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Leadership Circle Awardees Announced

Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, hosted the Dublin City University Leadership Circle Dinner on Friday 17th June in The Helix, DCU Glasnevin campus.

The annual event is aimed at recognising and honouring the contribution of key business and education leaders in advancing DCU initiatives that drive real societal change. Three prestigious awards were presented on the night by President Brian MacCraith and Larry Quinn, Chairman of the DCU Educational Trust, in recognition of individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing the university’s goals.

The recipients of this year’s awards were:

Corporate Leadership Award

Prometric

Individual Leadership Award

Liavan Mallin

Staff Leadership Award

Marian Burns

Prometric were presented with the award for Corporate Leadership in recognition of their commitment to DCU and to advancing education worldwide. The US-based testing company, which has 180 employees in Ireland, contributed nearly €1m to support Dublin City University’s establishment of the Centre for Assessment Research, Policy and Practice in Education, funding the appointment of the Chair in Assessment and the creation of two additional jobs, a Post-Doctoral researcher and a PhD Scholarship.  

Liavan Mallin, a serial entrepreneur and dedicated member of the DCU Educational Trust Board of Trustees since 1998, Liavan has worked tirelessly to improve teaching, entrepreneurship, sports and social facilities at the University.  Liavan founded Shopdirect in 1987, an innovative retail group that became the leading mail order company throughout Ireland. Among other accolades, she has been named as a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and was a member of the organising board for the Special Olympics World Games in Ireland in 2003.

Marian Burns, was awarded the Staff Leadership Award in recognition of over twenty-five years of service to the University. Marian is the current Director of Human Resources at DCU.

Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, said of the event,

“The DCU Leadership Circle Dinner is a fantastic way for the university to recognise those individuals who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the success and growth of DCU. We are honoured to have such support from so many dedicated and inspiring individuals and groups. It’s a very exciting time for the university and that is reflected in the enthusiasm shown tonight for our future plans.”

Larry Quinn, Chairman of the DCU Educational Trust, said,

“We are very grateful for the wonderful support we receive in DCU from the business community. Without their support, our initiatives through the Campaign for DCU, the Campus Redevelopment Plan and beyond simply would not be possible.”

Attendees on the night included, Irish rugby star, Sophie Spence, RTE Economist Sean Whelan, RTE Dragons Eamonn Quinn and Gavin Duffy along with entrepreneurs Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin.