DCU Alumni Awards 2022
This year, we are celebrating the wonderful contribution and impact of our graduates across the world. With almost 100,000 alumni, our community continues to grow and we have so much to celebrate.
Paula Melvin
Paula Melvin
BA Irish Language and Literature and History, 2012
President Conradh na Gaelige
Paula is President of Conradh na Gaeilge, the first female to hold that office since 1995. Professionally, Paula is Senior Manager of the Fulbright Commission in Ireland and over the past decade has worked in a number of different contexts across the arts, media, education, youth work and with professional bodies.
Brian Walsh
Brian Walsh
BSc Financial and Actuarial Maths, 2005; MSc Software Engineering, 2010
CEO, Réitigh
Brian is a software engineering thought leader who is now leading an Irish based business bringing order to complexity for the providers of advanced financial services and banking products across Europe. Brian began his career in a consulting environment where his focus was on the development of enterprise software in the life insurance and investment funds spaces.
Catherine Keogh
Catherine Keogh
BA International Marketing and Languages, 1991
Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer at Kerry Group
Catherine is an accomplished and proven international leader in Business and Marketing now serving as Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer at Kerry Group. Having graduated from DCU and the University of Cologne with fluency in German and French, Catherine spent many years living and working outside Ireland in Germany, France, Canada and the US before returning in 2016.
Cleona Ní Chrualaoi
Cleona Ní Chrualaoi
BA in Journalism, 2001
Award Winning Film and Television Producer, Inscéal
Cleona is an award winning film and television producer. She graduated from the BA in Journalism in 2001 and received an RTÉ Award for an “outstanding undergraduate thesis” on missing persons which was later nominated for a PPI Radio Award. Her media career began as a reporter and presenter on CKRFM and Newstalk before migrating to television to work as a freelance researcher and later a producer.
Dearbháil Lawless
Dearbháil Lawless
BSc Education and Training, 2009
Chief Executive of Aontas
Dearbháil is Chief Executive of AONTAS, a non-government organisation advocating for the right of all adults to quality learning throughout their lives, and promoting its value and benefits. Having graduated with a degree in Education and Training she completed a Master’s in Education in Trinity College Dublin in 2011 where she was also President of the Graduate Students Union.
Derek Cleary
Derek Cleary
BSc Education and Training, 2004
Director, Localise National Youth Volunteers
Derek Cleary is the director of Localise National Youth Volunteers, an organisation which engages young people all over Ireland in community volunteer projects through their primary school, secondary school and local community groups. Derek’s work focuses on engaging young people in meaningful grassroot volunteering enabling the creation of the civic and philanthropic leaders of our time. Localise Youth Volunteers is passionate about enabling young people to fulfil their potential while positively contributing to the community and society as a whole.
Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy
BSc Physical Education with Biology, 2013
Head of Sport, Atlantic Technological University
Michael Murphy is Head of Sport at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal and late last year retired as an intercounty gaelic footballer after 17 years’ representing Donegal. During that time he won three GAA All Star awards - in 2012, 2014 and 2019 - and was nominated for an All Star on four further occasions. Michael was already a national star in his sport during his time as a DCU student where he played a central role in the University winning the Sigerson Cup in 2012.
Rory Assandey
Rory Assanday
BSc in Enterprise Computing,2014
Founder, La Ruche Health
Rory began his professional career at SAP Ireland following his participation in DCU’s third year internship programme there. In a decade with SAP, firstly in Dublin and then in Chicago and later Palo Alto, Rory delivered over 40 services as a subject matter expert for customers within many sectors of industry, traveling to and working across 26 countries. Rory has long been committed to supporting social enterprise and community projects through sharing of his knowledge and skills in technology for the benefit of sports clubs, church groups and senior citizens.
Suzanne Lindsay
Suzanne Lindsay
BA Communication Studies, 1994
Senior Intelligence Analyst, An Garda Síochána
Suzanne’s expertise has been vital in tackling serious and organised crime. She is a Senior Intelligence Analyst at An Garda Síochána, and in 2022 she was named Criminal Analyst of the Year by Europol. She received this honour for her analytical work on a Garda operation that dismantled a transnational Organised Crime Group who were facilitating illegal immigration into Ireland, the UK and across Europe.