LIFT Irish Leadership Awards

Celebrating the amazing people that are using LIFT to inspire those around them.

The LIFT Irish Leadership Awards celebrates everyday leaders across Ireland!

LIFT facilitators from all over the country have nominated people in their lives who really live the LIFT values. We want to inspire the nation by celebrating stories of everyday leadership with impact.

The LIFT Awards will return in January 2023, nominations close Friday October 28th – you can nominate a leader here.

Rewatch the 2021 ceremony here

Finalists & Winners 2021

Listening

Caleb Pennill, Ennistymon Vocational School, Clare
Barbara Nugent, Network Ireland, Cork
Dr Joanne Balfe, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, Dublin
Mark Ronan, The King’s Hospital, Dublin

Positive Attitude

Padraig O’Callaghan, Limerick
Leanne Wade, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, Dublin
Irene Crawley, H.O.P.E. Hands on Peer Education, Meath
Elizabeth (Liz) Murray, Down Syndrome Louth, Meath

Respect

Prof Jamie Goggins, NUI Galway, Galway
Karen Hennessy, SOLAS, Dublin
Karen Hackett, PTSB, Dublin
Linda O’Brien, Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Kilkenny

Competence

Ryan Keenan, SalesSense International, Louth
Caroline Ní Fhlatharta, NUI Galway, Galway
Natalie Wilson, SSE Airtricity, Dublin
Rosemary Keogh, Irish Wheelchair Association, Dublin

Determination

Mary Murphy, mother, Cork
Orna Conway, Permanent TSB, Dublin
Melissa Gribben, Homecare Independent Living, Armagh
Kulsoom Nizami, NUI Galway, Galway

Empathy & Understanding

Mary McCluskey, Permanent tsb, Dublin
Noel Davidson, The Entrepreneurs Academy, Dublin
Clare Daly, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, Dublin
Eimear Griffey, CBS Ennistymon, Clare

Accountability

Karen Hackett, PTSB, Wexford
Liam O’Riain, SSE Airtricity, Dublin
Lynn Mullin, PTSB, Dublin
Georgina Webb, LauraLynn, Dublin

Honesty & Integrity

Paula O’Gorman, Cantec Group, Waterford
Sinead Doherty, Fenero, Dublin
Mick Kelly, Total Fitness Systems, Wexford
Anne-Marie Carroll, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, Dublin

Innovation & Adaptability

Caroline Ni Fhlatharta, NUI Galway, Galway
Triona Carroll, Permanent TSB Dublin
Claire Shiels, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, Dublin
Dr Jason van der Velde, HSE/Medico, Cork

Resilience

Louise Quail, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Dublin
Niamh McEnerney, LauraLynn, Dublin
Rob Quinn, Bank of Ireland, Cork
Con O’Donoghue, WhitelightEvents.ie, Louth

The Winner of the Dominick Lewis Excellence in Leadership Award: Ciara Crossan, Wedding Dates, Cork

Commenting on the LIFT Awards 2021 Joanne Hession, Founder of LIFT Ireland, notes:

“The behaviour of leaders impacts on those around them. We tend to think of leaders as being people in positions of power. But we are all leaders – in our own families; in our workplaces; in our communities. At LIFT, we consider leadership a trait that can be developed, lived and emulated – from the kitchen table to the boardroom.

“These awards are about acknowledging the skills and values of those who display positive leadership every day across the country. We are all individual parts of a jigsaw of millions of pieces that makes up Ireland. We form the culture, character and values of our country. We want to celebrate those who are doing this in a positive and powerful way.”

Meet the LIFT Judging Committe Below

LIFT Leadership Award Categories

Listening

Real listening involves hearing to understand. Listening with an open mind allows us to learn.

Positive Attitude

A person with a positive attitude recognises that each experience gives us the chance to learn and grow.

Competence

Competent people dedicate themselves to continuous learning, development and improvement.

Empathy & Understanding

By making an effort to understand others, we show that we care about their perspectives and experiences.

Honesty & Integrity

Carefully considering what we believe and stand for, and having the courage to live accordingly.

Respect

Showing proper respect validates the dignity of others and at the same time enhances our own.

Accountability

Accountability means both taking public and private responsibility for one’s own actions.

Determination

Some people succeed because they are destined to but most people succeed because they are determined to.

Resilience

The ability to bounce back from difficulties and grow from challenges we face.

Innovation & Adaptability

Being open to trying new ways of doing things, to improve and to react to changing environments.