Shortlist announcement for the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2024

In a world where authentic leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and bravery are redefining our economic future, women in business are a beacon of innovation, creativity, diversity and progress. These are the characteristics that are embodied in this year’s shortlist for the 2024 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year awards, which we are delighted to announce.

“The nominations for this year’s IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards were of an exceptional calibre and the 2024 shortlist showcases Ireland’s most inspiring business success stories,” says Clodagh Edwards, CEO of IMAGE Media. “It is both a personal and professional privilege to honour these women at our prestigious awards. As a team, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of the brightest minds in leadership on Friday, May 10th,” she says.

Shortlisting these women from the astounding line-up across all 13 categories was a difficult job. Incredible stories were backed up with evidence of the success and vision of the women shortlisted in each category. These are the businesswomen we are inspired by, the women we want to chat to after a networking evening, the women we want in our corner and the women whose corners we want to be in – to support them and to celebrate them. And with that in mind, we are delighted to share the complete 2024 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards shortlist…

IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of The Year Shortlist 2024:

CEO of the Year

• Caroline Byrne, Managing Director, Medica Ireland Ltd
• Claire Mac Evilly, CEO, Airfield Estate
• Dr Tara Shine, CEO, Change by Degrees Ltd
• Evelyn Moynihan, CEO, Kilkenny Design
• Fiona Gallagher, CEO, Wells Fargo Bank International
• Fiona Matthews, Managing Director, Applegreen
• Kerrylee Hempenstall, Director, Nexus Educational Hub Ltd
• Madeline Riley, CEO, Luxor Leisure Ltd. t/a Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin, Velvære Spa and the Dublin Royal Convention Centre
• Sharon Murphy, CEO, Ogilvy Group Ireland
• Sinead Doherty, CEO, Fenero
• Valerie Roe, Founder and Managing Director, Valerie Roe PR

 

Management Professional of the Year

• Annelie McCaffrey, Managing Director, Domino’s Pizza Ireland
• Ashley McDonnell, Global Digital Media and E-Commerce Director, PUIG
• Dr Emelina Ellis, Chief Clinical Officer, Spectrum.Life
• Gillian Moody, Managing Director, Stryve
• Hilary Quinn, Marketing Director, Diageo Ireland
• Jill Buckley, Head of Payroll Intakes, Transformation and Optimization, Google
• Linda Nolan, Head of Marketing, Boots Ireland
• Lorraine Griffin, Chair and Tax Partner, Deloitte Ireland
• Marie Chawke, Director of Business Development, Dromoland Castle Hotel & Estate
• Maura Winston, Chief People Officer, Cairn Homes
• Orlaith Ryan, Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Ireland
• Zoe Duggan, Chief Operating Officer, Village Vets

 

Family Businesswoman of the Year

• Adrianna Hegarty, Director, Hegarty Properties
• Ailbhe O’Rourke, Retail Director and Operations Manager, FashionHSE and Gráine O’Rourke Models Ltd
• Edwina Donnellan, CEO, MillroadMotors t/a Donnellans Centra
• Emma Maye, CEO, CORE Builders Providers
• Fiona Gratzer, CEO, Unislim Ltd
• Katie McGlade, President International, Thérapie Clinic
• Lauren O’Sullivan, Owner and General Manager, Dockyard No.8
• Louise Whelan, Managing Director and Owner, Pioneer HomeCare
• Phoebe Holland, Managing Director, Rugs.ie
• Siobhan McSweeney, Founder and CEO, MCS Case Management Ltd

 

STEM Professional of the Year

• Caroline Kelly, Founder and Managing Director, Pharma Integrity
• Jacqui O’Connor, Founder and CEO, MedScan3D
• Karen May, Company Director and Chief Financial Officer, XOCEAN Ltd
• Kelly McKillen, Interim Chief Information Security Officer, Bank of Ireland Group
• Martina Power, Head of Software Engineering and Company Director, ACI Worldwide
• Rosanne Longmore, CEO, Coroflo
• Samantha Forrest, Global Director Validation and Metrology Services, West Pharmaceutical Services
• Shana Chu, Founder and CEO, Tailr
• Susan Dunlea, J&J STEM Academy Early in Career Project Lead, DePuy Synthes, The Johnson & Johnson MedTech Orthopaedics Company
• Tina Raleigh, Head of Offshore Wind, Ireland, Statkraft 

 

Entrepreneur of the Year

• Anita Donoghue, CEO and Co-founder, Annutri and Hair Café
• Denise Phillips, CEO and Co-founder, Voduz
• Elaine Brady, Founder, Barden
• Fiona Uyema, CEO, Fused by Fiona Uyema
• Linda Stinson, CEO, Bellamianta and Iconic Bronze
• Lisa Ann Wilkinson, Founder, The Elbowroom, The Wicklow Escape, Manor Picture House and The Diverse Minds Academy
• Lisa McGowan, Founder, Lisa’s Lust List and Lisa & Co Ltd
• Lorraine Heskin, Owner and Founder, Gourmet Food Parlour
• Mairead Mackle, CEO and Founder, Tarasis Enterprises
• Milena Jaksic, Founder, Platinum Pilates Ltd
• Peigín Crowley, Owner and Founder, GROUND
• Professor Nicola Ralph and Professor Caitriona Ryan, Founders and Consultant Dermatologists, Institute of Dermatologists

 

Start-up of the Year

• Aoife Matthews, Jennifer O’Connell and Louise O’Riordan, Co-founders, SISTERLY
• Christina Foley, CEO and Founder, Inish Living Ltd
• Dr Helena McMahon, Co-founder, Seabody
• Hazel Burton, Owner, The Home Reset
• Nicky Dwyer and Ella Dwyer, Co-founders, Drobey
• Nicola Lyons and Elaine Crosse, Co-founders, Bánór
• Rebecca Hoban, Founder, Outwest Clothing Ltd
• Sharon Mooney, Managing Partner, Hyphen Strategy Ltd
• Suzanne Carroll, Owner, Enthire

 

Young Businesswoman of the Year

• Aine Kennedy, CEO and Founder, The Smooth Company
• Emily Brick, Founder and Director, Athena Analytics
• Gráinne Dwyer, CEO and Founder, Heritage
• Kylie O’Donoghue, Managing Director, FemFuelz
• Lauren O’Reilly, Co-founder and COO, ProMotion Rewards
• Sarah Jane Cochrane, Owner, Dani’s Closet Ltd
• Shauna Burke, Founder, CROÍA Jewellery
• Sinead Keary, Founder, Designer and CEO, Sinead Keary The Label
• Sinéad Lordan, Founder, TASK
• Sofie Rooney, Co-founder, Chimac

 

Creative Businesswoman of the Year

• Carrie Neely, Founder and Director, Art Loves Ltd
• Ciara O’Neill, Artist, Ciara O’Neill Art
• Gráinne Humphreys, Executive Director and Festival Director, Dublin International Film Festival Ltd
• Heather Condren, Owner and Head Designer, Flowerpop
• Lucy Rainey and Catherine Crowe, Directors and Co-owners, LUCA Architecture Ltd
• Madeleine Blaine, Founder, Silver Works and The Collective
• Nicki Hoyne, Creative Director, Nicki Hoyne
• Róisín McBrinn, Artistic Director, Gate Theatre
• Ruby Slevin, Founder and Creative Director, Banshee of Savile Row
• Sorcha Gillett, Founder and Director, The White & Gold
• Suzie Mc Adam, Founder, Suzie Mc Adam Design

 

Diversity & Inclusion Businesswoman of the Year – Community Advocate 

• Caroline O’Driscoll, Co-founder, I Wish
• Katriona O’Sullivan, Digital Skills Lecturer, Maynooth University
• Lisa McKenna, Principal Solicitor, McKenna & Co Solicitors
• Loretta Dignam, Founder and CEO, The Menopause Hub
• Obonu Rachael Davies, Strategy Manager, Intercom

 

Diversity & Inclusion Businesswoman of the Year – Industry Leader 

• Carol Andrews, Global Head of Client Service Delivery, BNY Mellon
• Margot Slattery, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Social Sustainability, ISS World Services
• Rachel Burke, Customer Strategy and Propositions Specialist, PTSB
• Sile Walsh, Founder, ELIS Advantage Ltd
• Tracy Gunn and Michelle O’Keeffe, Co-founders, Platform55

 

 Sustainability Champion of the Year 

• Aoife McNamara, Founder, Designer and CEO, Aoife McNamara Ltd
• Catherine Sheridan, Chartered Engineer and Founder, Sheridan Advisory Services
• Dr Val Cummins, Chief Impact Officer, Simply Blue Group
• Fiona O’Shea Stack, Health, Safety and Sustainability Officer, Dromoland Castle
• Kloë Wood Lyndorff, Co-founder, Two Green Shoots
• Laura Costello, Head of Sustainability and Planet Services, THINKHOUSE, The Youth Marketing Company
• Lucy Hunt, Founder, Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Research and Activity Centre; Senior Advisor, The Ocean Race; Owner, LH Marine Consultancy
• Madeleine Murray, Chief Product Officer, Change by Degrees Ltd
• Patricia Kane, Founder, reuzi; Partner and Sustainability Chief Officer, Pragmatica
• Sunkyung Choi, CEO and Co-founder, Well Spent Grain Ltd

 

Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Community Impact

• Aoife Smith, CEO, The Great Care Co-op
• Aolish Gormley, Founder, Ardú
• Caroline Gardner, CEO, We Make Good
• Dairine Kennedy, Co-founder, Neurodiversity Ireland
• Niamh Ní Dhrisceoil, Community Activist, Cape Clear Island

 

Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Charitable Organisation 

• Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society
• Ciára Dalton, Sorcha Killian and Rosie McDonagh, Co-founders, Hygiene Hub
• Denise Charlton, CEO, Community Foundation Ireland
• Kerry McLaverty, CEO, LauraLynn
• Martina Jennings, CEO, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation
• Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer, CEO, Make-A-Wish Ireland

On the evening of May 10th, the winners across all categories will be awarded along with the overall IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year and our very special Lifetime Achievement Award.

Do not miss the chance to join these incredible women on the night – book your tickets using the link below or email our events team at [email protected].