JUDGES

Mark Doyle

AIB Group Brands Director

Mark is based in Dublin and is currently leading the Brand Engagement team at AIB which is one of Ireland’s leading financial institutions and also operates in the UK market. Mark is a leading marketing and business leader with 20 years of experience in developing and delivering impact and profit-driven business solutions within industry-leading organizations such as AIB, eir, Diageo, Northern Foods and Pernod Richard.

In September 2014, Mark joined AIB as Head of Marketing for Personal Customers with responsibility for the rejuvenation of the AIB brand. Over the last three years, he has led the development of groundbreaking and awarding winning marketing programs and campaigns for AIB and EBS.

In March 2016, Mark became AIB Group Brands Director with responsibility for the AIB, EBS, First Trust & Allied Irish (Great  Britain) brands charged with putting transformational marketing at the heard of AIB’s business strategy and developing customer connection programmes that break with convention and differentiate the brand.

Cathal Dervan

ASJI

Meath resident Cathal Dervan is sports editor of the Irish Sun and has also served as co-founder of The Title and Ireland on Sunday, columnist with the Irish Voice in New York, chief sports writer with the Irish Star Sunday, chief soccer writer with the Daily Star in London and sports writer with the Irish Daily Star, Sunderland Echo and the Meath Chronicle. Author of a number of sports books, he also guest presents shows on his local LMFM Radio station.

Cliona O’Leary

Deputy Head of RTÉ TV Sport

Clíona O’Leary is Deputy Head of RTÉ TV Sport. A native of Drimoleague, West Cork, Clíona holds an Hons Degree in Media & Communications and English (TEFL & NCEF) and is currently pursuing a MSc in Sports Management. Clíona has been with RTÉ Sport since 1997, and formerly held the following roles there – Assistant Commissioning Editor, Editor on GAA/Soccer/Rugby/Olympics output and Away Team Leader on the European Soccer Championships in 2004, the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Amanda Harton

JLT Insurance

Amanda Harton is a Director of JLT Ireland, a part of the JLT Group which is one of the largest Insurance Brokers in the world. Amanda runs JLT Ireland’s Enterprise Division, heading up a unit of dedicated insurance professionals which is primarily focused on providing insurance solutions to Sports and Charities. As someone who has always strongly believed in the benefits of sport and physical activity, Amanda has participated and competed in many sports over the years and enjoys working with sporting organisations at all levels from grass roots to NGB’s. Amanda specialises in the design, negotiation and placement of insurance schemes and programmes and is recognised as a leader in this field.

Deirdre McDermott

OSK Business Consultants and Accountancy, FCCA NDBS, Audit Director OSK.

A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Deirdre has worked in audit for over 25 years and has gained extensive experience and business knowledge across a broad range of industry sectors including property and construction, the travel industry, sporting bodies, not for profit, semi-state bodies, distribution and professional services. A highly practical individual, Deirdre aims to provide realistic solutions that can be implemented and sustained within her client’s businesses.

Deirdre is also part of OSK’s Business Advisory Services team where she works with clients in growing and improving the efficiency of their business. In addition to this, Deirdre is also involved in lecturing, recruitment and training. Deirdre has lectured on the Sports Management Degree and Masters’ course in University College Dublin and has also lectured on Executive Administration & Risk Management Programme for the World Academy of Sport.

Deirdre has a passion for all sports and has represented her country in hockey. Deirdre is currently a member of the Irish Masters Hockey team and plays golf and coaches hockey at club and provincial level.

Larry Fenelon

Leman Solicitors

Larry is a co-founder and managing partner of Leman Solicitors. Larry is Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and his primary practice is resolving commercial disputes, both domestic and international before the courts and in arbitration. He appears before the High Court and arbitral bodies in Ireland and has appeared before the ICC, LCIA and in UNCITRAL arbitration internationally. He is an experienced arbitrator and mediator. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and sits on both the Law Society’s Arbitration and Mediation committee and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators committee.   Larry qualified as a CEDR commercial mediator in 2005 and regularly acts as mediator and for parties in mediation. A graduate of University of Limerick, Larry also holds diplomas in domestic and international arbitration.

Liam Harbison

Director Sport Ireland Institute

Liam Harbison commenced his new role as Director of the Sport Ireland Institute in early 2017 following a 14-year stint with Paralympics Ireland. He was appointed as the Paralympics Ireland’s first CEO in October 2008 following the success of the Irish Paralympic Team at Beijing 2008.   Prior to that Liam was the Paralympic Performance Director since 2003 and was responsible for building the high-performance system within Paralympic Sport.
Liam has attended five Paralympic Games in a variety of roles with the Irish Team, the highlight as Chef de Mission for the Irish Team that won 16 medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Liam served as a Non-Executive Director of the Federation of Irish Sport from 2012-2016 and currently sits on the Local Organising Committee Board for the 2018 European Para-Swimming Championships to be held at the National Aquatic centre.

Rob Hartnett

Sport for Business

Rob Hartnett is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Sport for Business, the collective group linking together Ireland’s sporting organisations with the country’s biggest brands through a blend of daily commentary and analysis, networking and events.
He is an adviser to Tech Ireland in the Sports and Entertainment sector, a columnist on the Business of Sport in the Sunday Business Post, and in 2018 will take over as Chairman of the Dublin City Council Sport and Wellbeing Partnership.
Sport for Business was the winner of the Best Emerging Business at the Sport Industry Awards in 2016 and in 2017 expanded to cover the world of Entertainment for Business.

Louise Galvin

Athlete

Louise Galvin is currently a semi-professional Irish rugby player. She is a qualified physiotherapist based in Malahide. She was a member of the women’s Rugby 15s World Cup squad in 2017. She is contracted with the Irish Women’s Sevens Rugby Squad who have qualified for the Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco July 2018. She is also a former senior intercounty ladies footballer with her native Kerry and is a regular columnist for the Irish Examiner.

John Aherne

CEO and Founder of Golfgraffix Ltd

John Aherne is the CEO and Founder of Golfgraffix Ltd, a leading producer of communication and marketing apps for the golf industry. John is a career Sales and Marketing Manager with 20 years’ experience in driving significant revenue growth on behalf of both international companies and SME’s.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland and private equity investment Golfgraffix have produced marketing, design and communication products for over 300 golf courses worldwide, and worked on projects for Sky Sports, Jack Nicklaus Design, The Ryder Cup and many more.

Rory Sheridan

Diageo Europe

As Head of Partnerships for Diageo Europe, Rory Sheridan leads the strategy, negotiation, and management of major sport, music and other asset-based relationships across Europe for the premium drinks company. Rory and his team have shaped the role of sponsorship for numerous brands over recent years, including iconic names like Guinness and Smirnoff.
He has worked on major partnerships from UEFA Euros (Carlsberg) to GAA & Croke Park partnerships, as well as on Horse-racing across major Festivals from Cheltenham to Galway. Rory secured the Guinness PRO14 rights for Diageo and works across all levels of rugby from 6 Nations to individual union deals as well as with Leinster and Munster Rugby, and their related home grounds.