IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2026 announced

Anne O’Leary, Vice President of Mid-Market SMB Group EMEA and Head of Meta Ireland, is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th annual IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards in May 2026 in the RDS

Anne O’Leary, Vice President of Mid-Market SMB Group EMEA and Head of Meta Ireland, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th annual IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards on Friday, May 15, 2026 at the Royal Dublin Society.

With a 30-year career in technology, Anne O’Leary is renowned for her 14-year tenure at Vodafone including nine years as Chief Executive Officer, and prior to that, with the BT Group. She joined Meta in September 2022 as the Vice President of Mid-Market Global Business Group in EMEA, and in May 2023, was appointed Head of Meta Ireland.

She currently leads a team of 2,000 people at Meta Ireland, all with a pioneering, global perspective.

Awards, accolades and advocacy

Anne’s career has also seen her serve as President of Ibec (2024–2025), while she currently serves as a board member of Greencore and the ESRI. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including in 2024, an honorary doctorate from University College Cork.

Throughout her career, Anne has advocated for the recruitment and retention of women in STEM, introducing many game-changing initiatives for women in the workplace.

Outstanding group

Anne will join a group of outstanding recipients of the IMAGE PwC Lifetime Achievement Award, including Mary Robinson; Breege O’Donoghue, Company Director, Penneys/Primark; Voxpro co-founder Linda Kiely; former Global President of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers, Fiona Dawson CBE; Anne Heraty, founder and former CEO of Cpl Resources plc; and last year’s winner, Siobhán Talbot, Executive Director, Glanbia plc.

IMAGE Media 50th birthday

In 2026, the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards marks and celebrates IMAGE’s 50th birthday, along with a move to the Main Hall, RDS in order to accommodate the awards’ continued growth, impact and significance.

Clodagh Edwards, CEO, IMAGE Media, says: “Someone like Anne O’Leary only comes around once in a generation, and we are delighted to choose the moment of IMAGE’s 50th birthday to celebrate Anne, and all that she has achieved in her 30-year career. She’s a futurist, a strategist, a technologist and a true leader, who raises her team with energy and vision. The 2026 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards is going to be our biggest celebration to date, and we are thrilled to launch 2026’s activity with the announcement of Anne’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Marie Coady, Markets Partner at PwC Ireland, says: “Anne O’Leary’s career is a powerful example of the impact of strong, forward-thinking leadership in shaping the future of business and technology. Anne has consistently shown an ability to navigate change by combining strategic thinking with a genuine commitment to people and progress – qualities that resonate strongly with the values celebrated at these awards. Recognising leaders like Anne is not just about celebrating individual achievement; it underscores the pivotal role women play in shaping industries and advancing innovation.”

The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards, sponsored by Samsung, Cpl, Eversheds Sutherland, Cantor Fitzgerald, Telus Digital, Nespresso Professional, Weir & Sons, Cairn Homes, Vodafone Business and Pinergy, celebrates women in business across 14 categories, plus the overall IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year and the IMAGE PwC Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards recognise the contribution Irish women make to every facet of business, philanthropic and modern life.

When & Where

When: Friday, May 15, 2026, 6pm until late
Where: RDS, Main Hall, Dublin
Tickets are available now by emailing our events team at events@image.ie.

Tickets include:

Welcome drinks reception and opportunity to network with Ireland’s leaders in business
Delicious four-course dinner including wine
Luxurious gift bag
Special musical performance
Opportunity to win fantastic prizes

For event terms and conditions and the booking policy, please visit HERE.

IMAGE Business Club members have access to one special rate ticket available by emailing events@image.ie. Special rate tickets are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nominations

Nominations for the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 will open on Friday, January 30, 2026. The deadline for entries is Monday, March 2.