Meet the winners of the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026

As we still bask in the glow of an unforgettable evening where over 1,300 guests came together in the RDS, we take a closer look at the remarkable women who took home the top honours.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Anne O’Leary, Head of Meta Ireland and Vice President of Mid-Market SMB Group EMEA
Anne O’Leary is one of Ireland’s most respected business leaders, with a career spanning over 30 years across telecommunications and global technology. Known for her strategic vision and commitment to inclusion, she has played a transformative role in shaping Ireland’s position as a digital hub. Currently serving as the Head of Meta Ireland and Vice President of Mid-Market EMEA, Anne previously spent nine years as CEO of Vodafone Ireland, where she also served as President of Ibec.

For Anne, recognition is less about individual achievement and more about collective impact. She maintains that every milestone is built on the collaboration and inspiration of others, underscoring her deep belief in shared success. She views accolades as a vital platform to empower others, noting if these award encourage even one woman to pursue a leadership role, they have fulfilled their purpose. Her legacy is defined by commercial excellence, a “learn-it-all” mindset, and an enduring influence on the next generation of Irish businesswomen.

OVERALL BUSINESSWOMAN

Melíosa O’Caoimh, Country Head, Northern Trust Ireland
As country head of Northern Trust Ireland, Melíosa leads one of the nation’s largest fund administrators and global custodians. Since joining Northern Trust in 2003, Melíosa has been a cornerstone of the firm’s Irish success story, building the Irish operation into a strategic global hub for the firm, managing hundreds of billions in assets for institutional investors. From a team of 80, she now oversees more than 1,800 employees across offices in Dublin and Limerick. But her true legacy isn’t only found in the balance sheets; it’s found in the boardroom. A relentless agent of change, she has driven senior female representation to 44% in the firm, setting a gold standard in a sector that is still playing catch-up. As the former Chair of the 30% Club Ireland, she didn’t just ask for equity; she engineered it, pushing for a 48% gender balance target across the board. Today, she continues that mission as the President of the Institute of Bankers. Melíosa combines deep technical expertise with a commitment to sustainable leadership, bridging the gap between high-level financial services and impactful corporate social responsibility.

CEO

Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder, Kinore Finance and Business Services
Larissa is has redefined financial services in Ireland through her multi-award-winning chartered accountancy practice Kinore. A Sligo native with a degree in Hotel Management from the University of Ulster, Larissa’s career pivot began with a receptionist role in a Derry accountancy firm. Recognised for her potential, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005. In 2011, from her home in rural Donegal, Larissa founded the company with a vision to challenge traditional models. By 2015, she had established Ireland’s first remote-first, online-native accounting service — a pioneering move long before digital-first working became the industry standard.

Speaking after her win, she explained: “By building an intentional remote model in professional services [we have] opened opportunities for women and men across the island of Ireland and beyond to grow, to lead and to thrive without leaving their families or communities. For women, in particular, this is important because in our sector, 50% of roles at junior and mid levels are held by women, but it drops to 20% at senior leadership and director positions. Women are not the issue, the industry and its expectations are. At Kinore, we have changed that, and we have done it by making intentional decisions around culture, trust and flexibility.” Today, Kinore ranks among the top 20 accountancy practices in Ireland, employing a team of over 80 professionals across its Dublin and Letterkenny offices and remote locations. Now supporting over 2,000 businesses with a combined turnover exceeding €500 million, her commitment to equity is reflected in the firm’s DNA, where women comprise 73% of senior and leadership roles. This remote-first model not only fosters diversity but also reduces the environmental impact of commuting, proving that commercial growth and social impact can go hand-in-hand.

Larissa has been twice shortlisted for the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Deeply committed to female entrepreneurship, she serves as a Lead Entrepreneur for Acorns, a mentor for Enterprise Ireland and is the current President of the Donegal Women in Business network. Her upcoming 2027 Harvard SPNM fellowship marks the next chapter in her mission to scale innovative, client-centric business services.

Runners up:
Áine Mulcahy, Managing Director, OCS Group Ireland.
Daisy Mauhay, Founder and CEO, The Nightingale Placement Agency.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADER

Katriona O’Sullivan, CEO, Triumph Talks
A psychologist, academic and bestselling author, Prof Katriona O’Sullivan is an internationally recognised leader in diversity and inclusion, transforming systems to expand opportunity for the excluded. Her mission is deeply personal; as chronicled in her best-selling memoir Poor, Katriona overcame a childhood shaped by poverty and addiction, navigating homelessness and teenage pregnancy before finding her path through the Trinity Access Programme. Today, as a professor at Maynooth University and CEO of Triumph Talks, she used her experience and expertise to create institutional change. She founded the STEM Passport for Inclusion, securing over €3 million to support 10,000 girls in DEIS schools. Katriona reminds all leaders that “we need to look around and ask who isn’t here and how can we find them?” Following the 2026 launch of her second memoir Hungry: A Biography of my Body, she remains a fierce advocate for dismantling the “poverty of thought” that limits human potential. In a video message to the audience on the night, while on her book tour in Italy, Katriona called on all business leaders to be aware of their privilege to ensure women from a broad range of backgrounds get access to the opportunities they need to build inclusive organisations.

Runners up:
Heather Lowry, Head of Talent and Organisation Development, An Post.
Caroline O’Driscoll, Co-founder, I Wish.

CREATIVE BUSINESSWOMAN

Francie Duff and Sonia Reynolds, Co-founders, STABLE of Ireland
Founded in 2015, STABLE of Ireland is the vision of Francie Duff and Sonia Reynolds, who set out to redefine Irish textile craft for a global audience. As a creative powerhouse, STABLE serves as a vital bridge between traditional heritage and contemporary luxury, collaborating with a network of over 30 master weavers and knitters across the island of Ireland. In just over a decade, the brand has grown into a prestigious international name, anchored by its flagship Dublin store. Their creative output is defined by bold innovation, from the world’s most extensive Irish linen scarf range to the Art Series – a sophisticated collaboration with the estates of iconic artists such as Louis le Brocquy. By investing directly in Irish weaving infrastructure and prioritising local, sustainable materials, Francie and Sonia have built a business model where commerce serves to protect and propel craft.

As Francie Duff notes, “We are an Irish unity brand – uniting what’s best in the country. We wanted to create something that represented us and our heritage with pride.” This commitment to unity through design has established STABLE as a leader in the Irish creative economy, honouring the past while designing for a sustainable future. From the stage, both women paid tribute to the makers and creators they work with, honouring their skills.

Runners up:
Gráinne Dwyer, CEO and Founder, Heritage.
Laura Weber, Owner, LW Pearl.

ESG CHAMPION

Caoimhe Buckley, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Fyffes
A distinguished C-suite leader with over 25 years of international experience, Caoimhe has a proven track record of navigating complex global sectors. A specialist in sustainability, she has transformed the ESG framework at Fyffes since joining the company seven years ago in a particularly challenging sector. She has built and leads a global team of 20 across sustainability, human rights and governance. She has successfully linked executive remuneration directly to ESG performance to create an accountability framework and drive measurable impact. Beyond her corporate role, Caoimhe is a passionate advocate for business as a force for good. She serves on the boards of Freshfel Europe and UNICEF Ireland, championing ethical trade and social responsibility. She holds advanced degrees in economics from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.

Runners up:
Sarah Blake, Director, Earthology.
Kayleigh-Ann Myles, Head of ESG, Lawler Sustainability and Founder of STPS.

FAMILY BUSINESSWOMAN

Sarah Furno, General Manager, J&L Grubb Ltd t/a Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers
It was perhaps inevitable that Sarah Furno would become a standard-bearer for Irish specialty food. Raised amidst the salt-air aging rooms of Beechmount Farm, Sarah was immersed in the craft of farmhouse cheesemaking from the moment her parents, Jane and Louis Grubb, pioneered Ireland’s first blue cheese in 1984. Today, as she leads Cashel Farmhouse Cheese, Sarah skillfully balances the weight of a pioneering legacy with a visionary approach to modern global enterprise.

Sarah has been the primary architect of the creamery’s modernisation, scaling operations to meet international demand without compromising the handmade quality or Tipperary provenance that define the brand. Central to her leadership is a field-to-fork ethos, using milk from the family’s pedigree herd and championing circular farming to ensure sustainable food production on the family estate.

A former Chairperson of the Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers Association (CAIS), Sarah is a tireless advocate for the dairy industry and a vocal supporter of female leadership in agriculture. Her influence ensures Cashel Blue remains a benchmark of excellence in the world’s most prestigious food halls. This award celebrates Sarah’s success in transforming a beloved family tradition into a future-facing emblem of Irish agricultural prestige.

Runners up:
Joanna Gardiner, CEO of Elave Skincare by the Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Clare Kelly, Fiona Kelly and Rebecca Kelly, Directors and Owners, Glandore.

STEM PROFESSIONAL

Dr Alessandra Sala, Senior Director of AI, Shutterstock
A globally recognised research and scientific leader with over 18 years of experience in artificial intelligence and data science, Alessandra holds many roles in the world of STEM. Hailing from Amalfi, Italy, and educated in California, she is now based in Dublin as Senior Director of AI at Shutterstock. She leads global teams in translating frontier research into scalable commercial products, including the development of one of the world’s first commercially viable generative AI image generators. A prolific innovator, she holds 23 patents and has co-authored more than 50 research publications. She is also a transformative figure in AI ethics and equity, passionate about truly supporting women enter and excel in the sector. She serves as the Global President of Women in AI, a non-profit spanning 171 countries, and Co-Chair of UNESCO Women for Ethical AI. Her work in standardising AI safety includes chairing the AI and Multimedia Authenticity Collaboration to address deepfake risks. Her pioneering contributions have earned her the 2025 Women of Europe Award in STEM and the 2024 Grace Hopper Award. Receiving a STEM Professional of the Year award is, she said, “deeply meaningful to me and a reminder of the privilege of living and working in a country, and within a community, that fosters diversity, nurtures talent, and invests in people regardless of gender, background, or origin.”

Speaking about the awards, she said: “Ireland is widely known as the home of many international tech companies but [the awards ceremony] showed another equally powerful story: Ireland is also home to a remarkable and growing group of successful women-led small and medium-sized companies, full of ambition, innovation and readiness to scale.”

Runners up:
Niamh Donnelly, CTO and Founder, Akara Robotics.
Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy, Co-founders, ACT.

EMERGING EXECUTIVE

Kate English, Chief Economist, Deloitte Ireland
As Deloitte Ireland’s first Chief Economist, Kate has established two new functions within the firm, the Real Estate Research team and the inaugural economics department, bringing a data-driven approach to macroeconomic analysis and policy research across Ireland and its key trading markets. A graduate of University College Cork with a Masters and undergraduate degree in Economics, she has over eight years of experience in real estate and economics. She is a recognised commentator on global macroeconomic trends, fiscal policy, capital markets, demographics and employment, with regular media appearances and authoring a weekly newsletter demystifying economics for a broad digital audience. She has designed demand and affordability assessment tools for Approved Housing Bodies; oversees Deloitte’s annual Crane Survey; and holds an Adjunct Professorship at University College Cork. Speaking from stage as she accepted her award, she called on all the women in the room to recognise their talent, to celebrate it and to use it. She thanked the leaders around her for inspiring women “like me” in their careers.

Runners up:
Laura Hogan, Marketing Manager Lifestyle and RTD Brands, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.
Máire Neary, VP of People and Legal, Flipdish

SENIOR EXECUTIVE

Sarah Byrne, Director of Agency, Private Equity and Venture Capital Partnerships, EMEA, Google
Sarah has over 20 years of experience across advertising and technology. Since joining Google in 2014, Sarah has become a pivotal architect of growth, notably launching the EMEA PE/VC Investor team and leading her division to become the top-performing partnership team in Google Customer Solutions EMEA in 2025.
Her influence extends across the ecosystem through her YouTube Masters programme – building creator-led capabilities for 1,500 global agencies – and her thought-leading vodcast series for Accelerate with Google. A seasoned veteran of the London, Dublin and Amsterdam agency scenes, Sarah pairs commercial rigour with a human-centric approach. As a Henley Business School accredited coach, she is a dedicated advocate for female leaders in tech, championing a leadership philosophy rooted in radical transparency and kindness to drive high-performance cultures. “I think sometimes it’s confused with niceness, but kindness is so fundamental to the way you connect with people, and I think it breeds a culture that gets you to a much bigger place,” Sarah explains.

Runners up:
Fiona Carney, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Lorna Devenney, CFO, BnM.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR – Community Impact

Therese Coveney, Co-founder, Together Academy
Therese Coveney is a transformative leader who transitioned from a decades-long career in social care to becoming a powerful advocate for the Down syndrome community. Driven by a mission to secure a better future for her daughter, April, Therese established Together Academy in partnership with the Down Syndrome Centre. She was soon joined by co-founder Cathy Smith, a fellow parent who shared her vision of radical inclusion. Together, they researched global best practices to build a world-class model that addresses a stark reality: 90% of adults with Down syndrome in Ireland are currently unemployed.

Today, Together Academy operates as a unique social enterprise and college in Dublin, supporting 60 young adults through QQI Level 3 qualifications in culinary skills and employability. The Academy’s footprint includes three vibrant cafes and a world-first specialised college located within a corporate setting at SMBC Aviation Capital. This person-centered approach has already seen 30 graduates successfully placed in paid employment, bridging the gap between government policy, corporate strategy, and untapped potential.

The “Together Tribe” has grown to include a dedicated leadership team with Laura O’Neill and Edel Lynch, alongside 12 specialist employees. Beyond job placement, the Academy enriches lives through “purposeful days,” offering experiences ranging from first paychecks to international work placements in Barcelona. By integrating transition year students into their programmes, they are actively shaping the employers of the future. As Therese prepares for the Harvard SPNM fellowship in 2027, she remains committed to positioning Dublin as a global leader in inclusive employment and lasting social advocacy.

Speaking as she received her award, she made a powerful call to all business leaders in the room to proactively build inclusive cultures and organisations, reminding them of the positive impact it has on organisations as well as individuals.

Runners up:
Professor Jean O’Sullivan, Founder and Medical Director/Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Global Emergency Care Skills (GECS).
Elaine Noonan, Co-Founder and CEO, Community Connect – Ireland’s Baby Bank.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR – Charitable Organisation

Orla Dolan, CEO, Breakthrough Cancer Research
Orla Dolan is a visionary leader who has transformed Breakthrough Cancer Research from a local initiative into a powerhouse of Irish medical innovation. A scientist with a background in business management, Orla draws on her academic foundations from University College Cork and the University of Limerick’s Kemmy Business School to blend scientific rigour with commercial discipline.

Since joining the organisation 20 years ago, she has overseen its evolution from a €300,000 local operation into a €4.67 million national research body. This journey is deeply rooted in her personal history; her father, Professor Gerry O’Sullivan – a pioneering cancer surgeon and the founder of the organisation – passed away from the disease. Orla often notes that even with a world-renowned surgeon as a father, the bottleneck to survival is rarely a lack of scientific ideas, but a lack of funding to move those ideas from the laboratory into clinical trials. This fuels her singular mission: “I do not want lack of money to be the reason someone does not get an effective treatment for their cancer.”

Under her stewardship, the charity has invested over €17 million, supporting 200+ researchers and generating 300 novel discoveries. Her leadership is marked by an 84% direct investment rate and the establishment of national networks like AllCaN to address poor-prognosis cancers. A former board member of the National Cancer Registry of Ireland and co-founder of the Irish Cancer Prevention Network, Orla remains dedicated to professionalising charity governance while relentlessly pursuing 100% survival for 100% of cancers.

Runners up:
Aisling Hurley, CEO, Breast Cancer Ireland.
Helene Hugel, CEO, Helium.

START-UP BUSINESSWOMAN

Kim O’Sullivan, Founder and CEO, BROW AID
With over 25 years in the beauty industry and an estimated 45,000 brow treatments completed, Kim O’Sullivan is Ireland’s preeminent authority on facial architecture. As the first to introduce PhiBrows Microblading to Ireland, Kim holds the rare global title of Grand Master of Honour – the industry equivalent of an Oscar – positioning her at the helm of PhiAcademy, one of the most prestigious beauty academies in the world, where she has mentored over 1,000 professionals. In 2023, Kim channeled this expertise into BROW AID, a founder-funded, B Corp Certified brand that is fusing cosmetic luxury with clinical efficacy to protect and enhance hair health. In just two years, the brand has achieved remarkable scale, securing over 80 retail doors including Brown Thomas, Dublin Airport and, most recently, Dunnes Stores.

A vocal advocate for female leadership and intellectual property protection, Kim’s conscious beauty ethos prioritises clean, cruelty-free formulations. From her roots as a lead artist for Giorgio Armani to becoming a multi-award-winning CEO, Kim remains dedicated to empowering women through both her products and her mentorship.

Speaking after her win, she said: “As we approach three years of building BROW AID, this recognition feels especially meaningful. What began as an idea I believed in so deeply has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined — not just a brand, but a community, a team and a BCorp business built with real heart & belief behind it. While this award has my name on it, it reflects the collective effort of so many incredible people around me.”

“This is a moment that will stay with me forever,” she said.

Runners up:
Áine Devlin, Founder, ExamRevision.
Dr Sarah Kelly and Dr Michelle Hone, Co-founders, Herology

ENTREPRENEUR

Julie Collison, Director and Co-founder, Clear Strategy
With over two decades of experience, Julie’s expertise lies at the intersection of business strategy and technical innovation. She co-founded Clear Strategy, a market-disrupting data and AI solutions firm, alongside David Fitzpartick and the firm is now one of Ireland’s fastest-growing tech companies. Julie, who previously held senior roles at Three Ireland and Vodafone, has been recognised for her success in building a bootstrapped, multi-million-euro enterprise that competes with global consulting giants. She did this while while raising her three young children as a single mother.

She is a Chartered Banker with an MBA and a pioneer in the Snowflake ecosystem, recently launching Kerbi, a flagship AI product designed to drive actionable insights. Her vision centers on “holistic” data – ensuring that technology serves as a foundation for trust, ethics and human-centric decision-making rather than just a technical byproduct. Julie is a fierce advocate for female founders.

Runners up:
Nadia Adan, Founder, Ashford Motors.
Linda Stinson, CEO, Bellamianta.

YOUNG BUSINESSWOMAN

Keilidh Cashell, Creative Director, KASH Beauty
Keilidh Cashell, the Creative Director and co-founder of KASH Beauty, is a visionary entrepreneur who has leveraged digital influence for retail dominance. Since founding KASH Beauty in 2019, Keilidh has transformed her expertise as a professional makeup artist into a multimillion-euro enterprise. Built on the core values of accessibility and inclusivity, the brand has achieved historic milestones, notably becoming the first Irish brand to be stocked in luxury retailers Brown Thomas and Arnotts.

Keilidh’s leadership is characterised by strategic agility and a deep connection to her audience. With over four million followers, she used direct community feedback to fuel product innovation, leading to viral successes and the title of top-selling beauty brand on TikTok Shop. Her influence is further cemented by her role as a judge on RTÉ’s Glow Up Ireland and high-profile collaborations with global icons like Charlotte Tilbury and Morphe.

Under her guidance, KASH Beauty has expanded to a dedicated team of 33 and earned prestigious accolades, including Overall Irish Brand of the Year 2025 at the IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards. Having recently secured significant external investment, Keilidh is currently spearheading the brand’s international expansion, with a primary focus on the UK market. A champion of Irish innovation, she balances her global ambitions with a commitment to mentoring the next generation of creators and maintaining a 100% vegan and cruelty-free ethos. Keilidh Cashell is not just a founder; she is a definitive leader shaping the future of the international beauty industry.

Runners up:
Isabella Hughes, Founder and CEO, EstateMin.
Aoife Kelly, Co-founder and COO, Celtonn.

Photography by Kieran Harnett.