Meet the 2023 Judges…
An expert panel of judges has been assembled from construction disciplines including construction management, engineering, architecture, and cost management.
Exclusive to the Irish Construction Excellence Awards, our judging process will include an Interview Stage for the project categories where the finalists will present to our expert judges, showcase their projects and have Q&A sessions. This level of engagement is not only of great value to the entrants but also puts our judging process on a par with best international professional competition practice.
Dorothy
Jones
BArch, PgDip Project Management, PgDip Construction Law, PgDip Arbitration
Project Manager
Dorothy Jones
Dorothy Jones is a project manager with an architectural background. Dorothy has a great knowledge of the German Construction Industry having worked in the country regularly for nearly three decades, travelling to and from Germany on a regular basis. She now works with SteadWay in Berlin and brings a wealth of international project management experience to the panel. Since 2002 she has worked as a project manager in Germany and Ireland and has worked on a number of high-profile projects.
Dorothy worked for The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) in Germany and has worked on The Goethe-Institut in Dublin, and also for Rob Krier Architekten, Berlin; ipc Talkenberger GmbH, Lübeck; de Architekten Cie, Berlin; and Primark. Dorothy is also a part-time lecturer at University College Dublin.
PJ
Rudden
BE, CEng, CEM, FIEI, FIAE, FICE, FIGEM, FCIWM, MCIWEM, MInstD
Civil and Environmental Engineer
PJ Rudden
P J Rudden is Chair of the Construction Sector Group (CSG) Innovation and Digital Adoption at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. He has 40 years experience in planning, design and project management in construction across transport, energy, water, housing and resource management projects.
PJ is also Founder and Managing Director at Aengus Consulting and an Independent Non Executive Director at Codema, Dublin’s Energy Agency. He is also a Past President of Engineers Ireland.
John
McGowan
CEng, FIEI, FIAE
Engineer
John McGowan
John McGowan is a Chartered Engineer and a former President of Engineers Ireland and of the Irish Academy of Engineers.
John worked with Jacobs International as project director on the EPCM of Intel’s Fab10. Thereafter he went to work for Intel Ireland, including four years as the Facility Manager on the Leixlip campus, before being appointed General Manager of Intel Ireland.
Three years into that role John was appointed to co-lead Intel’s global Corporate Services group, based in the USA, but with teams working on construction projects and facility management on all Intel Corp sites across the US, Central America, Europe, Israel, and on the sites of major investments in Asia, predominantly in China. Subsequently, John spent three years plus as MD of McNamara construction, before establishing his own consultancy. This was mostly based on non-executive appointments to the boards of engineering design and project management companies. The years in the second decade of the millennium saw these companies growing their turnover significantly, in a buoyant market, across the world.
Jerry
Grant
CEng, FIEI, FIAE
Engineer
Jerry Grant
Jerry Grant is an experienced Non-Executive Director & Strategic Business Advisor, specialising in the Infrastructure and Utilities sectors. He is currently Chairman of Dublin Port Company, Director of Sport Ireland, an External Member of the Governing Body of TU Dublin and an External Member of the Audit & Risk Committee at OPW. He has set up and chairs Watershare Ireland, a partnership between GOAL and the Irish Water sector, which is helping to deliver water & sanitation projects in a number of developing countries.
Jerry played a leading role in the establishment of Irish Water as the national water utility, was its first Head of Asset Management from April 2013 to February 2016 and thereafter was Managing Director up to September 2018. Prior to Irish Water, Jerry was Managing Director of RPS in Ireland from 2002 for 10 years, leading a successful infrastructure and environmental consultancy and prior to that was Director of MCOS from the early 1990’s, where he led a market leading water sector consultancy business.
Mary C.
Flynn
FSCSI, FRICS, MAPM, MSc aBIMM
QS & BIM Manager
Mary Flynn
Mary Flynn has been working in the AEC industry for over 30 years in Ireland and the UK. Mary joined Dublin City Council Quantity Surveying Division in 2016 having previously come from a private sector and commercial sector background. Mary is co-founder of the Public BIM Group comprising of the major public bodies collaborating on common interests such as BIM, Public Works Contracts, and Digital transformations.
Mary sits on the; SCSI QS BIM Working Group focusing on the development and use of 5D BIM amongst the Quantity Surveying profession, the ICMS Working Group and is actively involved as APC Assessor/Chair for the SCSI and the Board of CitA as a non-executive Director and regularly contributes at conferences as a speaker both at home & abroad on BIM & the QS, Public BIM and BIM & Smart Cities.
Mary is passionate about the use of Data for the Public Good through its collection, harvesting, mining and analytics. Mary is a guest lecturer with various Colleges, having previously lectured for a number of years part-time at TU Dublin.
Mary is Secretary General for The European Council of Construction Economists (CEEC), which is the European knowledge hub for Quantity Surveyors, linking professionals in Europe to share relevant best practice, information and experience, promoting the profession, common knowledge and international standards.
Seán
McCarthy
BSc Eng, CEng MIEI
Lean, IPD & Project Management Consultant
Seán McCarthy
Seán McCarthy’s impact on the Irish construction sector cannot be overstated. He has had a prolific career, with 40 years’ experience of successfully delivering extensive Programmes and major Projects with multinational corporations in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and heavy chemical sectors, including having headed major construction projects at Intel and Eli Lily.
Notably, Seán worked on the Intel Ireland Leixlip Campus for over 20 years, and was the Site Manager of Projects and Construction with responsibility for leading and managing all project construction activity on the campus.
Seán now works with multiple clients as a consultant and mentor on Project Management & Leadership; Lean & IPD; and Quality & Safety.
Gerard
Harvey
Dip Arch Tech, BArch,
Dip Building Repair & Cons, MRIAI
Architect
Gerard Harvey
Gerard Harvey is the Assistant Principal Architect at the Office of Public Works. The architectural practice within the Office of Public Works, delivers a service of quality through the skilful provision of a comprehensive architectural design service to the Government and other public bodies. The principle function of Architectural Services is to ensure that its clients are provided with design excellence, construction and support services that are of the highest standard in terms of quality,cost and programme.
Keith
Elliott
BA, BAI, CEng, FIEI, FICE
Project Manager
Keith Elliott
Keith Elliott is a project management specialist and former Associate Director of PM Group, Ireland’s largest Architecture and Engineering consultancy specialising in the delivery of complex projects in a variety of industry sectors. He has over 40 years’ experience in the design, project management and construction management of large projects including pharmaceutical facilities, power stations, data centres, natural gas infrastructure and energy from waste facilities.
He was Project Manager / Construction Project Manager for a number of infrastructure projects of national importance, including the Corrib Onshore Gas Terminal in Co. Mayo and the Dublin Waste to Energy Facility in Poolbeg, Dublin. At the peak of construction, each of these projects ranked as the largest construction project in Ireland at the time. His most recent role was as Office Projects Manager for PM Group’s Dublin office, overseeing a team of 50-60 Project Managers delivering a portfolio of challenging projects both in Ireland and abroad.
Keith is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and the Institution of Civil Engineers currently the Chair of its Republic of Ireland Branch.
Emma
Hayes
MCIAT, Dip Arch Tech, BSc Arch Tech, MSc BIM Management, RIAI Arch Tech
BIM Consultant
Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes, is Managing Director of Digital Built Consultants, a leading Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Information Management consultancy firm that supports and guides clients from the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Owner-Operated (AECO) industry throughout their digital transition and BIM adoption journey. Services provided include implementation strategy; change management; training; project execution and BIM management strategy. She has over 20 years of experience in the AEC industry in Ireland and internationally. She is a Chartered Architectural Technologist and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Technology from Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT now TU Dublin), and a Master’s Degree in BIM Management from Middlesex University.
Previously, Emma was the Group BIM Manager for a large multi-disciplined AEC and Project Management organisation. She was responsible for the development and implementation of the Group BIM strategy and roll-out of procedures and workflows for BIM adoption across the organisation’s network of offices in Europe, Asia and the US. She has executed BIM on a number of high-value complex projects in the pharma, food, energy and mission-critical sectors. She also has extensive experience delivering residential, retail and commercial projects.
Emma is actively involved in driving progress in BIM adoption in the AEC industry. She is a non-executive director on the board of the Construction IT Alliance, the chair of the SME advisory group to the Irish Government Construction Sector Group for Innovation & Digital Adoption and is an industry member of the ‘Leadership and Cultural Change’ pillar of the Build Digital Project. She has presented research papers at international conferences such as the CitA BIM Gathering and is on the Judging Panel for the BIM Excellence category at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards. She mentors and supports the development of women’s careers in BIM through her role as the Irish Regional Leader for the Women in BIM (WiB) network. She is also a part-time lecturer on the MSc Applied BIM Management, TU Dublin and the MSc BIM Management, Middlesex University, London.
Dr Derek
Sinnott
BE, MSc, PhD, MIEI
Engineer
Dr Derek Sinnott
Derek is a Consultant and Senior Lecturer at Waterford Institute of Technology. He is Interim Chair of the Board of the Pyrite Resolution and a member of the PRB Audit and Risk Committee. He is a Director of Lean Construction Ireland, a community of learning and practice the seeks to enable and sustain enhanced effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and profitability for all stakeholders in the value chain.
Previously, Head of Department of the Built Environment at Waterford IT, he was responsible for the management and strategic development of programmes and industry focused research. He was also past chair of the Southeast Committee of Engineers Ireland.
In practice, Derek specialises in helping people, teams, and organisations to achieve strategy and operational improvement and harness sustainable, innovative business opportunities. Derek brings to the panel an extensive knowledge of Lean, ESG, Productivity and Performance in the construction sector.
Clement
Kavanagh
BSs (Surv), MAPM, Dip Build Const.
Project Manager
Clement Kavanagh
Clement is an Associate Director with Linesight Project Management, currently managing a large portfolio of commercial and residential projects located in Dublin and predominantly within the Docklands area. Clement has over 20 years industry experience. Working at Linesight for the past 8 years on a comprehensive range of large commercial, residential and infrastructural projects.
Previous experience includes the position of Construction Director with a Dublin based construction firm, gaining residential building experience and also various government work projects with Dublin City Council as the client.
He has also worked as an independent consultant Project Manager working on high-end international residential projects for international clients.
Clement brings extensive commercial and residential experience to the panel, also international consultancy experience and comprehensive experience in dispute resolution and risk management.
Phelim
Devine
BScEng, CEng MIEI, HDip PM, HDip CLCA.
Chartered Engineer
Phelim Devine
Phelim Devine is Design Director/Deputy Project Director of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. The new children’s hospital is the largest single investment in any healthcare capital project in Ireland. He brings to the panel his vast experience over the past twenty years in social infrastructure projects such as healthcare and also commercial projects.
Before his present role, Phelim was a Director at Arup, leading the design of multidisciplinary building projects across multiple sectors but in particular healthcare projects such as Mater Adult Hospital redevelopment, the redevelopment of St Vincent’s University Public Hospital, the new St Vincent’s Private Hospital, and projects in the National Rehabilitation Hospital and St James’s Hospital. Phelim was Honorary Secretary of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland from 2011 to 2014, and sat on the Executive Committee from 2008 till 2014.
Marion
Close
HNC Business Management
Planning and Scheduling Director
Marion Close
Marion is an Associate Director at Linesight with twenty years experience in planning and scheduling, working with clients in a variety of sectors across the world. Marion heads up an expanding global scheduling team at Linesight, ensuring alignment across key accounts, managing training, development and mentoring, governance and best practice implementation using innovative technologies and benchmarking.
Having worked on a large variety of diverse projects, she brings to the panel particular expertise in risk management, planning and scheduling and an in-depth understanding of the complexities associated with delivering large-scale projects across a diverse range of industries including Datacenters, Life Sciences, Commercial, Mixed-use and Health Industry projects.
Tim
Segal
BArch, PGCert
Lecturer
& BIM Coordinator
Tim Segal
Tim Segal is the course coordinator for the Certificate in Building Information Modelling at IT Tralee. He has been lecturing at IT Tralee for 13 years, including a spell as Head of Department for Science and Engineering. He previously spent approximately 10 years working professionally as an Architect in Ireland and abroad.
Tim is currently the Building Information Modelling Coordinator for the Estates Department at IT Tralee and is Co-Chair of the CitA South West BIM Region.
A leader for BIM in the South West and an experienced professional and academic he will bring his broad industry knowledge to the panel.
Kieran
O’Neill
BSc Eng, MEng Design, PG Dip Construction Health & Safety, CEng FIEI
Health & Safety
Consultant
Kieran O'Neill
Kieran is the Health & Safety Consultant at Waterman Moylan Engineering Consultants with 30 years’ experience across AEC projects, he has engaged as PSDP for a number of major building and infrastructure projects. Prior to his current position, Kieran was the Tool Install Design Manager for construction projects on the Intel Ireland site for 15 years.
Kieran was also responsible for the PSDP (and PSDS), coordinating safety in design across multiple concurrent Basebuild and Tool Install design teams, peaking at circa 350 designers. On Kieran’s last major project, (a Lean and BIM project), the Tool Install team achieved a NISO distinction award in recognition of the strong safety leadership and a recognition of the workplace health and safety excellence at a national level.
Niall
Kane
BSc Arch
Digital Construction
Leader
Niall Kane
Niall Kane is a Technical Director for Data & Intelligence at Atkins. He brings international digital construction, asset management and project consultancy experience to the judging panel.
Niall studied Architecture at Technological University Dublin. Previous to his current role, he was a Technical Director at WSP, Head of Smart Places at VINCI Facilities, GIS Specialist and Data Specialist at Skanska UK, and when he was in Ireland, he worked at Murphy Surveys as Head of Innovation and BIM.
Niall will bring excellent assessment skills to the application and use of Digital Construction and Lifecycle Asset Management Technology.
Marcella
Murphy
BE MBA CEng FIEI
Project Manager
Marcella Murphy
Marcella is the Project Manager for the €130 million Parnell Square Cultural Quarter Project. The project includes demolition, construction of a new City Library, refurbishment of the existing Georgian buildings including the Hugh Lane Gallery and extensive public realm works.
Marcella has over twenty five years of experience in the design and construction of major infrastructural projects. These include bridge design and construction supervision on the M50 motorway, refurbishment of road and building schemes and supervision of the LexIcon in Dun Laoghaire construction.
Before her current role, she was leading the review of costs on the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone for the Common Infrastructure.
She is a member of the Construction Sector Group – Modern Methods of Construction Sub Group.
Dr Daniel
O’Neill
BSc, BSc (Hons), PhD
Procurement Specialist
Dr Daniel O'Neill
A procurement specialist, Daniel was Awarded his PhD from Technological University Dublin in 2014 and over the past years has received awards for research and reviewing. His research focused on construction technology, housing stock maintenance and retrofit procurement. Over the past decade, Daniel has been a judge for national and international industry and academic competitions and collaborated on international research projects.
Daniel has worked in construction media as a senior editor and copywriter over the past decade and in recent years was a consultant for the ICE Awards organising team.
Emer
Byrne
MSc (Sus Devel),
BSc, Dip AVEA MSCSI MRICS
Chartered Valuation Surveyor & Lecturer
Emer Byrne
Emer Byrne is a chartered valuation surveyor with a degree in science from UCD combined with surveying degree and a Masters in sustainable development from Technological University of Dublin (TU Dublin). She has over 25 years’ experience in the property industry across various sectors including development, valuations, significant infrastructure projects and asset management.
Currently Emer holds a position as Lecturer in Real Estate and Valuations at TU Dublin and has led research around sustainable development, property development and transport in supporting the evidence based decision making process. In her role as lecturer at graduate and undergrad level Emer engages with industry on multidisciplinary projects and brings the real world into the learning environment.
Actively involved in the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), Emer is Chair of Surveyors Declare steering group, Vice-chair of the sustainable development group and a member of the valuation professional group. She has led publication of the sustainable approach to valuation of commercial assets and residential investments. She is also board member of the Property Services Regulatory Authority.
Damien
Kilgannon
MSc (Hons), Dip PM, Dip Arb, ASCSI, MRICS
Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager
Emer Byrne
Damien is Real Estate Director at Fine Grain Property. Damien is responsible for the implementation of Real Estate Strategy from acquisition through development/redevelopment, leasing and disposal. Hosting more than 60 high profile clients across 1 million square feet, Damien’s focus is on delivering quality, sustainable & innovative property solutions through workplace communities’. The Workplace Community model recognises office environments are increasingly a hybrid with hospitality thus helping clients attract and retain talented employees, boosting engagement and driving productivity and business success.
Damien is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager with eighteen years’ experience in a wide variety of construction and real estate projects. Damien holds a masters in Real Estate, a degree in Construction Economics & Management together with Post Graduate Diploma’s in Project Management and Arbitration. Prior to joining Fine Grain Property, Damien was Head of Property at IDA Ireland.
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