DCU Alumni Award 2022 winners announced

The nine award winners for 2022 are:

Rory Assandey, Enterprise Computing (2014), Engineering and Computing

Rory is the founder of La Ruche Health, a Google-backed Health Tech startup that utilises AI & instant messaging to connect communities to healthcare services in Cote d’Ivoire. The company also supports the Ivorian national cancer program in improving patient access to oncology specialists, case management and ultimately the rate of early detection and survival of paediatric cancers.

Suzanne Lindsay, Communications (1994), Humanities and Social Sciences

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.

Dearbháil Lawless, Education and Training (2009), Institute of Education

Derbháil is the CEO of Aontas, the national adult learning organisation. Aontas advocates and lobbies for the development of a quality service for adult learners; promotes the value and benefits of adult learning and builds organisational capacity.

Brian Walsh, Actuarial Maths (2005) and an MSc in Software Engineering (2010), Science and Health

Brian founded Réitigh Software in 2016 along with two other DCU graduates, Mark Sexton and Darragh Pelly. The company has grown the team to 20 full-time employees based in Ireland and Réitigh was recently listed as the 3rd fastest growing technology company in the country by Deloitte.

Catherine Keogh, International Marketing and Languages (1999), Business School

Catherine was appointed Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer at Kerry Group in 2021. Prior to joining Kerry, Catherine had a successful career at Alltech, where she was a key member of Dr Pearse Lyons leadership team.

Michael Murphy, PE with Biology (2013), Science and Health

Michael is the Head of Sport at ATU Donegal. He has seventeen years experience of competing at elite level in sport at national and international level, including captaining Donegal GAA to All-Ireland success in 2012 and Ireland against Australia in the 2013 and 2014 Compromise Rules Series.

Derek Cleary, Education and Training (2004), Institute of Education

Derek is the director of Localise National Youth Volunteers, an organisation which engages young people all over Ireland in community volunteer projects. Derek and his team created Ireland's first second level national youth volunteer programme in 2007. To date over 50,000 youth volunteers have been engaged in over 5000 community service projects nationwide.

Paula Melvin, Irish and History (2012), Humanities and Social Sciences

Paula was elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge in February 2022. Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish speaking community, advocating for their rights and representing their interests since its foundation by the first President of Ireland, Dr Douglas Hyde in 1893.

Cleona Ní Chrualaoí, Journalism (2001), Humanities and Social Sciences

Cleona is a film and television producer. She recently produced the Irish-language feature film, An Cailín Ciúin, which has garnered worldwide critical acclaim and was the recipient of seven IFTAs and a Grand Prix for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival 2022 amongst many other international awards. An Cailín Ciúin has become the highest grossing Irish-language film of all time.

Commenting on the 2022 DCU Alumni Awards, Prof Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said:

“The annual DCU Alumni Awards event gives us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution that our graduates make to the University's mission to ‘transform lives and societies’.

This year’s awardees come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all are mould breakers and changemakers, people who embody our values and exemplify the can-do approach that is very much a part of the DCU DNA.”

Ross Munnelly, Director of Alumni Relations, said:

“The Alumni Awards continue to hold a special place at the heart of DCU because we choose awardees who live the university mission and values in all that they do. We see this in the achievements of each awardee, who are an inspiration to their fellow graduates and our current students.“

The awards will be presented to the nine winners at a ceremony in The Helix on Friday January 20th.

About the Alumni Awards

The DCU Alumni Awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour. Their accomplishments across so many aspects of society are a source of great pride to DCU and an inspiration to present and future generations of DCU students.

The Alumni Awards is an opportunity to celebrate those who achieve much, at home and abroad, and bring the ever-growing DCU family together in recognition of our common bond, our Alma Mater.

You can read more about past winners of the DCU Alumni Awards here