Mel\u00edosa O\u2019Caoimh, Northern Trust\u2019s Country Head of Ireland, was honoured as IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year 2026 at a prestigious awards ceremony in the Royal Dublin Society this evening.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Caoimh has been instrumental in the growth and direction of one of Ireland\u2019s most important financial institutions during her 22-year career with the company. She has driven the establishment of Northern Trust\u2019s new Irish banking entity, a strategically important development that will help to strengthen Ireland\u2019s financial ecosystem and represents a major vote of confidence in the Irish market.<\/p>\n
She is a significant figure in the Irish financial landscape, currently serving as President of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland and a board member for Financial Services Ireland. Before being appointed Country Head at Northern Trust in 2019, she held a number of high-impact positions within the company, including Chief Operations Officer and Head of Relationship Management.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Caoimh is widely respected for her inclusive leadership and industry expertise. A dedicated advocate for inclusion, she served as chair of the 30% Club Ireland (2022\u20132024) to promote gender balance in leadership. She actively supports social causes in the community and is currently on the board of basis.point, an Irish fund industry initiative aimed at helping vulnerable children through education. Mel\u00edosa is an outstanding professional, a spirited leader who exemplifies vision and influence without affectation. A graduate of University College Dublin, she holds a degree in Economics and Politics, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.<\/p>\n
In addition to the overall IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Award, which acknowledges O\u2019Caoimh\u2019s distinguished performance, 13 award categories recognised women from a broad spectrum of business, including Start-up, Young Businesswoman, CEO, Family Business, Senior and Emerging Executives, STEM, Entrepreneur and Creative Businesswoman of the Year, as well as champions in Social Entrepreneurship, ESG and Diversity and Inclusion. A full list of winners is listed below.<\/p>\n
The evening also saw the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Anne O\u2019Leary, Vice President of Mid-Market SMB Group EMEA and Head of Meta Ireland. With a 30-year career in technology, O\u2019Leary leads Meta\u2019s strategic growth across diverse markets, before which she had a 14-year tenure at Vodafone, which included nine years as a renowned Chief Executive Officer and, prior to that, with the BT Group. Throughout her career, she has built a legacy defined by innovation and inclusive leadership. A woman with vision, passion and immense ability, she has not only navigated the rapidly shifting sands of global technology, flying the flag for Ireland all the while, but has fundamentally enhanced the landscape for all those working in it.<\/p>\n
In addition to her leadership at Meta, O\u2019Leary influences national policy and business strategy through her work, past and present, on the boards of Greencore, Ibec and the ESRI. Her impact extends beyond the boardroom and she is highly regarded for promoting gender balance in the sector and her mentorship of others. Outside of the office, she is renowned as an adventurous sportswoman.<\/p>\n
The Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the boards of IMAGE Media and PwC. O\u2019Leary joins a stellar group including Breege O\u2019Donoghue, Company Director, Penneys\/Primark; S\u00edobhan Talbot, former Group Managing Director and Non-Executive Director, Glanbia Plc; Linda Kiely, Co-founder, Voxpro; Fiona Dawson CBE, former Global President of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers; Anne Heraty, Founder Cpl Resources; and former President of Ireland and lifelong advocate Mary Robinson.<\/p>\n
Clodagh Edwards, CEO, IMAGE Media says, \u201cEach year, as we recognise our Businesswoman of the Year winners, we believe that we have reached the pinnacle of female achievement, talent and success; but this year has been truly exceptional. The calibre, strength and diversity of our shortlist show the standard and breadth of female accomplishment in Ireland right now. As IMAGE celebrates its 50th year, we are delighted to mark the occasion with such a strong group of women, and we are proud to recognise their many achievements in a way which we hope will inspire others to step into their power.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie Coady, Markets Leader at PwC says, \u201cCongratulations to this year\u2019s outstanding award-winners and shortlisted nominees. The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards celebrate women whose leadership, ambition and impact are shaping Irish business across sectors and generations. At a time of constant change, it is more important than ever to champion inclusive leadership and to celebrate our successes. Awards like this play a vital role \u2013 not only in recognising achievement, but in creating space for the next generation to see what\u2019s possible. These women show that long-term success is built on courage, consistency and conviction, and that when diverse talent is supported to thrive, organisations and society are stronger for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The category winners for 2026 are:<\/p>\n
CEO of the Year
\nLarissa Feeney, CEO and Founder, Kinore Finance and Business Services<\/p>\n
Runners Up: \u00c1ine Mulcahy, Managing Director, OCS Group Ireland and Daisy Mauhay, Founder and CEO, The Nightingale Placement Agency<\/p>\n
SENIOR EXECUTIVE of the Year
\nSarah Byrne, Director of Agency, Private Equity and Venture Capital Partnerships, EMEA, Google<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Fiona Carney, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Lorna Devenney, CFO, BnM<\/p>\n
EMERGING EXECUTIVE of the Year
\nKate English, Chief Economist, Deloitte Ireland<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Laura Hogan, Marketing Manager Lifestyle and RTD Brands, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard and M\u00e1ire Neary, VP of People and Legal, Flipdish<\/p>\n
FAMILY BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
\nSarah Furno, General Manager, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Joanna Gardiner, CEO of Elave Skincare by the Gardiner Family Apothecary and Clare Kelly, Fiona Kelly and Rebecca Kelly, Directors and Owners, Glandore<\/p>\n
STEM PROFESSIONAL of the Year
\nDr Alessandra Sala, Senior Director of AI, Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Niamh Donnelly, CTO and Founder, Akara Robotics and Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy, Co-founders, ACT<\/p>\n
ENTREPRENEUR of the Year
\nJulie Collison, Director and Co-founder, Clear Strategy<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Nadia Adan, Founder, Ashford Motors and Linda Stinson, CEO, Bellamianta<\/p>\n
START-UP BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
\nKim O\u2019Sullivan, Founder and CEO, BROW AID<\/p>\n
Runners Up: \u00c1ine Devlin, Founder, ExamRevision and Dr Sarah Kelly and Dr Michelle Hone, Co-founders, Herology<\/p>\n
YOUNG BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year (UNDER 35)
\nKeilidh Cashell, Creative Director, KASH Beauty<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Isabella Hughes, Founder and CEO, EstateMin and Aoife Kelly, Co-founder and COO, Celtonn<\/p>\n
CREATIVE BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
\nFrancie Duff and Sonia Reynolds, Co-founders, STABLE of Ireland<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Gr\u00e1inne Dwyer, CEO and Founder, Heritage and Laura Weber, Owner, LW Pearl<\/p>\n
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADER of the Year
\nKatriona O\u2019Sullivan, CEO, Triumph Talks<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Heather Lowry, Head of Talent and Organisation Development, An Post and Caroline O\u2019Driscoll, Co-founder, I Wish<\/p>\n
ESG CHAMPION of the Year
\nCaoimhe Buckley, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Fyffes<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Sarah Blake, Director, Earthology and Kayleigh-Ann Myles, Head of ESG, Lawler Sustainability and Founder of STPS<\/p>\n
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR of the Year \u2013 COMMUNITY IMPACT
\nTherese Coveney, Co-founder, Together Academy<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Professor Jean O\u2019Sullivan, Founder and Medical Director\/Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Global Emergency Care Skills (GECS) and Elaine Noonan, Co-Founder and CEO, Community Connect \u2013 Ireland\u2019s Baby Bank<\/p>\n
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR of the Year \u2013 CHARITABLE ORGANISATION
\nOrla Dolan, CEO, Breakthrough Cancer Research<\/p>\n
Runners Up: Aisling Hurley, CEO, Breast Cancer Ireland and Helene Hugel, CEO, Helium<\/p>\n
The 2026 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards are sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, Pinergy, Samsung Ireland, Primeline Group, Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, Weir & Sons, TELUS Digital, Volvo Ireland, Cpl, Cairn, Vodafone Business, and Arachas Insurance, and in association with Movement and media partner The Currency.<\/p>\n
Now in its 18th year, and staged for the first time at the Royal Dublin Society with 1,300 business founders, professionals and thought leaders in attendance, the awards recognise the outstanding contribution Irish women make to business and society, across the country and beyond. The evening\u2019s celebrations included a live performance by Niall Breslin, along with a luxury gift for all from skincare brand Augustinus Bader.<\/p>\n