Judging Panel
An independent panel of recognised and expert judges, representing Ireland's HR profession, will determine the winners of the HR Leadership & Management Awards.
Our focus is to deliver a balanced judging assessment from industry leaders who will bring their extensive knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise to the judging process ensuring that the winning entries are truly outstanding and worthy of receiving a HR Award.
The panel is carefully selected to ensure the Awards judging process is fair and objective. The judges are bound by a strict confidentiality agreement and are required to declare any conflict of interest in entries over which they deliberate, in which case that entry will be reallocated. The integrity of this process lies at the very heart of all that we do.
We recognise and respect the sensitive nature of the information submitted in the entries. Submissions are not disclosed or discussed outside the judging process. We do not publish the names of companies, organisations or individuals that have not been shortlisted for an Award, nor will we reproduce any information from your entry unless prior permission is given.
A comprehensive judging process has been put together to decide the worthy winners of the HR Leadership & Management Awards.
Head Judge
Professor Edel Conway - Professor in HRM & Organisational Psychology, DCU Business School
Professor Edel Conway (Dublin City University) is Professor in HRM and Organisational Psychology at DCU Business School. Edel is an organisational psychologist with expertise in employee engagement, well-being and organisational change.
Judging Panel
Andrew Blair - Head of HR, HSBC Ireland
Andrew is Head of Human Resources for HSBC Ireland. Over the last 30 years, he has worked predominantly in the Financial Services sector across a broad spectrum of HR. He began his career as an Occupational Psychologist with NFER NELSON in London and was heavily involved in the development and application of Psychometrics.
Dr. Sinéad Brennan - Chief People Officer, NTMA
Sinéad Brennan joined the NTMA in March 2014 as Head of HR and was subsequently promoted to Chief People Officer.
Eamon Collins - Head of Talent, European Operations, Mylan Pharmaceuticals
Eamon is working in learning and development and talent roles for about 20 years. He has worked both in Ireland and internationally.
Jennifer Grogan - Organisational Psychologist, Health, Safety & Environment, ESB
Jennifer is a Chartered Work & Organisational Psychologist with over a decade of experience in HR, and joined ESB in 2012 to work in Safety, Health & Environment. .
Dr. Caitriona Hughes - Lecturer in HRM & Programme Director Masters in HRM, National College of Ireland
Dr Caitriona Hughes has a wide range of experience in the area of Human Resource Management and has previously worked in HR roles in a number of industries including senior level positions in HR.
Anne Keegan - Professor of Human Resource Management, UCD
Anne Keegan is Full Professor of Human Resource Management at University College Dublin, College of Business. She has particular expertise in HRM in the context of project based work, gig work and online labour platforms.
Rosarii Mannion - HR Leader & Practitioner
Rosarii Mannion is a senior experienced HR Director having held key roles most recently when she worked as National HR Director in Ireland's largest employer the Health Service Executive.
Garry McCabe - Commercial Director, Kuehne + Nagel
Garry McCabe is a strategically focused Human Resource professional with over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
Prof. Alma McCarthy- Head of the Management Discipline & Professor of Public Sector Management, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, NUI Galway
Professor Alma is Head of the Management Discipline and Professor of Public Sector Management in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at NUI Galway.
Barry McKimm - Group Human Resources Director, Mater Private Hospital
Barry McKimm is the Group Human Resources Director with the Mater Private Hospital Network. He has over 30 years’ experience in Human Resources across a variety of sectors - from Aviation. Financial services, Automotive and the Arts.
Claire O’Reilly - Head of the HR Strategy Unit, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Claire O’ Reilly is Head of the HR Strategy Unit at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
Claire is an accomplished HR Leader with extensive experience of developing and leading teams of HR professionals within the Private and Public Sector.
Breda O’Toole - Head of Product Development & Transformation, IDA Ireland
A native of Connemara, Breda joined IDA Ireland 12 years ago after spending much of her career in the UK. She has worked as IDA’s Head of HR, Regional Business Development and most recently heads up a team supporting the growth of 250 small to medium sized multinational companies in the IDA portfolio.
Prof. Amanda Shantz - Associate Professor in Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour, Trinity College Dublin
Amanda Shantz is an Associate Professor in Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin. She acquired her undergraduate degree at McGill University, her MSc at the London School of Economics, and her PhD at the University of Toronto.
Joyce Walsh - Head of Learning & Development, Davy
Joyce Walsh is the Head of Learning & Development, Davy. A multi award winning HR Professional, Joyce has extensive experience in Learning and Development with over 10 years experience in Financial Services coupled with a strong Retail background.