Winners & finalists

Zoe is a final year LLB student in Maynooth University. She has completed legal internships in areas of law such as medical negligence, family law, personal injury and conveyancing and her favourite areas of law are medical negligence and medical law. For extracurriculars, she is also the Vice President of Maynooth FLAC Society. She is also the Maynooth Campus Ambassador for the British and Irish Commercial Awareness Competition, where she competed on Maynooth University's Jessup International Law Moot Court team.

Cherrymae is a second-year Accounting and Finance student at Dublin City University with a passion for bridging both numbers and language. She enjoys diving into data to uncover insights and sharing her findings in a clear, engaging way. Diversity is at the heart of everything she does, which is evident in her active role with the DCU Filipino Society and her previous work experience teaching English at the non-profit Asian Passion Programme. Being considered for the First Generation Award is a proud honour for her, reflecting her hard work and determination. This recognition serves as a stepping stone towards her goal of fostering diversity and inclusion in the corporate world.

Lili is a third year BSc (Hons) Business Management student at Queen’s University Belfast, currently on placement at PricewaterhouseCoopers. During her time at Queen’s, Lili has actively contributed to the university through her role as Vice-President of Queen’s Management Society, participating in the Future Leaders programme in Boston USA, acting as an ambassador for the Global Opportunities Team and working as a QBS Connect Skills Assistant. As a Research Technology Consultant at PwC, Lili leverages innovative technologies to drive customer-led change and develop high-fidelity retail and strategy prototypes for clients. She represents PwC Research in the wider PwC NI Consulting Community and is a key participant in the Wellbeing and Diversity & Inclusion Teams as a woman in STEM. Lili is a passionate advocate for the professional development opportunities that are available to students, particularly young women, and seeks to champion the presence of industry-leading companies in Ireland through her role as a University Ambassador and Peer Mentor.

Magdelena is passionate about Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its growing role in the future of construction. She believes that BIM brings innovation to design, enabling better visualization of buildings and a deeper understanding of the construction process before work even begins. With hands-on experience using Revit and BIM360, Magdelena has witnessed firsthand how BIM enhances collaboration, efficiency, and decision-making. As she continues her journey in Architectural Technology, her goal is to further explore BIM’s potential and contribute to its wider adoption in the industry, ensuring that construction projects become more sustainable, efficient, and future-ready.

Sarah Jane Hughes is an innovator and an electronic and computer engineering student at the University of Galway. A Stanford University Innovation Fellow and finalist for the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award, she developed AscertPro, an app revolutionising construction site inspections. Passionate about leveraging technology for impact, she has experience in engineering, consulting, and digital marketing. Recognised with the President’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Sarah Jane is a dynamic leader committed to solving real-world challenges through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions.

Rachel is a final-year Bachelor of Business Studies with French student at the University of Limerick majoring in Economics and Finance. As a Kemmy Business School Ambassador and a content creator volunteer for the President’s Volunteer Award at UL, she actively promotes community engagement and encourages others to get involved. Her volunteering efforts include collecting food for those in need with Banque Alimentaire de Rennes, stewarding for Milford Care Centre at their 10km run event, and teaching Irish at a local youth club. She is dedicated to creating real change through volunteering as she has seen firsthand that small actions create a meaningful impact in people’s lives.

Liam is a third-year Law and Irish student at University College Cork. During his time at UCC, he was awarded the Quercus Academic Scholarship, the HH Stewart Doctor Literary Scholarship, and the Gradam na Gaeilge award. The Irish language is at the center of his life, and he has been actively promoting the language for the past few years. Last year, he served as Chairman of the University's Cumann na Gaelach, and prior to that, he was the editor of the Cumann na Gaelach journal. Liam is currently a translator with the Students' Union and co-hosts an Irish-language law podcast.

Ellen Curran is a third-year BSc student studying Sustainability with Business and Economics, with a minor in Social Justice at University College Dublin. Passionate about sustainability and gender equality, she serves as the Auditor of UCD’s Sustainability Society, where she creates opportunities for female leadership and climate advocacy. Ellen also works as a Wellbeing Campus Assistant with UCD Estates and has previously served as the Environmental Campaigns Coordinator for UCD Students’ Union. As a research assistant, she developed a sustainability toolkit aimed at fostering climate literacy among UCD students. Aspiring to become a sustainability consultant, Ellen is dedicated to driving inclusive, impactful change in traditionally male-dominated industries and shaping a more sustainable, equitable future.

Michael is an aspiring Accountant with a strong background in Accounting and Finance. He is currently on track for a first-class honours degree at Technological University Dublin and has gained experience through internships at Scotiabank and AMD. Michael is actively involved in finance through his leadership in the Irish Student Managed Fund, where he has successfully delivered a 3.96% return on Equities. He has a strong interest in equities, fixed income, and commodities trading, having participated in the Amplify ME US Equities simulation. Michael has experience analyzing stocks using a structured approach, trading CFDs profitably as a side hustle, and refining his trading strategy. Coming from a first-generation EU immigrant and low-income background, he has demonstrated resilience and ambition in his career journey.

Anna Connors is a final year Energy Systems Engineering student at University of Galway. Originally from Co. Longford, Anna has completed an academic work placement at engineering consultancy company Buro Happold in Leeds, UK. In addition to her studies, Anna has a true passion for sustainability and the environment and is passionate at finding carbon neutral energy solutions for the current climate crisis.

Manmehak Kaur is a 21-year-old final-year student from County Mayo. She is studying a Bachelor of Business Studies at the University of Limerick, majoring in Economics and Finance—a potential career path she is deeply passionate about. Through various experiences, Manmehak has learned the importance of taking initiative to drive change and seizing every opportunity to make an impact—values that align closely with those of Allianz Ireland.

Sadhana merges strategic thinking, authentic leadership, and innovation to drive meaningful change. As the Business Faculty Representative at DCU, she successfully advocated for the launch of the Data Analytics Specialism for the Business School, demonstrating her ability to identify challenges and implement transformative solutions. Beyond academia, she has demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership through her involvement in two startups, Parking Protect with Enactus DCU and KatoAI, reflecting her commitment to using business as a force for good. Her professional experience as an Analyst Intern at Accenture, along with her first-place wins in the Leaders of Tomorrow Award with Accenture and the Deloitte x DCU Student Business Consulting Competition, further solidify her ability to excel in high-pressure, solution-driven environments. With an international perspective from her Erasmus exchange at KEDGE Business School in France, she brings a global mindset to problem-solving, recognizing the interconnectedness of business, technology, and ethics. She is a determined, forward-thinking leader who doesn’t just adapt to change but actively shapes the future.