This category recognises outstanding achievements in thought leadership, development and/or deployment in artificial intelligence. The category celebrates innovation, exceptional vision, and impact in the field of artificial intelligence, including excellence in the design and delivery of AI products or services that can help improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance user experience. It also rewards those at the coalface of researching the challenges and opportunities which AI brings and who are bringing their teams and organisations with them as they assess what AI means for them and their organisations.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points 
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points 
• Provide examples of achievements within the business over the past year with specific reference to the challenges, opportunities and strategic tasks that arose as part of the introduction and implementation of artificial intelligence practices within the business (250 words max) – 25 points 
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

This award will go to the leader most deserving of recognition for their achievements in running a large business with over 150 employees and an annual turnover exceeding €30 million.

Honouring a CEO of a medium-sized business who shows exceptional drive and entrepreneurial spirit. Demonstrates strong leadership in building resilient teams and sustainable growth. Successfully overcomes challenges with agility, creativity, and strategic insight. This award will go to the leader most deserving of recognition for their achievements in running a business with fewer than 250 employees.

Honouring a CEO of a small business who shows exceptional drive and entrepreneurial spirit. Demonstrates strong leadership in building resilient teams and sustainable growth. Successfully overcomes challenges with agility, creativity, and strategic insight. This award will go to the leader most deserving of recognition for their achievements in running a business with less than 50 employees. 

Recognising a Chief Information Officer who drives technology strategy with vision and precision. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in digital transformation, innovation, and operational excellence. Enables business growth through secure, scalable, and forward-thinking IT solutions. Champions collaboration, agility, and a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to the CTO role (250 words) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Celebrating a marketing leader who combines creative vision with data-driven strategy to deliver exceptional results. Demonstrates outstanding leadership in brand building, customer engagement, and market impact. Drives innovation across channels, harnessing insights to stay ahead of trends and competition. Inspires teams, elevates brand value, and contributes significantly to overall business growth.

This award will recognise leadership, innovation, investment and ingenuity in the areas of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Honouring an ESG leader who champions sustainability, ethical governance, and social responsibility at the core of business strategy.

Demonstrates measurable impact through innovative initiatives that drive positive environmental and social outcomes. Leads with purpose, transparency, and a long-term vision for a more sustainable future. Inspires organisational change and stakeholder trust through values-driven leadership.

The winner of this category is an exceptional not-for-profit leader who drives meaningful change with passion and purpose in a charity, an advocacy association, a foundation or a community body.  Demonstrates visionary leadership, operational excellence, and unwavering commitment to community impact. Effectively mobilises resources, inspires teams, and delivers sustainable outcomes. Leads with compassion, integrity, and a deep dedication to advancing their mission.

Leaders in the public sector face unique challenges as they seek to navigate the demands of their day-to-day roles while maintaining a focus on the public-facing element of the job. This award honours a public sector leader who exemplifies excellence in service, innovation, and impact and demonstrates outstanding leadership in driving policy, improving public outcomes, and fostering trust. This awardee leads with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to the greater good and inspires positive change through strategic vision, collaboration, and citizen-focused solutions.

Entrepreneurial to their bones, the winner of this category will be the chief executive of a firm that has been set up within the past five years. There is no upper or lower age limit for the person entering this category, and entries are open to those running their first business, their 50th business, or anywhere in between.

For rising stars showing strong leadership potential and impact early in their career.

Ambitious and effective, our emerging leader of the year will honour a young leader who demonstrates exceptional potential, drive, and vision for the future. Exhibits outstanding leadership qualities, inspiring peers and driving impactful results.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Recognising a family business leader who blends tradition with innovation to drive sustained success in a larger scale business. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in navigating generational challenges and fostering long-term growth. Leads with integrity, a strong sense of legacy, and a commitment to both family values and business excellence. Inspires a harmonious balance between family dynamics and strategic business development.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Recognising a family business leader who blends tradition with innovation to drive sustained success. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in navigating generational challenges and fostering long-term growth. Leads with integrity, a strong sense of legacy, and a commitment to both family values and business excellence. Inspires a harmonious balance between family dynamics and strategic business development.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Honouring a visionary leader whose work has created significant positive impact on a global scale. Demonstrates outstanding leadership in addressing global challenges through innovation, collaboration, and purpose. Drives transformative change across borders, industries, or communities with measurable results. Inspires others by leading with compassion, integrity, and a commitment to a better world.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Recognising a healthcare leader who leads transformative initiatives that advance quality, accessibility, and innovation in healthcare delivery, including everything from pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, and healthcare services.. Inspires teams through strategic leadership, collaboration, and a relentless focus on care excellence. Drives meaningful change that benefits communities, systems, and the future of healthcare.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Celebrating a trailblazing leader who drives breakthrough innovation and transformative change. Demonstrates exceptional creativity, strategic thinking, and a bold approach to solving complex challenges. Leads with a future-focused mindset, fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement. Inspires progress by turning visionary ideas into impactful, real-world solutions.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

The winner of this award will have made a measurable, lasting impact over the course of their career. Their name will resonate within the Irish business community as a stellar example of all that is good about a leader. To enter this award, nominees or the person nominating them should send a 500 word piece summarising who they feel could merit this title.

To enter this award, nominees or the person nominating them should send a 500 word piece summarising they feel their could merit this title.

For a career marked by sustained, impactful leadership across sectors. Honouring a distinguished leader whose lifelong dedication has made a profound and lasting impact.

Celebrates a legacy of visionary leadership, unwavering commitment, and transformative contributions over the years. Demonstrates exceptional influence, integrity, and inspiration across their career and industry. A true exemplar of leadership excellence, leaving a meaningful mark on people, organisations, and society.

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, with specific reference to their remit within the business (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Recognising a leader or initiative that has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion as core pillars of organisational success. Demonstrates impactful initiatives that foster a culture of belonging, representation, and equal opportunity. Leads with empathy, courage, and a commitment to driving systemic change. Inspires others by creating inclusive environments where all voices are heard and valued.

• Provide an overview detailing the initiative and its achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• If this pertains to an individual, provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please provide examples of how they/you have achieved excellence over the year, or how the initiative achieved excellence. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

Celebrating a standout Corporate and Social Responsibility project that demonstrates meaningful social and environmental impact. Highlights a strategic and sustainable approach to corporate responsibility aligned with community needs. Drives positive change through innovation, collaboration, and measurable outcomes. Reflects a genuine commitment to making a difference beyond business goals.

• Please provide clear evidence of positive social, environmental, or economic outcomes. (350 words max) – 25 points
• Demonstrate the originality and innovative approach in addressing CSR challenges, plus the use of new methods, technologies, or partnerships to achieve impact. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please show how the initiative aligned with organisational values, with a strong connection between the CSR initiative and the company’s core mission and values. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Please demonstrate effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including communities, employees, or NGOs, including Inclusive design and implementation, ensuring meaningful participation. – 25 points

In an era of rising interest rates, spiking commodity prices and global geo-political uncertainty, leadership in the area of company finances has rarely been more important. Which chief financial officer has demonstrated true leadership when it comes to planning, implementing and running the financial affairs of the company they work for?

• Provide a career overview detailing professional achievements (350 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of their leadership qualities and indicate how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout their career. (250 words max) – 25 points
• Provide examples of achievements within the business over the past year with specific reference to the challenges, opportunities and strategic tasks that arose as part of their CFO responsibilities (250 words max) – 25 points
• Give any other reasons why you/they should be chosen for this award (250 words max) – 25 points

With study after study confirming the ongoing war for talent, the chief people officer – always a key member of a firm’s executive team – is arguably now more important than ever. Who has excelled at fostering a thriving company culture that has been a crucial element of attracting new hires and retaining existing ones, and thus contributing to the bottom line?