Judging Panel
An independent panel of recognised and expert judges, drawn from academia, business and broader related sectors will determine the winners of The Irish Sponsorship 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 trophy.
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.
A comprehensive judging process has been put together to decide the worthy winners of The Irish Sponsorship Awards.
Judging Co-ordinator
Gerard O’Neill - Chairman, Amárach Research
Gerard O’Neill is Chairman of Amárach Research. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and was previously Business Planning Manager in An Post.
Judging Panel
Colin O'Toole - Marketing Manager, Mondelez
Colin currently leads the Cadbury global partnership with the Premier League, which in its first year has won Global and European awards and helped to bring Cadbury back to the position of number 1 Grocery brand in the UK.
Sharon Casey Ledwidge - Innovation Manager, Virgin Media Television
Currently responsibility for the strategic development and management of Virgin Media Television’s new commercial products, including third party partnerships, events and experiential.
Sian Redmond - Head of Marketing Partnerships, Live Nation Ireland
Sian has been Head of Marketing Partnerships for Live Nation Ireland for 7 years, and along with her team, is responsible for the portfolio of sponsorships for Ireland’s largest live entertainment assets including 3Arena, The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Electric Picnic, Kaleidoscope festival and in partnership with MCD the Olympia Theatre, The Gaiety Theatre, top outdoor concerts and festivals including Longitude, the Summer Series at Trinity College, Malahide Castle Concerts, Slane, and multiple others.
Patrick Haslett - CEO, One-Zero
Patrick is CEO of ‘One-Zero’, Ireland’s newest and biggest international sports business conference. The event attracts a range of state and private partners, including Dublin City Council, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Mastercard, William Fry and Core Sponsorship.
Paul Dermody - Commercial & Marketing Director, Horse Racing Ireland
Paul is an experienced sports business professional having held senior commercial & marketing roles in three of Ireland’s biggest sports organizations - the GAA, Leinster Rugby and Horse Racing Ireland.
Carol McMahon - Head of Business Marketing and Sponsorship for Ulster Bank
Carol has led the strategic development of one of Ireland’s most successful sponsorship portfolio strategies, growing partnerships with associations in sport, the arts and business arenas, including the GAA Football All Ireland Championship, the RBS 6 Nations, as well as a number of cultural festivals, Industry Partnerships and Business programs across the Island of Ireland.
Tomás Quinn - Commercial and Marketing Manager, Dublin GAA
Tomás is the Commercial and Marketing Manager with Dublin GAA since January 2014.
Grainne Humphreys - Festival Director, Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival
Grainne Humphreys' bio will be available shortly.