AMBA & BGA EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS
Leading by example
C an you provide some background on your career to date? “I received a JFK academic scholarship to attend Mercyhurst University, Pennsylvania in 1998. Upon graduating in 2002 with a BSc in sports medicine, I then completed an accelerated MSc in physiotherapy from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. After graduation, I began my healthcare career in the physiotherapy department at Stewarts Hospital, working with children and adults with profound physical and intellectual disabilities, where I really nurtured my passion for the area of paediatrics and children with complex care needs. “I was an active member within the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP), holding various roles on clinical interest groups, and then worked as an honorary editor and member of the board of directors. I also have a strong background in clinical research and education as a former annual lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and guest lecturer for ISCP. “After seven years at Stewarts Hospital, I joined the team at LauraLynn, Ireland’s children’s hospice, in 2012 as a staff physiotherapist. I progressed to LauraLynn’s executive management team in 2014 in the position of clinical services manager and, shortly after, in April 2015 I received an Aspire scholarship to attend UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School where I undertook my executive MBA. During my studies, I started as LauraLynn’s head of operations and also held the role of company secretary for a period. Most recently, in May 2020, I assumed the role of chief executive officer and in August 2022 I was elected
to the board of directors of The Wheel, a national association representing more than 2,000 charities and social enterprises in Ireland.” How did it feel to win the AMBA & BGA Leadership Award 2022/23? “I was, and still am, quite incredulous at being announced as the winner of the MBA leadership award. In fact, it was an honour at the outset to even be nominated by UCD Smurfit and then a wonderful privilege to be shortlisted. “When the nominees in each category were announced, I did some LinkedIn ‘stalking’ and was so impressed at the amazing work that each of the candidates is doing across the globe. Then ‘imposter syndrome’ set in and I felt completely inadequate by comparison. So, when the category winner was announced on the night of the awards, I was really stunned but incredibly honoured at the same time. “Now, as the dust has settled, I am just so glad that the judges recognised how I have used my MBA training to underpin the really important work that I am doing now as CEO at LauraLynn to help expand children’s hospice services across Ireland. The award has given me tremendous validation.” What kind of impact do you think winning this award will have on your career? “The immediate impact was the influx of wide and varied connections that I have made via LinkedIn arising from the social media publicity around the announcement of the winners. I believe that having a strong network is
Ambition | MARCH 2023 | 31
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