Judging Panel

An independent panel of recognised and expert industry leaders will determine the winners of the HealthTech Innovation Awards 2022.
The HealthTech Innovation Awards 2022 will aim to deliver a balanced judging assessment from industry leaders who will bring their extensive knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise to the judging process. This will ensure that the winning entries are truly outstanding and worthy of receiving a HealthTech Innovation Award.

The panel is carefully selected to ensure the Awards judging process is fair and objective.

Garrett Murray is the Head of Life Sciences at Enterprise Ireland and previously held the management posts of National Director for Horizon Europe, Head of Exporter Development, and Head of Policy and Government Relations within the organisation. Prior to this Garrett worked in the Policy Department and the Investment Services Division of Enterprise Ireland where he was heavily involved in the development of venture capital schemes and many other policy areas important to the Enterprise Ireland client company base. Garrett holds a Master of Business Studies, a Master of Economic and Policy Analysis and a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance.

HIH in a government backed initiative supported by Enterprise Ireland and the HSE. HIHI supports healthtech innovation in Ireland by connecting companies with clinical teams, enabling them to design, assess, develop and pilot their products with clinical teams in clinical settings. HIHI also works with healthcare staff in the development of new solutions to address clinical needs.

Since 2016 HIHI has supported more than 800 companies, conducted 100+ product pilots and  assessed more than 500 ideas from clinical staff.

Tanya has over 30 years’ experience in the start-up, pharma, product development and research industry in Ireland and the US. She has a PhD in Cancer Genetics, has conducted research in neuropsychiatric genetics, has a BSc in Biochemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Trials. She has worked with Schering -Plough, Beckman-Coulter and genomics Start-up Orchid BioSciences in the USA. She worked with Science Foundation Ireland and University College Cork before joining HIHI in 2013. She was appointed by the Minister for Health to the HPRA  Medical Device Advisory Committee. She is an advisory board member of the HRB Clinical Research Facility in Cork and a mentor on  a number of programmes. Tanya is an advocate for female founders and is particularly interested in women’s health and recently established Ireland’s first Femtech initiative [email protected] Innovation Hub Ireland.
 

Professor Thomas Kearns is the Executive Director of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, at the RCSI, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin Ireland. He was appointed to this post in April 2014; he is responsible for leading and delivering on the strategic intent and operational activity of the Faculty.

His nursing started in 1980; since 1993 Thomas has worked in Professional Regulation, Nursing and health Policy at a national, EU and global level and in Higher Education. He is both a registered general and psychiatric nurse. He has a primary degree in Nursing, a Research based Master’s Degree in Education, a taught MA in Education, a Fellowship from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI; Thomas’ Doctor of Education is in the area of continuing professional development and the maintenance of professional competence. He hold a prestigious Fellowship of the American Academy.

Yvonne Goff is the National Director for Change & Innovation for the Irish Health Service and was previously the Chief Clinical Information Officer. Yvonne brings over 24 years of experience in the health sector, including 13 years of clinical practice. As the National Director for Change & Innovation, Yvonne leads national large-scale transformation including: Reform of Mental Health Services, Reform of Disability Services, Reform of Scheduled Care, Regional Health Reform, Digital Transformation and Innovation, and Reform of Older Persons Services.

Throughout her career, Yvonne has successfully led national change programmes, including the implementation of the National Integrated Medical Imaging System. Yvonne focuses harnessing the power of data and technology to improve patient care, enable population health management and drive system-level transformation.

Gordon joined Hermitage Clinic as CEO in January 2020. His previous position to this, CEO of The Mater Hospital from 2015, saw him introduce several new services and an ambitious campus-wide energy efficiency and refurbishment project. Prior to his role at The Mater, Gordon held a number of senior management positions in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, culminating in the role of Chief Executive which he held for four years and a role that he continued to hold during his time in The Mater. Under Gordon’s leadership, Cappagh received a major international quality improvement award in 2013.

Gordon has strong directorial experience having served on the Boards of Mater Hospital, Cappagh Hospital, Eccles Street Car Park, Hospital Procurement Services Group, Highfield Health. He also chaired the Boards of St Paul’s Hospital, Dublin Neurological Institute and Suntrai. His national profile has involved participating in and chairing committees for radiation safety, minimal handling, risk management, risk taxonomy and more recently representing the Private Hospital Association at the National Public Health Emergency Teams acute hospital committee.

Lucy Nugent joined Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) as Chief Operations Officer in 2014, moved to the role of Deputy CEO in 2016 and was appointed CEO in January 2019. Prior to joining TUH she worked in the Acute Hospitals Division as Head of Quality Assurance & Risk Management, Clinical & Patient Services Manager in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Prior to that she worked in a number of nursing roles as a registered general and children’s nurse. In addition to her nursing qualifications Ms Nugent has an MSc in Healthcare Management (TCD), BSc Nursing Studies (DCU), a Diploma in Infection Control (RCSI), a Diploma in Leadership & Quality in Healthcare (RCPI) and is a recent graduate of the IESE Business School Advanced Management Programme. She is a Past President of the Health Management Institute of Ireland and has represented it on several committees of the European Association of Hospital Managers and the International Hospital Federation. She is President elect of the European Association of Hospital Managers and is the first female to hold this position in its 52 year history.

Angela Fitzgerald was appointed Chief Executive of HIQA in March 2022. Prior to this appointment, she served as Deputy National Director, Acute Operations in the Health Service Executive. Angela has 27 years of wide-ranging experience in senior management in the health sector, with extensive experience of driving change and quality improvements.