Class Acts 2026

NOEL FITZPATRICK

MVB 1990

The man known as the Supervet, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick was honoured in his home county of Laois last September for his incredible contribution to the world of Veterinary Medicine. Fitzpatrick is a world-class orthopaedic-neuro veterinary surgeon and in 2005 founded Fitzpatrick Referrals, now among the UK's largest veterinary referral centres. He holds a Guinness World Record as the first person to successfully fit an amputation prosthesis to a cat. Since 2014, he has starred in Channel 4's long-running series The Supervet and has written three bestselling memoirs.

Catherine Godson

BSc Biochemistry 1984, PhD, 1988 UCD School of Medicine

Professor Catherine Godson has been awarded the prestigious John Vane Medal by the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London. Godson leads an international, multidisciplinary group of investigators whose research focuses on innate immunity, kidney disease and chronic complications of diabetes.

EOIN GLYNN

MVB 2018

Eoin Glynn has been appointed President of Veterinary Ireland. He leads the mixed practice Gorteen Acre Veterinary Clinic in Co. Galway. Glynn has been recognised for his professional leadership and long-standing involvement in veterinary practice, farming and equestrian sport.

BRIAN SHIELDS

MBA 2015

Neurent Medical, led by co-founder and CEO Brian Shields, raised €62.5 million in oversubscribed Series C financing. Shields previously worked as a management consultant, with much of this time spent on the design and commercial rollout of connected health clinical programmes in public and private European health systems.

STEPHEN COX

MBA 2015

InVera Medical, led by chief executive and co-founder Stephen Cox, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for the InVera Infusion Device. The device is designed as a minimally invasive treatment for chronic venous disease. InVera Medical, previously known as Venari Medical, was founded through the BioInnovate Ireland fellowship programme.

DECLAN WALSH

MB BCh BAO 1971

Professor Declan Walsh was named among the inaugural 2025 Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Fellows, an honour awarded to individuals who have made a sustained contribution and demonstrated a high level of excellence in cancer supportive care. Walsh is a senior figure in supportive oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer and Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

ETHAN WAISBERG

MB BCh BAO 2023

Dr Ethan Waisberg launched an astronaut vision-testing system to the International Space Station in April 2026. Developed with collaborators in the United States, the compact VR-based system allows astronauts to complete vision tests during spaceflight. The research is aimed at improving understanding of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, a condition that is linked to vision changes during long-duration missions.

ALICIA CLANCY ROCHE

BSc Radiography 2025

Recent graduate Alicia Clancy Roche was awarded the prestigious O'Farrell Medal by UCD School of Medicine for achieving the highest mark on her final-year project, which was later published in the journal Radiography. It explores the utilisation of virtual reality (VR) technology to manage procedural anxiety in paediatric patients. She is now a practising radiographer with the Mater Private Network.

BRYAN J. TRAYNOR

MB BCh BAO 1993, MD 2000, PhD 2012

In April 2026, US-based Dr Bryan J. Traynor, alongside Dr Rosa Rademakers, was awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in Los Angeles. In 2011, the pair independently and simultaneously identified the main genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Their research found that a mutation in the C9orf72 gene is responsible for about one-third of inherited cases of both diseases in Europe.

PEARSE KEANE

MB BCh BAO 2002, MSc 2004, MD 2011

Recognised for his pioneering AI-driven retinal imaging research, Professor Pearse Keane was awarded the Royal Society's 2025 Gabor Medal in August 2025. The medal recognises distinction in interdisciplinary work between the life sciences and other disciplines. Keane is Professor of Artificial Medical Intelligence at University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Director of the INSIGHT Health Data Research Hub, and an NIHR Senior Investigator.

DEVI GOVENDER

BA 1999, MA 2002

Devi Govender was appointed Worldwide President of Heart Recovery at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, based in Ontario, Canada. She joined Abiomed in 2016 as leader of the physicians programmes team, progressing through manager and director roles. When Abiomed was acquired by J&J MedTech in 2022, she became VP Global Healthcare Solutions, then Platform President. She has more than 20 years of experience in the cardiovascular medical device sector.

Grainne Power

DipBS 1991

Grainne Power is Chief Executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). With a remit to protect and enhance human and animal health through the regulation of health products, she assumes the role from her previous positions as Director of Compliance and Director of Human Products. Before joining the HPRA in 2018, she held senior quality assurance roles across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.

EIMEAR COTTER

MBA 2014

Appointed Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland, Eimear Cotter assumed the position in March 2026 for a seven-year term. Cotter previously held Director and Deputy Director General roles at the EPA, with responsibility for climate, including carbon emissions trading, water management, environmental research, and environmental licensing. Prior to this, she was Head of Low Carbon Technologies at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Jonas Bruntse Dahl Nielsen

CEMS MIM 2014

Jonas Bruntse Dahl Nielsen has been announced as Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade, and Coordinator of the Trade Council China at the Embassy of Denmark in China. Nielsen has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2017, and before that worked in sustainability, innovation and digitalisation in the private sector.

AOIFE CONNAUGHTON

BComm 2005, MBS 2007

Aoife Connaughton has joined Bus Éireann's senior leadership team as Chief Transformation Officer. She brings extensive experience leading large-scale transformation programmes, with a track record that includes delivering decarbonisation initiatives, responding to regulatory requirements, and embedding sustainable growth strategies.

JENNIFER WALSH

MB BCh BAO 2003, PhD 2013

Professor Jennifer Walsh was inaugurated as Master of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on 1 January 2026. Serving a seven-year term, Walsh is only the second female clinician to hold the role in the hospital's 132-year history. Working at NMH since 2016, the Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Maternal and Fetal Medicine Subspecialist also trained at Columbia University in New York. Previously, Walsh was the Director of Fetal Medicine at the hospital, and she sits on the project team for the move to the new National Maternity Hospital at the SVUH campus.

CAILLUM HEDDERMAN

BSc Politics and International Relations 2025

Caillum Hedderman was recently appointed President of the European Youth Forum. Hedderman took employment with the Forum in 2023, rapidly progressing to his new role. Passionate about youth rights, he is also a Student Board Member, Board of Studies of the Graduate School of Social Sciences, at the University of Amsterdam, and a Strategic Policy Committee Member at Limerick City and County Council.

KATHLEEN LYNCH

BSocSc 1972, MSocSc 1975, PhD 1986

Sociologist Kathleen Lynch was appointed to Ireland's Council of State in March 2026, one of seven nominees named by President Catherine Connolly, and will advise the President during her term. Lynch is Professor Emerita of Equality Studies at UCD, where she also held a Senior Lectureship in Education. She served on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission from 2020 to 2025 and has authored over 300 academic articles.

AISLING MALONEY

BCL 2025

Aisling Maloney has recently been appointed a board member of the European Youth Forum, the world's largest platform of youth organisations, representing more than 70 million young people across Europe. She is also Rail Youth Champion at Irish Rail, on the President's Youth Advisory Board at the European Commission, and a United Nations Youth Delegate for Ireland.

Donal Brennan

MB BCh BAO 2003, PhD Cancer Biology 2007

Professor Donal Brennan has been appointed Chair of the Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC), a new national body tasked with strengthening Ireland's clinical trials environment. Brennan is Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at University College Dublin and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

MARK BEDDY OBE

BComm 1980, DipPrAcc 1982

Mark Beddy received an Honorary OBE for services to arts and culture in the UK, and was recognised in the 2025 Honorary Awards to Foreign Nationals. A chartered accountant, he was formerly Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee at the British Council for six years, overseeing an annual income of £1bn+. He is currently Director and Chair of the Finance Committee at the London Symphony Orchestra.

PHILIPPA DUNNE

BA Archaeology, Greek and Roman Civilization 2004

Actor and writer Philippa Dunne received a 2026 BAFTA Television Award nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance. The awards recognise the best British television of 2025, and Dunne was celebrated for her role as Anne Flynn in Amandaland, the BBC's spin-off of Motherland, where she previously played the same character across the original show's run. She trained at the Gaiety School of Acting before performing in Derry Girls, the Netflix series Bodies, and How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge).

JOANNE MCNALLY

BA English and Sociology 2008

Joanne McNally is one of Ireland's most successful comedians and will take part in the second series of BBC's The Celebrity Traitors. McNally is currently touring her show Pinotphile, and makes history as the first Irish female comedian to headline Dublin's 3Arena. McNally has recently signed a deal to release her debut special, Pinotphile, worldwide on Netflix in 2027. She also hosts the hit podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me with Vogue Williams.

FRANK MCGUINNESS

BA English 1974, MPhil Medieval Studies 1976

Playwright, poet and translator Frank McGuinness staged his new play, Do You Come From Gomorrah?, a 75-minute solo monologue remembering the past, including time in a Protestant boys' home in Northern Ireland, on the Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre in April and May of this year. Critically acclaimed, it was dubbed one of his "strongest and most important plays of recent years" by The Arts Review.

JENNIFER DAVIS

BA English 2011

Soprano Jennifer Davis took to the stage at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in March 2026 for Irish National Opera's production of Rusalka, where she played the titular role in a co-production between the Royal Swedish Opera and Nouvel Opéra Fribourg. She has an upcoming engagement at Palau de les Arts Valencia, plus a role debut as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin with Irish National Opera in 2027.

John Butler

BA English, Greek and Roman Civilization 1993, MA Film Studies 1995

Director, screenwriter and novelist John Butler wrote and directed These Sacred Vows, a six-part show for RTÉ which aired in February 2026. Butler is known for the feature films The Stag, Handsome Devil, and Papi Chulo, and previously worked as a writer and director on The Outlaws, a Stephen Merchant creation for BBC One and Amazon Studios.

COLIN MURPHY

BA Philosophy and Politics 1997

Playwright, screenwriter and journalist Colin Murphy's play Miasma, a medical detective story set during the 1850s London cholera outbreak, toured Ireland in April and May 2026. He is the 2026 Rooney Writer Fellow at Trinity Long Room Hub, and his collection Colin Murphy's Political Plays: 100 Years of Irish History was published by Bloomsbury in January.

DJAMEL WHITE

BA English and Creative Writing 2022, MFA 2023

Djamel White's debut novel, All Them Dogs, is longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize, one of the world's most prestigious literary awards. White is among 13 authors selected for this year's longlist, the only Irish writer to be included, and one of three debut novelists recognised this year.

DANIEL NELIS

MA Art History, Collections and Curating 2022

Daniel Nelis won the National Gallery of Ireland's 2025 AIB Portrait Prize for his oil-on-panel work Late Spring, a portrait of his wife painted before their marriage. Nelis studied Fine Art Painting at Ulster University, later completing an MA at UCD. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

LILY LONG

BA 2025

Lily Long produces, stars in, and has also written an episode of Fluff Piece, a live-action animated children's TV series on Prime Video. Long continues to build a successful multi-hyphenate career while helping inspire young audiences through stories that encourage curiosity, critical thinking and media literacy.

FERDIA LENNON

BA History, Greek and Roman Civilization 2009

In November, Ferdia Lennon was named the recipient of the 2025 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for his debut novel, Glorious Exploits, set in Sicily in 412 BC during the Peloponnesian War. His darkly comic novel also won the 2024 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction, and was adapted for BBC Radio 4.

SHAUNAGH CONNAIRE

BComm International 2006

Disney+ acquired Shaunagh Connaire's Brown Bread following its premiere at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh. It was the narrative directorial debut of this two-time Emmy-nominated journalist and was shot in her native Longford. Connaire spent three years as Communications Director for the Clooney Foundation for Justice after producing documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4 and PBS Frontline.

ERIN MC GREEHAN

MEconSc 2006

Erin Mc Greehan, Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, was appointed Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in 2025. Her priorities for the role include increased course offerings for people with disabilities that suit their goals. McGreehan previously served on the boards of LMETB and DKIT, having worked in Adult Education with Cavan VEC.

EOGHAN MAC MATHÚNA

BA Linguistics and Modern Irish 2007, MA Cognitive Science 2009, MA Philosophy 2016

Eoghan Mac Mathúna is an editor of An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge, the first monolingual Irish-language dictionary, launched by President Catherine Connolly in 2025. Available free on Focloir.ie alongside the New English-Irish Dictionary, it enables Irish speakers to check and learn words without using any English. Mac Mathúna and fellow editor Derek Ó Briain worked on the project, which launched with 20,000 entries and aims to reach 30,000 by August 2027.

MATTHEW HARTNETT

MB BCh BAO 2025

Matthew Hartnett has been awarded the Reuben Harvey Prize by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The Prize was established in 1882 in memory of Dr Reuben Joshua Harvey, anatomist and physiologist, and is presented annually to students who achieve the highest marks in their class for final year examinations in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics.

JOSEPH S. DILLON

MB BCh BAO 1981

Professor Joseph S. Dillon is the first Irish doctor to receive the Theilen Award. Dillon is a professor of internal medicine at the University of Iowa in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. A member of the university for 30 years, he has distinguished himself in a variety of clinical roles, as a researcher and an educator, and as a leader and innovator.

MARY HIGGINS

DMed 2026

Professor Mary Higgins was awarded the National University of Ireland Doctor of Medicine, the highest academic qualification awarded by NUI. She was awarded the DMed for her body of published work nationally and internationally in the areas of obstetrics, gynaecology, maternal fetal medicine and medical education. Higgins is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the National Maternity Hospital, and a Senior Lecturer in UCD School of Medicine.

WALTER CULLEN

MB BCh BAO 1994, MD 2005, HDip 2006

Walter Cullen has been appointed Vice President of the Irish College of GPs. He is Professor of Urban General Practice at UCD School of Medicine and was previously Foundation Professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick School of Medicine.

ORLA HARDIMAN

BSc 1980, MB BCh BAO 1983, MD 1992

Professor Orla Hardiman was awarded the Bryan Alton Medal in recognition of her contribution to clinical neurology, translational neuroscience and the understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her 2025 Bryan Alton Medal Lecture focused on ALS research.

PRAG SHARMA

BE 2000, PhD 2005, MBA 2013

Prag Sharma has been appointed Chief AI Officer at Bank of Ireland, where he will take up his new role in October. Sharma brings a wealth of AI leadership experience to BOI, along with deep technical knowledge and extensive global experience. At Citigroup, he established and led its Global AI Centre of Excellence, and most recently served as Director in Citi Institute's Future of Finance think-tank and research unit.

NIALL NORTON

BComm 1987

Niall Norton has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of TechIreland, where he will lead the not-for-profit organisation as it strengthens its role as an independent source of data and intelligence on Ireland's technology ecosystem. A technology stalwart, he was previously CFO of O2 Ireland, and CEO of Dublin-headquartered telecoms software company Openet.

DONAL MCMAHON

BAFS 2003, MSc Statistics 2004

Lightspeed Systems has appointed Dr Donal McMahon as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer to lead innovation in education technology. McMahon is also Head of AI and Data Science at Genstar Capital, having previously served in senior roles with Indeed and Google. At Indeed, he grew the HR tech giant's AI team to over 300 staff.

BRIAN QUIGLEY

MAcc 2005

Brian Quigley's work as Head of Finance with NoFrixion led to the company taking home two awards at the 2025 National Fintech Awards: Best Digital Banking Initiative of the Year and Best Payment Solution. A recent profile in Accountancy Ireland spotlighted his global career across big tech and start-ups, which has included roles at Meta and payments platforms Stripe and TrueLayer.

NOELLE DOODY

BE 2001, MSc Business Analytics 2014

Deloitte Ireland appointed Noelle Doody as a partner in March 2026. She joined from Accenture, where she served as Ireland Data and AI Lead. Doody has more than two decades of experience leading large-scale programmes for enterprise-level businesses. Her new role is focused on strategic growth and innovation within Deloitte's Data and AI practice.

DERMOT KELLEHER

BComm International 2000, MBS 2001

Solar power developer Elgin has announced Dermot Kelleher as its new Chief Executive Officer. He served as the company's Chief Financial Officer for 11 years prior to assuming the role. Since joining Elgin, he has played a critical role in the company's finance, fundraising, and M&A activity. This included leading the deal that resulted in Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners acquiring a majority stake in the business in 2024.

ABEBA BIRHANE

MA Cognitive Science 2015, PhD 2022

Dr Abeba Birhane is a cognitive scientist whose work has reshaped global conversations on AI ethics, algorithmic bias and data governance. Her research exposed harmful racial and misogynistic labels embedded in major AI training datasets, sparking worldwide reform in dataset curation. As Director of Trinity College Dublin's new AI Accountability Lab, she now leads groundbreaking work on AI regulation, justice-oriented audit frameworks and public-interest governance.

William O'Brien

BSc Economics and Finance 2020

William O'Brien was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Transportation & Aerospace list. He is co-founder of Ulysses, which raised $46 million in funding rounds featuring a16z. Ulysses builds small, self-driving underwater robots that tackle jobs people cannot do with ease or where it's not cost-efficient to use humans. This includes checking cables, surveying the seabed, and helping restore seagrass. The company is working to make ocean work cheaper and safer with more automation.

DAVID DUNKLEY-GYIMAH

PhD 2015

Dr David Dunkley-Gyimah received the US Knight-Batten Award for Innovations in Journalism. He has worked for Channel 4, WTN, and the BBC. His work sits at the crossroads of technology, culture, art, advertising, science and media. In 2026, he was honoured with a place on the inaugural UK Black Stars list, showcasing Ghanaians shaping the UK and the world.

JACKIE FOX

MA American Studies 2015

RTÉ News appointed Jackie Fox as its Washington Correspondent. Fox has worked with the national broadcaster for 14 years, gaining a wealth of experience covering US and global affairs. Her experience with the broadcaster also includes work on Morning Ireland and This Week as well as the podcast States of Mind.

ADAM WOODS

BAgrSc 2004, MAgrSc 2006

Adam Woods was appointed editor of the Irish Farmers Journal in February. He joined the publication in 2016 as its beef editor, before becoming deputy editor in 2023. Woods was at the centre of the newspaper's reporting on Brazilian beef standards, and is only the fifth editor in the 80-year history of the publication.

GAVAN REILLY

BComm 2009

Virgin Media political correspondent Gavan Reilly launched a new television role with Monday with Gavan Reilly. The veteran political reporter is the author of two successful books, The Secret Life of Leinster House and Enda the Road: Nine Days that Toppled a Taoiseach. Reilly has also gone viral on multiple occasions for his charity piano playing performances.

MARK SIMPSON

BA History and Politics 2000

RTÉ appointed Mark Simpson as Managing Editor of RTÉ Radio 1. Simpson joined RTÉ from Bauer Media Audio Ireland where he was Deputy Managing Editor at Newstalk, playing a central role in shaping the station's output for over two decades. Simpson has worked in a broad range of roles on some of Newstalk's most high-profile shows, including The Right Hook, The Hard Shoulder, Lunchtime Live and The Anton Savage Show.

TOLUWABORI AKINOLA

BSc Computer Science 2024

Sprinter Toluwabori (Bori) Akinola became Irish national champion over 60 metres and 100 metres in 2025, and in 2026 set a new Irish national record in the 60m, and retained his national title at the Irish Indoor Athletics Championships, finishing in 6.60 seconds.

MARK ENGLISH

MB BCh BAO 2019

Mark English made history in August as the first man to win gold for Ireland at the European Athletics Championships. A day earlier, English broke the European Championship record, held since 1978, for the 800m, winning his semifinal heat in 1:43.49 before storming to gold.

EVE MCMAHON

BComm International 2026

In May, Ad Astra sailing ace and Olympian Eve McMahon won under-23 gold at the ILCA European Championships, which followed a gold win at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Mallorca, marking the first Irish victory at the venue in 10 years. In December, McMahon was named "Rising Star" at the Team Ireland Olympic Sport Awards, recognising her standout achievements.

JULIE NICHOLSON

ProfDip 2021, MBA 2023

Julie Nicholson was named one of 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport. Nicholson has served as chairperson of the Association of Irish Powerchair Football, helping to lead the development of the sport in Ireland. She has also been recognised for her advocacy on disability and equality, including her work as Ireland's first ambassador for the global Purple Tuesday campaign.

NICOLA TUTHILL

BSc 2026

Nicola Tuthill's season includes a personal best of 72.73m, winning her the title at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Poland in June. Tuthill won gold at the Halplus Werfertage meet in Germany earlier this year and a silver medal at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia in March. Tuthill was the youngest athlete in the hammer final of the European Athletics Championships in August and finished fifth from a group of 13.

MARIE JOYCE

MAcc 1994

Marie Joyce has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Manchester Airports Group. She joined the airports group from sustainable infrastructure business NTR, where she held the positions of CFO and Chief Operating Officer, leading finance and commercial strategy across large-scale projects. Since 2020, she has also served as a Non-Executive Director at daa, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports, providing strategic oversight and governance, focused on long-term asset investment.

MARK HANLEY

BCL 2005

Mark Hanley is Head of Airline Leasing and Sales, Americas, at BOC Aviation. A global aircraft operating leasing company, it has delivered more than 30 years of unbroken profitability. Hanley works with airline customers across the Americas and is based at the New York Office, overseeing the company's aircraft leasing and marketing operations across the region.

Risteard Sheridan

BBLS 1996, MAcc 1997

Risteard Sheridan, Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer at AerCap, has been appointed Chair of Aircraft Leasing Ireland. Prior to joining AerCap in April 2017 as Head of Internal Audit, Sheridan worked in Audit Director roles with the professional services firms KPMG and EY.

NIALL MILLER

BComm 2008, MAcc 2010

Niall Miller is currently Vice President at Commercial Aviation at Minsheng Financial Leasing, having qualified at KPMG before spending four years at Grant Thornton. Miller, a chartered accountant, has been appointed trustee and treasurer of CRY Ireland (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

NÍALL MCLAUGHLIN

BArch 1984

Níall McLaughlin was named the 2026 Royal Gold Medal winner by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the highest award for lifetime achievement in the field, recognising decades of exceptional work in writing, teaching and building. McLaughlin established his London practice in 1990 and has since designed a broad portfolio of houses, museums, social housing, places of worship and colleges.

JENNIFER O'DONNELL

BSc 2009, BArch 2012, ProfDip 2015

Jennifer O'Donnell recently served as a juror for the Architectural Association of Ireland Awards 2026, which were adjudicated in Dublin. O'Donnell co-founded the Berlin-based Plattenbaustudio with husband Jonathan Janssens in 2018. In addition to taking part in exhibitions, including the RHA annual exhibition, installations and lectures, the practice designed the Urban Mirror sculpture at Coal Quay in Cork.

RÓISÍN HENEGHAN

BArch 1987

The Grand Egyptian Museum, co-designed by architect Róisín Heneghan and Heneghan Peng Architects' co-founder Shih-Fu Peng, opened on 1 November 2025, 22 years after their Dublin-based practice won the anonymous design competition of over 1,500 entries. The world's largest museum dedicated to a single culture, it stands beside the Pyramids of Giza, with the contents from Tutankhamun's tomb displayed together for the first time.

SHEILA O'DONNELL

BArch 1976

The V&A East Museum, designed by Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey's practice O'Donnell + Tuomey, officially opened at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London in April of this year. Last year, both were awarded the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland's biennial Gandon Medal for their outstanding contribution to architecture and the built environment in Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

John Tuomey

BArch 1976, MArch 2004

The V&A East Museum, designed by Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey’s practice O’Donnell + Tuomey, officially opened at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London in April of this year. Last year, both were awarded the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s biennial Gandon Medal for their outstanding contribution to architecture and the built environment in Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

DAVID LAWRENCE

BAgrSc 2011, PhD 2015

David Lawrence has been appointed Head of Ruminant Nutrition at Agritech, having previously worked as a Ruminant Support Specialist at Brett Brothers Ltd, advising dairy, beef and lamb producers on grass management and animal nutrition. His PhD with UCD and Teagasc examined field-to-yield systems and aspects of grassland management, and improving production techniques for autumn calving dairy herds.

NORA O'DONOVAN

BA French and Linguistics 1997, DipRD 2000

Teagasc has appointed Noreen (Nora) O'Donovan as its new Regional Advisory Manager for Kerry and Limerick, leading the delivery of advisory services to farmers and educational courses in both counties. Previously, O'Donovan was a dairy advisor for Kerry for Teagasc, and an agricultural and environmental advisor, both for Teagasc and for David Ashmore Agricultural Consultants.

SHANE MAHER

BAgrSc 2017, PhD 2025

Shane Maher has been elected Chairperson of the Tullow Agricultural Show for the 2026–2029 term. A UCD PhD graduate, his doctoral research focused on nutritional strategies to improve pig performance, health and environmental sustainability. Maher is Nutrition and Sustainability Lead at Adesco Nutricines, having previously worked as a research assistant at Teagasc and UCD Lyons Farm.

CONOR CRAIG

BAgrSc 2024

Conor Craig has been appointed Beef Specialist at Alltech Ireland, having joined the company's career development programme in 2024. Hailing from a farming background in Co. Longford, with a pedigree Angus and commercial suckler herd, Craig is a regular competitor at summer agricultural shows. He has completed training in Italy and worked in the UAE.

DALE CRAMMOND

BAgrSc 2000

Dale Crammond has been appointed President of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) for 2025-2026. He is Director of Meat Industry Ireland at Ibec, following 22 years in government, including four spent as Agriculture Counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC, where Irish food and drink exports climbed to almost €1bn.

CATRIONA MURRAY

BA Psychology 1992

brings almost three decades of general practice experience to her new role on the District Court bench.

Andrew Gubbins

BA History and Politics 2002

Andrew Gubbins built a Tipperary-based practice and has also been appointed to the District Court.

Mary McAveety

BCL 1993

Mary McAveety runs her own practice, McAveety McKenna Solicitors in Cavan.

DARACH MCCARTHY

BBLS 1998

Darach McCarthy who has practised as a solicitor in Limerick since 2002 as principal of Darach McCarthy and Co.

Niamh McGowan

BComm 1986

Niamh McGowan has built a 20-year practice in employment law, and has now been appointed Deputy Chair of the Labour Court.

MARK DUNNE SC

BCL 1994

was nominated for appointment to the High Court in January 2026.

ORLA MULDOON

BCL 1990

Orla Muldoon has been appointed General Counsel, North America, at Sodexo, effective from March 2026. She brings over two decades of legal expertise in the food ingredients and CPG sectors, having previously worked with ADM, Kellogg's and Atlantic Industries (Coca-Cola concentrate manufacture). Muldoon sits on the Enterprise Ireland US Food Advisory Board and the Governing Board of Trinity College Dublin.

SÉAMUS CLARKE

BCL 1995

Séamus Clarke SC has been elected Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland from September 2026. An arbitrator and mediator, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). From 2020 to 2025, he served as a Director and member of the Board of Management of the Dublin Disputes Resolution Centre (DDRC) and has held a number of senior leadership positions within The Bar of Ireland.

BRYAN MCMAHON

BCL 1962, LLB 1963

Retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon received the 2025 Hibernian Law Medal, joining illustrious past recipients including Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. A Kerry native, he became Professor of Law at UCC, co-authored leading Irish law books, and served as both a Circuit Court and High Court judge. He also chaired the Abbey Theatre board, where many of his father Bryan MacMahon's plays had been staged.

PHILIPPA HOWLEY

BCL 1991

Philippa Howley, Head of Credit Legal Services and Treasury Legal Services at AIB, was recognised at the Leap Irish Law Awards 2025, and alongside colleagues was presented with the award for In-house (non-Civil Service/public sector) Legal Team/Lawyer of the Year. She has spent the bulk of her career at AIB, joining as a Derivatives and Treasury Lawyer, and becoming Head of Treasury Legal Services.

ROSEMARIE J. LOFTUS

BCL 1987

Rosemarie J. Loftus was appointed the 155th President of the Law Society of Ireland for 2025-2026, representing over 12,000 practising solicitors, and becoming the seventh female president in the society's history. A partner at family law firm Bourke, Carrigg & Loftus in Ballina, she has pledged to champion the role of local and rural solicitors during her one-year term.

STEPHEN HOLST

BCL 2006

Stephen Holst has been re-elected Managing Partner of McCann FitzGerald LLP for a second term, running from May 2026 to April 2029. Since he took up the role in May 2022, the partnership has grown by 21% and the firm's headcount by 23%. Holst previously worked as a partner in the employment, pensions and incentive and disputes groups within McCann FitzGerald.

Jack Mulholland

BBL 2013

Jack Mulholland has been appointed a trustee of CRY Ireland (Cardiac Risk in the Young). The appointment is of personal significance, as he accessed the charity's cardiac screening and genetic testing services after suffering a cardiac arrest at age 25. A qualified solicitor and Group General Counsel at Applegreen, Mulholland trained for almost eight years at A&L Goodbody.

DARAGH MURPHY

BCL 2010

Daragh Murphy's New York-based fintech Imprint reached unicorn status in December 2025 with a $1.2bn valuation following a $150m Series D funding round led by Khosla Ventures. Murphy, who studied law at UCD before working as VP of Operations and Strategy at WeWork, co-founded Imprint with his colleague Gaurav Ahuja in 2020. Imprint designs, issues and manages co-branded credit card programmes for major consumer brands, including Fanatics, Turkish Airlines and Shell, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional bank-issued store cards. Imprint plans to expand beyond credit into debit and flexible financing.

THOMAS HEGARTY

BAgrSc 2017

Breakthrough Maths founder Thomas "TJ" Hegarty launched the fifth edition of the company's Night Before Exams Masterclass in June for Junior and Leaving Certificate students. Hegarty founded the online maths tuition platform in 2020 after struggling with the subject himself at school, and the organisation landed a spot in the Business Post's inaugural E-Commerce 100 list in May 2025.

AOIFE DRENNAN

MAgrSc 2020

Aoife Drennan is founder and COO of MILJO, an award-winning nutritional management and feed-ordering platform for dairy and beef farmers that uses data on weather and grass availability to identify the best feeds for individual farms. MILJO partnered with agritech firm Proveye to integrate satellite-based grassland monitoring into its service for over 1,000 farm customers.

MARK BARRETT

BE 2005, PhD 2008

APC was founded in 2011 by Dr Mark Barrett and Professor Brian Glennon, and now employs 300 staff from its base in Cherrywood. The company focuses on disrupting the pharma and biotech industries with an accelerated approach to drug process development.

Last year’s revenues totalled €43 million, and in October they also announced a €2m collaborative project with Research Ireland, which will address how gene therapies are created and tested, and seek to make the process more efficient and effective.

BRIAN GLENNON

BE 1986, PhD 1993

APC was founded in 2011 by Dr Mark Barrett and Professor Brian Glennon, and now employs 300 staff from its base in Cherrywood. The company focuses on disrupting the pharma and biotech industries with an accelerated approach to drug process development.

Last year’s revenues totalled €43 million, and in October they also announced a €2m collaborative project with Research Ireland, which will address how gene therapies are created and tested, and seek to make the process more efficient and effective.

ADRIAN JONES

MA Economics 1989

Adrian Jones is a partner at Goldman Sachs and chairman and co-head of the Global Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Jones has spent more than three decades with Goldman Sachs, working across investment banking and private equity in London and New York. Before his career in finance, he served in the Defence Forces.

BRIAN FOX

BA History and Politics 2013

Brian Fox is an Executive Director in International Government Relations at JP Morgan, working on European policy and regulatory issues for the firm. He also chairs the Financial Services Committee at AmCham EU, where his work focuses on financial services policy and transatlantic business engagement.

NIALL ANDERTON

BComm 1995, MAcc 1996

Musgrave Group has appointed Niall Anderton as its new Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Musgrave, Anderton was a senior global executive at Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K, having previously been CFO and CEO of Topaz. He has also held senior roles at Primark and Telefónica O2, and qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG.

NICOLE MCCREERY

MSc 2010

Elkstone has appointed Nicole McCreery as its first Chief Marketing Officer. She has experience as a senior marketing leader in financial services with experience spanning marketing strategy, proposition development, media, advertising and digital acquisition. McCreery brings extensive experience driving business growth and building brand equity across Asia and North America. Most recently, McCreery led HSBC's wealth repositioning in Asia.

TOM KINSELLA

BComm 1990

Tom Kinsella has joined Three Ireland as Chief Consumer Officer. Kinsella joins from AIB, where he spent over 12 years in senior management roles, including Managing Director of the Homes division, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Customer Advocate. His background also includes global marketing leadership at Diageo.

Davin Nugent

BA History and Politics 1998

Suntory Global Spirits has appointed Davin Nugent as President of its global ready-to-drink category. Prior to joining Suntory Global Spirits, Nugent served as Global Vice President of Innovation at Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI), where he led a review of the company's Beyond Beer business. Before that, he was CEO at Mark Anthony Brands International, where he spearheaded the creation of White Claw Hard Seltzer.

ROBERT KENNEDY

MBS 2003

Robert Kennedy has been appointed CEO of Howden UK & Ireland. Kennedy was previously CEO of Howden Ireland and brings a depth of experience from previous leadership positions across the industry, including at Aston Lark prior to its acquisition by Howden, as well as roles at Aviva, RSA, and Aon.

JEROME AHERNE

BAgrSc 2002

ABP has appointed Jerome Aherne as Managing Director of ABP Ireland and Poland. Aherne spent more than 22 years with ABP Food Group, including a decade in livestock procurement and twelve years overseeing ABP's Polish operations. Most recently, as Managing Director of the group's lamb operation, Irish Country Meats (ICM), he led the division to become the first Irish lamb processor to export to the United States.

GERALDINE MURPHY

MBS 1998, ProfDip 2022

Geraldine Murphy has been appointed an independent non-executive director at Ithaca Energy and has joined the company's Health, Safety, Environment and Security Committee. Murphy has over 35 years of energy investment banking and M&A advisory experience, currently holding the position of independent non-executive director at Seascape Energy Asia.

CONOR HILLERY

BComm 1992, MAcc 1993

JP Morgan has named Conor Hillery co-CEO of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Prior to joining JP Morgan, Hillery trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG and worked at Kleinwort Benson and Cazenove in London. He has held several senior roles at JP Morgan, including co-head of UK investment banking, co-head of the global financial institutions group, and head of EMEA investment banking.

AOIFE HEALY

MBS 2007

Aoife Healy is Chief Financial Officer at Royal London Ireland, and has two decades of experience across the insurance market, including life, non-life, reinsurance and broking, including both domestic and cross-border life companies. Previously, she served as a Director in PwC Ireland's Banking, Insurance and Aviation Finance practice.

MARY WHITELAW

BComm 2000, MAcc 2001

Mary Whitelaw, AIB's Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, was recognised as Green Leader at the Green Awards. She was recognised for her work on climate finance and sustainability, including helping scale AIB's green and transition funding to €30 billion. Whitelaw is responsible for helping shape the bank's strategy and embedding sustainability into how it serves customers, reports on its performance, and creates long-term value.

MELÍOSA O'CAOIMH

BA Politics 1985

Melíosa O'Caoimh was named Image PwC Businesswoman of the Year 2026. As Country Head with Northern Trust Ireland, O'Caoimh is responsible for all asset servicing business activities conducted from Northern Trust's Dublin and Limerick offices. She has also held other senior roles, including Head of Relationship Management and Chief Operations Officer.

KAREN GOODLIFFE

GradDip 2019

Karen Goodliffe, founder of SurePlan Financial in Cork, has been appointed President of LIA. Goodliffe began her career in the financial planning sector in the UK, moving to Ireland in 2004 and joining New Ireland Assurance as a Broker Account Manager. Goodliffe has achieved the qualifications of Qualified Financial Adviser and Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA) as well as becoming a Fellow of the Life Insurance Association (QFA FLIA).

JOSEPH O'REGAN

BA Economics 1998

Joseph O'Regan was profiled recently by AB Magazine as the first ACCA Ireland chair to serve as a fractional CFO. O'Regan has over two decades of experience across AIB, PwC and Deloitte, among others. His current business, Intrinsic CFO, gives Irish SMEs access to part-time senior financial leadership without the costs of hiring a permanent CFO.

CONOR NEILAND

HDip Marketing Practice 1994

Diageo Ireland has named Conor Neiland as Managing Director. Neiland has over 20 years of experience at Diageo, holding sales management roles across both the on and off trade business, as well as innovation commercialisation. He held a number of managing director roles across international markets, including Colombia and Korea, before working in regional and global commercial roles.

DAMIAN MCAREE

BA 1998

Damian McAree is CEO of SS&C Wealth Services Europe and Head of Ireland for SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions. He leads the company's Dublin-based European wealth management centre of excellence. The Irish operation supports financial institutions across wealth management technology, custody, and back-office services.

JONATHAN FITZPATRICK

BSocSc 1992, DipBS 1993

Subway has appointed Jonathan Fitzpatrick as Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Fitzpatrick served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Driven Brands, where he led a best-in-class team to 17 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth. Before joining Driven Brands, Jonathan served in a range of senior leadership positions at Burger King, including Executive Vice President, and Chief Brand and Operations Officer.

MAURICE KILLEEN

BE 1993

PJ Hegarty has appointed Maurice Killeen as Managing Director for Ireland. Killeen joined the business in 1993 as a Graduate Civil Engineer, and has gained over 30 years' experience in the construction industry, delivering complex, high-value projects across the civil, industrial, pharmaceutical, life science and commercial sectors. He served as Operations Director for the Southern Region before his recent appointment.

AIDEEN BURKE

BAgrSc 2016, MSc 2019

Aideen Burke has been appointed Export Manager at Ballymaloe Foods. Burke grew up on a beef farm in Co. Clare, and started working for Slaney Foods in 2016, where she progressed to sales executive for the Dutch, German and Belgian markets. She later completed a Masters in Business Management, and following ABP Food Group's acquisition of Slaney Foods, her role moved to ABP Ireland in 2020.

AGHOGHO OKPARA

BSc 2021, MB BCh BAO 2026

Aghogho Okpara hosted Ireland's first student empowerment conference last year, and is the founder of Achieve with Aghogho, a social impact organisation supporting students from underserved backgrounds worldwide. In its first year, Achieve with Aghogho engaged with more than 5,000 young people. To discover more about Aghogho's work and education, see the Achievements in Excellence piece.

JENNIFER SAVAGE

MBA 2027

Jennifer Savage has taken up the role of Chief Executive Officer at BioConnect Innovation Centre. The Monaghan-based biotechnology and bioeconomy centre helps companies turn science and research into sustainable commercial products. Savage's role connects researchers, industry partners and funders so that promising biotech ideas can become successful businesses, jobs and products.

CATHY REYNOLDS

BA Economics and Politics 1992, DipBS 1993, MBS 1995

Cathy Reynolds has been appointed Chair of Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI). She joined ASI's advocacy and public affairs committee in 2018 and joined the Board in 2021. Reynolds is a member of the Commission on Care for Older People, and has also served as director at Kennedy PR.

ROBERT KEARNS

BA Archaeology, Greek and Roman Civilization 1976

Robert Kearns is Founding Director of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce and Chairman Emeritus and Founder of the Canada Ireland Foundation. President and Founder of Kearns Insurance Corporation, he is Founding Partner of Kearns Edgewater Financial Services Inc.

DEREK KEHOE

BA Economics 1987

Derek Kehoe is Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas Ireland, the French multinational universal bank and financial services holding company. With almost four decades in capital markets and leadership, he holds several non-executive and board roles, including chairing multiple companies.

SEÁN KEYES

MA Economics 2009

Seán Keyes is Executive Director at Progress Ireland, a think tank founded to solve Ireland's housing, infrastructure, and innovation crises. Previously, he was finance editor of The Currency, managing editor of MoneyWeek, and editor of an equity research newsletter. His academic background is in economics.

PROFESSOR AILEEN KAVANAGH

BCL 1992, MA Politics 1993

Aileen Kavanagh is Professor of Constitutional Governance, Law, at Trinity College Dublin.

DR AVILA KILMURRAY

BA History & Politics 1973

Dr Avila Kilmurray was awarded Honorary Professor of Practice to the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen's University Belfast.

PROFESSOR MUIRIS MACCARTHAIGH

MA Politics 2000, PhD 2004

Muiris MacCarthaigh is Professor of Politics and Public Policy, Head of Politics and International Relations, and Director of the Centre for Public Policy and Administration at Queen's University Belfast.

PROFESSOR KEVIN MURRAY

BA History 1991, MPhil 1994, PhD 1997

Kevin Murray is a Professor in the Department of Early and Medieval Irish, University College Cork.

MR Justice Donal O'Donnell

BCL 1980

Donal O'Donnell is the 13th Chief Justice of Ireland, a role he was appointed to in 2021.

PROFESSOR BILL ROCHE

BSocSc 1977, MSocSc 1980

Bill Roche is a Full Professor of Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the School of Business, UCD.

PROFESSOR PETER T. GALLAGHER

BSc Physics 1995

Peter T. Gallagher is the Senior Professor and Head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Section at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). He also serves as the Director of Dunsink Observatory.

PROFESSOR FIONA LYNG

PhD 1995

Professor Fiona Lyng is Centre Manager of the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre (RESC) at TU Dublin. She was awarded an Honorary Professorship in 2012.

EILEEN FURLONG

BSc Pharmacology 1992, PhD Pharmacology 1996

Head of Genome Biology Unit at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

PROFESSOR TERESA LAMBE

BSc 1997, PhD 2002

Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology and a Professor of Vaccinology & Immunology and PSI Investigator at the University of Oxford, have both been awarded honorary memberships to The Royal Irish Academy.

PROFESSOR MARY E. DALY MRIA

BA History and Economics 1969, MA 1971

Professor Mary E. Daly Mria has been awarded the Royal Irish Academy's highest honour, the Cunningham Medal, in recognition of her outstanding distinction in research and her contribution to advancing the aims of the Academy.

CATHERINE OPDEBEECK

BSc 2003, BArch 2006, ProfDip 2015

have been appointed to the Board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

MARY HURLEY

BA English and History 1992, MA History 1993, HDip in Ed 1994

Mary Hurley has been appointed to the Board of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA).

RENA O'SULLIVAN

BComm 1997, MBS 2001

Has been appointed to the Board of Uisce Éireann.

CAROLINE BERGIN

BA Politics 1982, ProfDip 2012

has been appointed to the Board of WEEE Ireland.

Michael Hand

MBA 1984

Michael Hand has been appointed to the Board of Sport Ireland.

EAMON RYAN

BComm 1984

has been named as chair of the European Commission's Housing Advisory Board.

DR ANN MCGARRY

MApplSc 1986, PhD Experimental Physics 1991

Dr Ann McGarry have been appointed to the Board of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

MARY FAULKNER

BA 1978, HDipEd 1979

Mary Faulkner has been appointed to the Dental Council Board.

Julie O'Neill

MBA 1996

Julie O'Neill has been appointed board member of ARTBIO.

KAREN SUGRUE HENNESSY

MBA 2002

Karen Sugrue Hennessy has been appointed an independent non-executive director to the Dairygold Co-Operative Society board.

DAMIEN KEOGH

BComm 1986

has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Peter McVerry Trust.

EMER FINNAN

BComm 1988, Dip Professional Accounting 1989

Emer Finnan has been appointed an independent non-executive director to the Board of Bank of Ireland Group plc and the Court of Directors of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland.

Eibhlín Morley

HDip Entrepreneurial Studies 2004

Eibhlín Morley have been appointed to the Board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Dr Paula Barry-Walsh

MVB 1982, MApplSc 2001

Dr Paula Barry-Walsh have been appointed to the Board of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

Peter Dennehy

ProfDip Corporate Governance 2015, ProfDip Professional Regulation 2016, ProfDip Arbitration 2021

Peter Dennehy have been appointed to the Board of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.