smart planning. Associate Professor Francesco Pilla’s project SENATOR (Smart Network Operator Platform enabling Shared, Integrated and more Sustainable Urban Freight Logistics), aims to deliver just that by bringing together stakeholders within one multi-collaborative framework based on a new urban logistics model. The project considers factors such as new sustainable transport modes and urban space management.

18 Energy-efficient buildings and districts

Dr James O’Donnell is UCD’s lead in New TREND (New Integrated Methodology and Tools for Retrofit Design Towards a Next Generation of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Buildings and Districts) which seeks to improve the energy efficiency of existing European building stock by developing a new design methodology targeted to the energy retrofit of buildings and neighbourhoods. New TREND has received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Programme for Research and Innovation.

Future Networks

19 Sustainable Communications

Professor Anding Zhu from IoE2 (Internet of Things Engineering) Lab at UCD is exploring how a new generation communications structure can make 5G available to more people, lowering the cost and power consumption. The European project is called ‘Transievers for 5G Base Stations based on GaN Technology’.

Bioeconomy: Turning Waste Into A New Economy

20 New products from by-products

UCD is a leader in the Bioeconomy space, and is home to BiOrbic, the SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre – established and led by Professor Kevin O’Connor from UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science. This fast-expanding new sector will transform the waste outputs of agriculture and industry and breathe new life into rural economies.

Approximately one third of all food produced globally is wasted every year throughout the whole value chain, from farmers to consumers. To extract the significant amounts of valuable compounds contained in these wastes, “AgriMax” (led in UCD by Professor James Lyng) will combine affordable and flexible processing technologies (ultrasound-assisted and solvent extraction, filtration, thermal and enzymatic treatments) to create valuable by-products with applications in many areas including food additives, packaging and agricultural materials among others. The project will disclose the holistic potential of four new agro-value chains – residues and by-products from the culture and processing of tomato, cereals, olives and potato – which can add value in a cooperative approach for local rural businesses.

Similarly, Dr Tom Curran’s vision, “AgroCycle” addresses converting low-value waste into highly valuable products. The project piloted a number of key waste utilisation/ valorisation pathways, using new technologies across the 25-partner multisectoral, multinational consortium, including China – and is commencing its commercialisation cycle.

Realising the commercial potential of UCD Bioeconomy research, “AgriChemWhey” saw UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering (through Professor Nick Holden and Dr Fionnuala Murphy) partner with a consortium from five countries to build a first-of-a-kind, industrial-scale biorefinery to convert over 25,000 tonnes per year of excess whey by- product into several added-value products for growing global markets – including lactic acid, polylactic acid, minerals for human nutrition and bio-based fertilisers. This offers society and industry the opportunity for greater resource efficiency, less food waste, more products from the same starting material, and integration of food and non-food material production.

THE UCD ALUMNI NETWORK is influential, successful and vibrant – and with nearly 300,000 former students based in 169 countries around the world – it is truly international. Our graduates are the standard bearers of the University’s reputation and it is largely because of them that the value of every UCD degree continues to be enhanced. The successes of our alumni reinforce our position as Ireland’s leading global University and their loyal involvement continues to shape UCD’s future. Their passionate, ongoing support is invaluable.

The UCD Alumni Awards were created in 2014 to acknowledge that support and to honour outstanding achievements by our former students in a wide variety of fields. With the global pandemic of 2020 changing life as we know it, we feel it is more important than ever to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments. As students, our alumni made lifelong connections with classmates and with this institution. The UCD Alumni Awards celebrate this connection. Let us introduce you to the nine worthy recipients for 2020…

Delia Grace Randolph, Mvb 1990

Epidemiologist & Food Safety Expert

UCD Alumni Award – Health and Agricultural Sciences. Delia is Professor of Food Safety at the University of Greenwich. A veterinary epidemiologist and food safety expert, Delia’s work focuses on using a One Health lens to creatively examine how veterinary research can enhance connections for ecosystems, animal health and human health. What do you remember most from your student days at UCD? “Most of it was spent at the veterinary college, which was then located in Ballsbridge in a lovely 19th-century building. There were 56 in my class, so it felt like a big family. I had come to Dublin from Ballycastle [Co Antrim] and it was such a big culture shock. But I loved it.” What life-skills did you acquire at UCD? “I joined the debating society and that really brought me on as a person. UCD helped me mix and mingle and made me curious about the world. And I’ve never lost that.”Are there career highlights you’re especially proud of? “My first five years were spent in England – mainly in large animal practices – but much as I loved it there I knew I wanted to try other things, so I did something completely different and volunteered in Bangladesh for $90 a month and I stayed there for three years.” What motivates you today? “I know this might sound a little Pollyanna-ish, but trying to make things better is a great motivation. In Africa, you see a lot of avoidable illness and poverty and, yet, transformation is possible.” Do you have advice for graduates? “I know the pandemic has made everything very uncertain now, but I would say to graduates to embrace change. People might think that because they have trained to be an accountant, they have to become an accountant, but that need not be the case: discover what makes you happy.”

Sally Hayden, Bcl 2012

War Journalist, Photographer

UCD Alumni Award – Law. Sally is an award-winning journalist and photographer focused on migration, conflict and humanitarian crises. Her work has been published in the New York Times, The Guardian, Time and CNN. She has previously lectured at London College of Communication and New York University. What are your fondest memories of UCD? “Being a student ambassador, giving tours and encouraging secondary students to come to UCD – especially rewarding when they were set to be the first in their family to attend.” What key life skill did you pick up at UCD? “I loved meeting a wide range of people, in class, when playing with the orchestra and travelling for debating. I wrote for the University Observer. In my third year, I went on exchange to UNSW in Sydney. That taught me a lot about arriving in a place where you know no one and building something of a life.” What career achievements are you most proud of? “It’s hard to say I’m proud of anything – I always think of the people in desperate situations who I’ve interviewed – it’s rare anything changes for them even after a report comes out. However, I still believe in the value of journalism and my reporting has been used in legal challenges against governments and referenced by the US State Department and at the European Parliament.” Would you change any aspect of your career? “Journalism is in crisis – pay is low and it’s difficult to fund reporting. If journalism isn’t funded, wrongdoing goes unexposed.” Advice for today’s graduates? “Work hard. Be humble. Keep learning. Don’t be too proud to start from the bottom. Follow your passions instead of money. Give back. Amplify the voices of those who are overlooked.”

Mark Pollock, Mbs 2003

Athlete, Explorer, Speaker

UCD Alumni Award – Business. Mark is an explorer, motivational speaker and author who became the first blind man to race to the South Pole. He lost his sight in his early 20s and was paralysed after a fall in 2010. Now, working to help cure paralysis, he is the founder of the global race, Run in the Dark. Tell us a little about your time at UCD? “I completed a part-time masters in Business Studies at Smurfit Business School in 2002. I found my life experience was applicable to my studies, with personal experience and debate key components of the process.” What life skills did you pick up at University? “Creativity is the most critical skill we need in life, a way of thinking about the world. I have applied it to challenges I’ve taken on, from putting together expedition teams to race in deserts, mountains and the poles to building businesses and catalysing collaborations in science, technology and investments.” What career achievements are you most proud of? “The ability to adapt. After going blind in 1998 and becoming paralysed in 2010, I’ve had to reinvent myself twice. When I went blind, I created a speaking business based on my experiences as an adventure athlete. Now I’m paralysed, I’m bringing people together to solve the complex problem of curing paralysis in our lifetime.” Would you change any aspect of your career if you could? “Everything I do is about helping people build resilience and collaborate with others so they achieve more than they thought possible – it’s what motivates me to get up in the morning.” Advice for today’s graduates? “Sometimes we choose our challenges. Sometimes our challenges choose us. What we decide to do next is what counts.”

Cormac Kilty, Bsc 1975, Phd 1985

Biotech Entrepreneur

UCD Alumni Award – Science. Cormac is a biotech entrepreneur and manages a biotech investment portfolio. He is involved with two angel investment groups in Ireland. The founder of Biotrin, a virology diagnostics company, and Argutus Medical, he is Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine and Medicinal Chemistry at UCD. How do you remember your student years? “I really enjoyed the social and sports side and I played a lot of hockey – I still have a lot of friends from that time. I was very interested in science and learned so much in my zoology degree; and biochemistry helped lay the groundwork for my business career.” What life and career skills did you acquire at UCD? “I developed organisational skills running the Science Ball for a number of years and the Biological Society in 1975, then the biggest society at UCD. I also became more and more curious. Both curiosity and organisational skills help when it comes to what we call ‘scientific method’.” What do you remember about your early career? “I came back to Ireland in 1982 after a post-doc at the University of Texas. Biotech was really taking off. I set up a research lab for Baxter Diagnostics in Switzerland where a good boss and mentor taught me the business part of science.” Is there anything you would do differently in your career? “I would have focused on sales a bit earlier. In a way, the science is the easy bit. Getting what you’ve made accepted by physicians, insurers and the patient is difficult.” Advice for new graduates? “Don’t be afraid to take that first step out into the world. Don’t expect it to be the perfect one. Remember, UCD has given you a ‘trained mind’.”

Sharon Donnery, Ba 1993, Ma 1994

Deputy Governor, Central Bank

UCD Alumni Award – Social Sciences. Sharon is the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland with responsibility for leading its financial stability; economics and statistics and financial operations directorates. She joined the Central Bank in 1996 as an economist in the monetary policy division and was acting Governor in 2019. What do you remember best from your student days? “Friday nights at the L&H: those debates opened my mind to different views and really challenged my thinking. And of course, I met my husband at Belfield!” What skills for life and career did you pick up at University? “Moving from school to a large, diverse university, coupled with the need for self-direction, is something many students find challenging. At UCD I learned to make up my own mind on issues. Critical analysis is a crucial skill for the next generation of graduates.” What career achievements are you most proud of? “I’m proud that I have spent my entire career in the public service. I find it extremely motivating to work in the public interest, particularly in times of crisis, when our work is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing and prosperity of our country.” Would you change any aspect of your career if you could? “I would change how I maintained my University connections. Many turn out to be the stakeholders you engage with in your future career.” What advice would you give to those who have just graduated from UCD? “Today’s graduates are entering a very different world from that of 18 months ago. Being open to learning about others’ views and coming to your own; being flexible enough to continuously learn.”

Sandra Collins, Bsc 1991, Phd 1996

Director, The National Library

UCD Alumni Award – Research, Innovation and Impact. Sandra’s role as Director of the National Library of Ireland (NLI), making available the shared memory of the Irish nation at home and abroad by caring for more than ten million items, was preceded by her role as Director of the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) at the Royal Irish Academy, where she established and led an ambitious national research centre developing both policy and e-infrastructure for digital preservation of cultural and social data. What are your memories of UCD? “The freedom of being able to explore your subject, to follow your curiosity, and the feeling of wonder and joy in mathematics which has never left me. There were few female students or lecturers in mathematics at that time: I had to grow my confidence and believe in myself.” What skills for life and career did you pick up at UCD? “Studying mathematics at UCD, I gained great problem-solving and analytical skills. I learned to always look at the data, not to be afraid to ask why, and to always keep learning. I use these skills every day – they’ve travelled with me across disciplines and roles.” What career achievements are you most proud of? “My appointment as Director of the NLI. In this role I’ve had the opportunity to oversee some spectacular acquisitions, a €15m capital redevelopment project, a new Seamus Heaney exhibition and the opening of MoLI, the Museum of Irish literature, in partnership with UCD. It’s been an exciting and hugely fulfilling five years.” Would you change any aspect of your career if you could? “Not a single thing! I never look back or second-guess myself.” What advice would you give to today’s graduates? “Be brave! Follow your heart, don’t be afraid to take risks.”

Dr Jack Mccaffrey, Mb Bch Bao 2018

GAA All-Star and Doctor

UCD Alumni Award – Sport. Jack has been a key part of Dublin’s all-conquering Gaelic football side. At 26, he already has five All-Ireland titles to his name and last year he was on the team that won an unprecedented five titles. He plays club football with Clontarf and is a doctor specialising in paediatric medicine. What are your fondest memories of UCD? “My abiding memories are of playing alongside great friends on various Sigerson Cup teams [the long-running Gaelic football inter-college competition], going away to Africa in 2016 with classmates and working with GOAL and, after my medicine degree, getting a placement at the Mater Hospital.” What life skills did you acquire at University? “Self-directed learning would be a big one and being taught how to communicate effectively. Thanks to UCD, there was a lot of work done on empathy – and meeting people from diverse backgrounds has been invaluable in my career.” What are your post-UCD achievements that you are most proud of? “In football, it’s winning that first All-Ireland title in 2013 [when Dublin beat Mayo] and winning a fifth in 2019. I was very proud to be named Player of the Year for 2015. Medicine-wise, starting my paediatric training has been special.” Any regrets? “I would probably prefer if I hadn’t ruptured my cruciate in 2017 [which happened in the early stages of that year’s All-Ireland final] but, sure, these things happen.” What’s your advice to graduates? “Enjoy your time at UCD – it’s a fantastic spot. Don’t worry too much about staying in touch with everyone; when you meet up again you’ll be chatting away in no time.”

Dalton Philips, Ba 1990

CEO of Dublin Airport Authority

UCD Alumni Award – Arts and Humanities. Dalton is the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) who kept Irish airports open to ensure that Ireland could receive crucial cargo and the vital medical supplies and PPE it required to assist in the fight against Covid-19. His retailing career began as a store manager in New Zealand and he went on to become chief executive of both Brown Thomas and UK supermarket chain Morrisons. What made UCD special for you? “It was the sense of independence – of choices, living, thinking.” Was there a ‘eureka’ moment at University, when it came to your future direction? “When I first went to UCD I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and I studied Geography and Classics. I had a teacher who taught urban geography and he could see I had a real interest in business and I ended up doing my dissertation on retail distribution systems. I brought a lot of that learning to my early career and was fortunate to have a professor who allowed me to think laterally.” You have worked all over the world: wanderlust or necessity? “I wrote 50 CVs coming out of UCD – there were just no jobs. So I just kept moving from country to country with work. I’m happy to be back in Ireland.” What impact is the pandemic having on your work? “Over the course of the pandemic to date, DAA has accumulated losses of nearly €125m (where we lost €1m a day for more than 100 consecutive days). Trying to navigate what’s right for your company and your staff has been a real challenge.” What is your advice for today’s student? “Three things: Find courses that really interest you, work as hard as you can, and build a great variety of work experiences as a graduate.”

Róisín Heneghan, Barch 1987

Co-Founder, Heneghan Peng

UCD Alumni Award – Engineering and Architecture. Róisín is an Irish architect and designer and co-founder of Heneghan Peng Architects. She was shortlisted for Architects’ Journal Woman Architect of the year in 2014. She has won numerous awards and her work includes the Grand Museum of Egypt and the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre. What skills for life and career did you pick up at university? “I think the most profound realisation was that the work done in university is not only beneficial for the student’s personal development but can contribute to a wider social discussion. It is less about individual excellence, and more about a collaborative approach, more about ‘How can all this thinking/ production contribute to a greater good?’.” What career achievements are you most proud of? “Probably the most significant is winning the competition for the Grand Egyptian Museum. At the time it was the largest architectural competition ever held at the time – 1,557 submissions. It felt like a long shot.” Would you change any aspect of your career if you could? “It would have been good to have worked in a non-English speaking environment.” What advice would you give to today’s graduates? “Typically, my advice would be to travel. It’s good to get out of your environment, to have your assumptions questioned – but right now that is difficult. So, a reminder to question continuously: often we are told that something cannot be done and rather than accept that at face value, we find out why. So often, there is an underlying assumption that can actually change and that opens things up. Oh, and learn a language.”

www.ucd.ie/alumniawards

“IT’S BEEN INTERESTING,” says Lord Mayor Hazel Chu, who sits opposite me across a broad and shining mahogany table in a large room in the Mansion House, when I ask how the months since her appointment have been. Chu, a UCD alumna and a Green Party county councillor since 2019, was elected Lord Mayor on June 29 by the members of Dublin City Council. “Surreal,” she adds with a laugh.

Chu is the ninth female Lord Mayor, and the first Lord Mayor of colour. She and her partner, UCD alumnus Patrick Costello, a Green Party TD for Dublin South Central, moved into the Mansion House with their daughter Alex, nearly three, just weeks ago. Costello, in line with existing protocols where the office holder is the Lord Mayor and his or her partner the Lady Mayoress, is formally the Lady Mayoress, “which highlights the anachronistic nature of some of the legislation”, Chu says, while Alex is, informally, “Mini Mayor”.

Did she ever envisage a career in politics, or being elected Lord Mayor of Dublin? “No, is the short answer! But cheesy as it sounds, I went into politics to represent people, to do some good. John Hume said: ‘I thought very simply in terms of helping people.’  I’m not saying I am any John Hume, but that should be the motivation, and for me it was.”

Chu’s parents came separately from Hong Kong in the 1970s, with almost no English. “As with many migrants, when they move to a new country, they tend to integrate with other migrants,”  Chu says.  “That’s how my parents met.” Her parents worked in restaurants and lived with “my aunt and uncle, their three kids, and my other uncle, all of us in the house” until Chu was six, when she, her parents and her younger brother moved to Celbridge in Co Kildare.

As she talks more about her upbringing, it becomes very clear where the instinct to advocate comes from. “Detractors will say to me ‘you went to private school, you’re very middle class now’,” she says, “but private school was an accident. My parents didn’t read English at all,” she continues, “any letter that came from my school, I translated for them. This one letter, I don’t know how I missed it, was informing parents that they needed to apply for the local secondary school by such a date. When it was time for me to go, the school was full. My parents then thought, ‘ok well, everyone tells us about these private schools, so let’s find one of those’. But Mum and Dad didn’t know where to look, so I ended up looking at all these schools and talking to teachers, at the age of eleven. It was a very bizarre process.”

And so, from an early age Chu was interpreting the world for her parents, advocating for them, and for herself. It seems like a natural progression into politics? “Yes. In any political  role, you are advocating for someone, working for someone. This is what got me interested. To me, it was a natural career path.”

Chu went to school at  Mount  Sackville in Chapelizod (with a brief period in Rathdown in Glenageary), then on to study Politics and History at UCD. Later, she did a Barrister-at-Law degree at King’s  Inns and worked in a variety of roles, including fundraising manager for St Michael’s House (providing services for those with an intellectual disability), a marketing consultant in New York for Bord Bia, an adviser to the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser, and head of communications for Diageo Ireland.

“UCD was one of the first places where I felt safe,” she says. “I was bullied in school and through my teenage years. In UCD, I found my tribe. I found people who were not just of the same mindset, but who were protective if anything happened to me.”

This didn’t happen immediately – “like everyone, I felt apprehension going into first year. My first year was spent trying to find my feet. It wasn’t until second year that I found my people.” One of those people is her partner Patrick, who studied Psychology. “We are getting married next June – we were supposed to be married last weekend but Covid [put paid to that]. I was sending out invites, and looking at the list, 30 per cent are friends from UCD.”

She was auditor of the UCD Politics society, joined the History society, and she and Patrick were both active in the L&H. “When I was looking for Patrick, or anyone, I would go to the student bar. Inevitably, U2’s ‘With or Without You’ would be playing, someone would be at the bar trying to trade their Foster’s dollars for something, and my mates would be in the corner. Even now, that scene always plays in my head, like a movie.”

But, she says, “It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. And there are a lot of students I speak to these days who say it’s a struggle for them in college – financially, for housing, with their mental health – and that there needs to be more services.”

So how might  UCD,  for example, take a pro-active anti-racist stance? “The thing with colleges and universities,” Chu says, “is that their best activists are their students. Students participate, they fight the good cause. When it comes to anti-racism, if the students decide ‘we are going to talk about racism and discrimination’, we want the university to support and recognise that. Governing bodies need to listen to the students. There needs to be an ongoing conversation. Constantly talking, reflecting and working together. Whether fighting discrimination or supporting students, the communication needs to be stepped up.”

Chu entered the world of politics cautiously. “I did the background stuff first,” she says. “I ran Patrick’s campaign in 2014. At that stage, I wasn’t even a party member. But the more I started working for the Greens, the more I thought that if I really believe in this, I should make the leap.”

Even then, she didn’t leap without looking. “I looked at all the parties, except those on the far right, and did my homework on each of them. And after that,  I decided ‘ok, it’s the Greens’. People often just see the ecological side, but for me, it was the social justice element that drew me. That has always been a big thing for me. You can’t grow up in Firhouse, nine people in a three-bedroom house, with immigrant parents, always struggling to put food on the table, and think you will eradicate those social justice issues out of your brain. The problems I grew up with are still problems now – housing, health, education, child poverty.”

Due diligence done, Chu joined the Greens in 2016. Even then, “I did not see myself as someone who would run. I was very interested in what happened in the background, and I ran for stuff internally: the executive council, then the chair of the executive. I founded the women’s group, then I was chairperson of the party. Finally, I thought, will I put my money where my mouth is, and represent the party externally as well? I took a long time to decide.”

What gave her pause for thought? “At the time I had a small child. I thought about my daughter and whether I had time. I talked to Patrick – we were going to be running two campaigns, mine and his; could we physically do this? Could we mentally do this? Family was a big question. Also, what do you hope to achieve? Are you going to be able to do good? and then there was a bit of me that thought ‘I’m not sure they’ll elect me, because I am different …’ Growing up in this country, I know it is a welcoming, collegial, warm place. As a people we are supportive, we see past colour and we are united. But there is a vocal minority who push a different agenda.”

Chu had experienced racism, but as isolated incidents rather than anything concerted. Enough, however, to know it was there. “At the back of my mind, I worried, will that minority surface? The people who bullied me when I was in school? The people who put my brother into A&E with broken bones when they beat him up when he was 15 because he was ‘yellow’? These aren’t everyday occurrences, but they happen. I did have that nagging thought – I’m about to put my face out there very publicly. It’s going to literally be on posters. Do I want to court that?” What persuaded her to go ahead? “Looking at my family and my daughter and thinking: ‘If I don’t do it, if others don’t do it, how are we supposed to set examples for her and others to do it?’”

Chu was elected with a record  33 per cent of the first preference vote. The overwhelming electoral support she received was, she says, “incredibly heart-warming. And then,” she adds, “a couple of months later, the job started, and the trolling came with it. It picked up– voicemails, phone calls, letters through the door.”And she has consistently called it out when it does, speaking the truth about racism in our society. “There is a need to be actively anti-racist,” she says.

“Racism is like any other big issue – you can no longer be an innocent bystander, and I don’t think you should be. Maybe people think, ‘I don’t want to get too involved in that,’ or ‘it would be weird for me to say it when I’m not the one suffering,’ but it’s not. Across the board, everyone is involved.”

Lady Mayoress Patrick Costello joins us now (“I think it’s hilarious,” he says of his title, then wonders if the Ceann Comhairle might call him “Lady Mayoress Deputy Costello”) and agrees: “Victims of racism,” he says, “partly because of their minority-excluded status, will find it harder to speak out. They need allies who find it safer to speak.”

As for the new Lord Mayor, she too will continue to speak out. “I’m in a very lucky position. The gravity of my role doesn’t escape me when I look around this room, full of portraits of Lord  Mayors from hundreds of years ago. When I am attacked and then speak about it, I have that credibility: people will listen to me.”

As Lord Mayor – a role that is highly symbolic – she says: “‘As first citizen, I would very much like to see councillors united in our common purpose – I plan to build a mayoralty and initiatives to help us on this path. I would like us to unite to tackle the housing and homeless crisis, to build a liveable city for all our citizens, to fight discrimination and protect those who are vulnerable.”

TO HONOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND CELEBRATE SUCCESS

From Sport to Science, Business to Arts and Humanities, Law to Engineering and Architecture, we honour nine alumni in 2019 whose remarkable accomplishments are worthy of recognition

THE UCD ALUMNI AWARDS were created to honour outstanding achievement in a variety of fields. This year’s nine recipients will be celebrated at a special black-tie ceremony at UCD’s O’Reilly Hall on Friday, November 22. Each has excelled in her or his respective area of expertise and their remarkable accomplishments deserve wide recognition. Now in its sixth year, the Alumni Awards are voted on by UCD’s vast body of alumni, numbering over 279,000, living in 169 countries around the world, as well as students and staff. The success of the Alumni Awards shows that the UCD network is thriving, influential and truly international – and it’s a reminder to the University’s current student population that the benefits of studying at UCD can last a lifetime. We caught up with the nine awardees to ask them for their UCD memories, the high points of their career to date and what advice they have for future graduates.

International Diplomacy – Dr Sinéad Walsh

MSc 2005

Dubliner Dr Sinéad Walsh is the EU Ambassador to South Sudan. Before that, she was Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Liberia. She has worked extensively for the Department of Foreign Affairs and in the charity sector. She is co-author of the book, Getting to Zero, which detailed her experience of the Ebola crisis. Have you fond memories of UCD? “I had been working for Concern on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border before doing my masters at UCD and I remember how wonderful it was to study there and the great professors who helped expand my mind.” What life skills did you pick up at UCD? “Meeting people. You can never underestimate how good it is to get to know as many people as possible and I met so many international students there. Today, I’m meeting with the governor of the Central Bank here in South Sudan and he’s someone I first met in UCD in 2003.” Career highlights? “Working on the Ebola crisis. I think I did some good work, but I also made mistakes. And it was tough to write about it [in her book, Getting to Zero] especially when I had to acknowledge those mistakes.” Where do you see yourself in five years? “Right now, I’m asking questions like ‘How can I have an impact on alleviating poverty?’ and ‘What about issues like climate change?’” What advice do you have for graduates? “It might not be fashionable to say this, but ‘work hard’.”

Inspirational Hockey Star – Katie Mullan

BSc 2017, ME 2018

Katie Mullan, former Ad Astra Sports Scholar and captain of the Irish hockey team, led her country to sporting triumph last year, a silver medal in the World Cup. It was an achievement that led to increased governmental funding. Katie, who is from Derry, and helped UCD win several trophies, aims to get Ireland to next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. What did you enjoy most about your time at UCD? “I enjoyed making many new friendships during my time in UCD, starting with those I made through living on campus with other Ad Astra athletes, to the girls playing UCD hockey and of course the engineers – all lifelong friendships that are invaluable to me.” How important was UCD in developing your sporting talent? “UCD was incredibly important. I progressed most as a player and person during my time at UCD.” Did you learn any ‘life lessons’ at UCD that have stood to you since leaving? “Probably the biggest life lesson was that all the sacrifices made are worthwhile. As an elite athlete my university experience differed a lot from the typical student. After six years of managing my studies with the demands of international hockey we won a World Cup silver medal. I wouldn’t change anything about my journey.” How do you manage to combine top-level sport with your more ‘regular’ career? “Time management. UCD helped me with that. I was constantly managing my hockey career with my undergraduate or postgraduate studies.”

Agri-Food Entrepreneur – Caroline Keeling

BSc 1990, MSc (Agr) 1992

As CEO of the Irish-owned Keelings, Caroline Keeling is steeped in the food business. Keelings employs over 2,000 people and supplies a large list of customers with fresh fruit and vegetable products. Caroline is on the board of several organisations, including Bord Bia and the Export Trade Council. What are your primary memories of UCD? “Two words: fun and friends. It was a great time – you meet so many new people from all walks of life, including boys, which was new for someone coming from a convent school!” Is there a key ‘take-away’ from your time there? “Much of the learning, particularly science, was presented as, ‘This is the current theory – we don’t know everything.’ That was really revelatory for me and it set me up for lifelong learning. There’s always more to learn.” What are you most proud of career-wise? “It gives me such pleasure to see people come in here to work and how they evolve over, say ten years. It’s so heartening to see people go above and beyond expectations.” Would you do anything differently? “There are things that I wish I tackled earlier, even something like really understanding yourself – what your make-up is, what your drive is, how you interact with people.” Do you have advice for new graduates? “Whatever career you choose, look for people to help you. You’d be amazed that 80 to 90 per cent of the people you ask really will.”

Cultural Strategist – Dr Barbara Dawson

BA 1979

The first female director of Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery, Dr Barbara Dawson has been one of the most significant figures in the Irish art world in recent decades. She oversaw an expansion to the Gallery and helped to develop the world-renowned Francis Bacon studio there. She is Adjunct Professor at UCD’s School of Art History. What do you remember most about your time at UCD? “The great friends I made at UCD I’ve kept to this day. The camaraderie was wonderful. I have great recollections of the History of Art Department – it was so small and intimate. It was a privilege to be taught by these great scholars.”How has your time at UCD served your career and life? “Obviously, there was the academic work, but it was learning from your setbacks – and it’s terribly important to do that learning then. Looking back, I see UCD as a big learning ground – not just for art, but for life.” What career achievements make you proud? “I was very proud of Francis Bacon’s studio and for building a new wing at the Hugh Lane which really allows it to take its place as a leading institution in the visual arts in Ireland. I’m proud of the fact that I was the first female director of the Gallery. The challenge was to come and do something that wasn’t so familiar and that could be nerve-wracking at times.” Do you have advice for today’s graduates? “It’s very valuable to travel and to allow time to do that because once you get seriously into your career that opportunity may be curtailed. Be open and receptive and if you are, you have an advantage over others. Engage with the creative industries, the plays, the operas, the arts – they are different tools with which to navigate the world.”

Global Business Influence – Colin Ryan

BCL 1997, DBS 1998

Colin Ryan joined investment bank giant Goldman Sachs after leaving UCD. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and is Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions: Americas. He was a recipient of the Ireland Funds Distinguished Leadership Award for 2019 in recognition of his philanthropy and remarkable business achievements. Your strongest memories of UCD? “The camaraderie among my BCL class. I made great friends while obtaining a world-class education which provided the foundation for my professional life. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the BCL International exchange programme at De Paul Law School in Chicago which gave me my first taste of life in America and a better understanding of the opportunities available outside of a traditional legal career.” What ‘life lessons’ served you well as a result of attending UCD? “The emphasis placed on independent research as part of the BCL programme fostered a greater appetite to be a self-starter, a skill which enabled me to build teams, develop client relationships and grow businesses over the course of my career.” What advice have you for new UCD graduates? “Be expansive and ambitious – you have earned the right to compete on the global stage.”

Transformational Innovator – Noelle Walsh

BE 1985

Noelle Walsh leads the Cloud Operations and Innovations operation at Microsoft, a role that includes supply planning and strategic acquisition as well as global construction and data centre operations. Previously, she spent 25 years with the Dow Chemical Company, where she worked across multiple businesses. Memories of UCD? “I have many fond memories – the camaraderie, positive environment set by the administration, even the hard work we all were required to put in. The many lifelong, enduring friendships are what I treasure most.” Is there a characteristic you attribute to UCD? “UCD requires students to work very hard, individually and in teams. I think demanding that level of effort creates a sense of determination and I credit that determination for getting me where I am today, to keep pushing forward each time I am faced with a new opportunity.” Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? “It’s a very exciting time to be at Microsoft, as the company transforms to a mainly cloud-driven business. I also look forward to giving back more meaningfully, to causes that are important to me. I’m a big champion of diversity and inclusivity and giving back to the communities in which we live and work. That might mean joining a public board.” What advice do you have for today’s graduates? “Take the leap. Think big. Stand up for what you believe in.”

Global Leadership – Shaun T Kelly

BComm 1980, DipPrAcc 1981

Belfast native Shaun T Kelly was the global COO of KPMG International. He ran the US tax practice and through his leadership, KPMG served a long list of blue chip American corporations. He is on the board of the Ireland Funds of America and the Irish Arts Centre in New York and he is the chair of the Northern Ireland US Advisory Council for the East Coast. What are your abiding memories of UCD? “Coming from Belfast to Dublin felt like a huge change. It was liberating. I’d played minor football for Antrim so I played a bit at UCD but wasn’t good enough to get on the team for the Sigerson Cup. I remember as a freshman being marked by [former Dublin player and manager] Pat O’Neill.” Did you pick up any life lessons at UCD? “It was a great confidence builder and it taught me that meeting people from different backgrounds could be invaluable. Moving to Dublin opened my eyes to travel and that eventually brought me to the US.” What are you most proud of in your corporate career? “Running the US tax practice for KPMG was great, but so too was coming back to Belfast in the 1990s and effectively running a start-up business there. It was an exciting time for the city.” What would you say to future graduates? “Don’t be afraid to take opportunities as they come up. Take a chance, take risks, be versatile. There’s a lot of disruption in many industries now so, to paraphrase Darwin, it’s not so much the survival of the fittest but the survival of the most adaptable.”

Sustainability Strategist – Dr John Bell

BA 1986, MA 1988

Dubliner Dr John Bell is the ‘Healthy Planet’ director at DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission in Brussels. He has held a variety of top roles at the Commission for the past 26 years and was Chef de Cabinet for former Commissioners, Máire Geoghegan Quinn and Maglena Kuneva. What are your memories of UCD? “It really was a catalyst for opening up so many opportunitiesin my life. UCD was responsible for my academic career and was where I met my wife. As students, we had access to the top people in their fields, like Gus Martin and Terry Dolan. They weren’t just scholars, but very innovative people too.” What life lessons did UCD help with? “It gave me great confidence to be the best I could be. There was such openness there. People would tell me that I could do whatever I wanted in life if I really applied myself and that message stayed with me.” Of what aspects of your career are you most proud? “The grounding I got at UCD really helped me be a policy strategist because language is so important. Most strategic thinkers in the Commission come from the humanities. They’re used to paying attention to language. They’re more open and confident in their outlook.” What do you say to new graduates? “I believe if you work and network and do your best, no matter what your corner is, that you can take it forward. No matter whether you’re in the arts or the sciences or any other discipline, if you apply yourself you prepare yourself for whatever direction you take in life.”

Medical Education Leadership – Prof Mary Horgan

MB BCh BAO 1986, MD 1995

A world-renowned expert in infectious diseases, Professor Mary Horgan is the President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) – the first female in this role since its establishment in 1654. She is a consultant in infectious diseases at Cork University Hospital and was Dean of the University College Cork School of Medicine. What are your abiding memories of UCD? “So many! I remember Newman House having a great disco scene in the 1980s during term time and then becoming a daunting exam hall in May/June. I remember being in Earlsfort Terrace and Professor Coakley being a fantastic anatomy teacher.” What life skills did you pick up at UCD? “As a country girl from Kerry, I learned to fend for myself, but in a wider context, UCD taught me the importance of networking and communicating with people. At this stage of my career, it’s remarkable the number of UCD alumni that I meet.” Of what career achievement are you most proud? “It was a huge privilege to be elected president of the RCPI. I think it was a reflection of their trust for me to take on the role and to make changes. I like to remind people that I am a UCD alumna and if I can achieve this without any major connections, there’s no reason why you can’t push boundaries also.”