Judging Panel

An independent panel of recognised and expert industry leaders will determine the winners of the National Health Tech Innovation Awards 2023.
The National Health Tech Innovation Awards 2023 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

Garrett Murray

Head of Life Sciences Sector, Enterprise Ireland

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.

Lucy Nugent

Lucy Nugent

CEO, Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)

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.

Caroline Whelan

Caroline Whelan

CEO Blackrock Health Group

Caroline Whelan is the CEO of Blackrock Health, Ireland’s newest private hospital group, bringing together three of Ireland’s leading private hospitals, Blackrock Clinic, Galway Clinic, and Hermitage Clinic and a diagnostic clinic in Limerick. She heads up a team of more than 2,800 staff and more than 600 consultants across 50 specialist areas. Together, the clinics have a total of 450 inpatient beds including 28 ICU beds and 24 operating theatres, with expansion planned for the near future.

In her capacity as Blackrock Health’s chief executive, she has successfully overseen the group’s integration and launch, introduced a range of new services across all hospitals and signed an EU-first healthcare partnership agreement with the world renowned Cleveland Clinic.

Caroline has more than 25 years of experience in public and private healthcare. After serving in clinical roles at St Patrick’s and St James’s Hospitals in Dublin and in North America early in her career, she transitioned to management in healthcare, holding a regional manager post at the Midland Health Board and serving as Head of Human Resources for Cheshire Ireland and Head of Department in the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario. Prior to joining Blackrock Health, Caroline served as the Group COO of the Mater Private Healthcare Group from 2017 to 2021.

Caroline graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, and a Masters of Science in Health Service Management, and graduated with a Doctorate in Business in 2007.

Caroline is passionate about healthcare and brings her drive, vision and innovation to Blackrock Health, with an ambition to maintain position as the leading private hospital group in Ireland, and develop strong collaborative relationships with public, private, academia, industry and international partners.

Fran Thompson

Fran Thompson

Chief Information Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and CEO of eHealth Ireland enabling the digital transformation of Ireland’s health service.

Fran Thompson is Chief Information Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and CEO of eHealth Ireland enabling the digital transformation of Ireland’s health service.

Fran Thompson has over 25 years health ICT leadership experience and has a comprehensive understanding and practical application of transformation and change management within the health sector. Before his appointment as Chief Information Officer Fran was the Programme Director for the Strategic e-Health Programme. Fran has been involved with all aspects of ICT and has played a leading role in delivering various projects and programmes including Hospital Administration and Hospital Clinical systems, Primary Care messaging solutions and Health Finance solutions.

Fran led the creation and set up of the ICT Project Management Office within the HSE and has responsibility for delivering a number of key strategic e-Health programmes including the electronic health record for the country and the Individual Health Identif