IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year 2026 Award Winners Announced

Melíosa O’Caoimh, Northern Trust’s 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.

O’Caoimh has been instrumental in the growth and direction of one of Ireland’s most important financial institutions during her 22-year career with the company. She has driven the establishment of Northern Trust’s new Irish banking entity, a strategically important development that will help to strengthen Ireland’s financial ecosystem and represents a major vote of confidence in the Irish market.

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.

O’Caoimh is widely respected for her inclusive leadership and industry expertise. A dedicated advocate for inclusion, she served as chair of the 30% Club Ireland (2022–2024) 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. Melíosa 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.

In addition to the overall IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Award, which acknowledges O’Caoimh’s 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.

The evening also saw the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Anne O’Leary, Vice President of Mid-Market SMB Group EMEA and Head of Meta Ireland. With a 30-year career in technology, O’Leary leads Meta’s 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.

In addition to her leadership at Meta, O’Leary 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.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the boards of IMAGE Media and PwC. O’Leary joins a stellar group including Breege O’Donoghue, Company Director, Penneys/Primark; Síobhan 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.

Clodagh Edwards, CEO, IMAGE Media says, “Each 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.”

Marie Coady, Markets Leader at PwC says, “Congratulations to this year’s 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 – not only in recognising achievement, but in creating space for the next generation to see what’s 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.”

The category winners for 2026 are:

CEO of the Year
Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder, Kinore Finance and Business Services

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

SENIOR EXECUTIVE of the Year
Sarah Byrne, Director of Agency, Private Equity and Venture Capital Partnerships, EMEA, Google

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

EMERGING EXECUTIVE of the Year
Kate English, Chief Economist, Deloitte Ireland

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

FAMILY BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
Sarah Furno, General Manager, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers

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

STEM PROFESSIONAL of the Year
Dr Alessandra Sala, Senior Director of AI, Shutterstock

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

ENTREPRENEUR of the Year
Julie Collison, Director and Co-founder, Clear Strategy

Runners Up: Nadia Adan, Founder, Ashford Motors and Linda Stinson, CEO, Bellamianta

START-UP BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
Kim O’Sullivan, Founder and CEO, BROW AID

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

YOUNG BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year (UNDER 35)
Keilidh Cashell, Creative Director, KASH Beauty

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

CREATIVE BUSINESSWOMAN of the Year
Francie Duff and Sonia Reynolds, Co-founders, STABLE of Ireland

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

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADER of the Year
Katriona O’Sullivan, CEO, Triumph Talks

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

ESG CHAMPION of the Year
Caoimhe Buckley, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Fyffes

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

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR of the Year – COMMUNITY IMPACT
Therese Coveney, Co-founder, Together Academy

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

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR of the Year – CHARITABLE ORGANISATION
Orla Dolan, CEO, Breakthrough Cancer Research

Runners Up: Aisling Hurley, CEO, Breast Cancer Ireland and Helene Hugel, CEO, Helium

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.

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’s celebrations included a live performance by Niall Breslin, along with a luxury gift for all from skincare brand Augustinus Bader.

The full shortlist for the 2026 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards can be viewed here.

ENDS