2013 Press Releases
UCC to honour distinguished graduates
A doctor to the stars, a CoderDojo guru and Disney vice-president, a pioneering dental researcher and two business leaders known for their humanitarian efforts - all are to be honoured by UCC.
The UCC Alumni Achievement Awards (AAA) take place on Friday 29 November 2013 in the Aula Maxima, UCC. The Award is the highest honour UCC can bestow upon a graduate. The event is generously sponsored by Henry Ford & Son (Ireland) Ltd, Bank of Ireland (Credit Card Affinity), Boston Scientific, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Architectural & Metal Systems.
Among the recipients of a UCC Alumni Achievement Award is one of the most influential women in technology today, Una Fox, who is vice president in retail and ecommerce technology at the Walt Disney Company. Una graduated with a BA in English and French from UCC in 1989. With over 15 years senior leadership experience at some of the world's leading brands, including Yahoo!, Dow Jones, Thompson (Financial), Cisco and KPMG, her stellar reputation precedes her.
Originally from Dundalk, Co. Louth and now based in California, Una Fox is a member of the advisory board of the influential non-profit US-Ireland Alliance and also a co-founder of CoderDojo LA, part of a free worldwide movement that teaches children aged 8-16 years to code. She is also a member of the Irish Technology Leaders Group (ITLG). Professor Caroline Fennell, Head of College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences (CACSSS), UCC will give the award citation on the night.
The second recipient will be familiar to many in the aid sector at home and abroad – Jim Clarken. The Limerick (Askeaton) native is CEO of Oxfam Ireland, the respected international development organisation, and is an executive director of Oxfam International. Having left UCC with an MBA in 2002, he jettisoned a considerable business career in 2006 to answer a lifelong calling to work with development agencies. He is also Chair of Dochas, the umbrella organisation for all NGOs in Ireland, and prior to his current role was general manager at Chernobyl Children’s Project International, as well as working with GOAL in Southern Sudan.
Jim Clarken is a frequent contributor to political debate and media discussions around development issues. Dr Joan Buckley, Executive MBA Director in the College of Business and Law, UCC will provide the award citation.
The third recipient shares the same entrepreneurial streak and drive to give something back. Leslie Buckley is one of Ireland’s most successful business people and is chairman of Independent News & Media. He left UCC with a BSc (Chemistry) in 1967 and an MSC in 1969. Originally from Cork City, he helped manage the start-up of Esat Telecom Group plc and Esat Digifone Limited, and he held the position of Chief Operations Officer of Esat Telecom in 1996 and 1997. He established a consultancy business in 1990 and has since been retained on key public and private sector projects. He is also currently the Executive Chairman of Saon Group and Vice Chairman of Digicel.
In a departure from the business world, Leslie Buckley and his wife Carmel set up the Haven Partnership in 2009, which has had a defining role in responding to the immense crisis that engulfed Haiti in the wake of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January 2010. Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick, Head of the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science (SEFS), UCC will give the award citation.
Dr Patrick O’ Leary, the fourth recipient, is one of the most sought after spinal surgeons in the world. Those seeking him out vary from professional athletes to laypersons, travelling from all over the globe. A graduate of medicine from UCC (1968) and originally from Baltimore, West Cork, he has been consistently named one of the best doctors in New York ('Best Doctors in New York', New York Magazine, 2009, 2010, 2011), and is also cited in the Castle Connolly Medical Guide, 'How To Find The Best Doctors in New York'. He is also included in a select group of physicians named as one of 'America’s Top Doctors' (also published by Castle Connolly). A former chief of the Spine Service at the cutting-edge Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan, New York,
Dr. O’Leary currently serves as an associate attending spine surgeon at HSS. He also received a lifetime achievement award in 2012 from HSS. Professor John Higgins, Head of the College of Medicine & Health, UCC will provide the Award Citation.
Synonmous with dental research in Ireland, Denis O’Mullane, Emeritus Professor and Consultant, Oral Health Services Research Centre, Cork University Dental School & Hospital, is to receive the Alumnus Award for Voluntary Service to UCC. The Cork native, who received a BDS in 1960 and a PhD in 1971 from UCC, is a pioneer in his area, having established the Oral Health Services Research Centre in 1983 - still the only one of its kind in Ireland. His contribution to the debate around the use of fluroide in drinking water in Ireland is unparalled, with Prof O’Mullane authoring most of the significant studies examining its impact on dental and public health.
Mentor to generations of dentists and researchers, Prof O'Mullane launched a book on the history of the Dental Hospital to mark its Centenary Year on Monday 25 November 2013 in UCC. He has been recognised internationally several times, including the Distinguished Service Award from the International Association for Dental Research, the largest dental research organisation in the world. His love of music and singing is well known locally and he recorded two CDs (at his own expense) to raise funds for Marymount Hospice in Cork. A keen sportsman, Prof O’Mullane played hurling for Grenagh and for UCC and continues to contribute heavily to that side of life in UCC. Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC, will provide the Award Citation.
Each recipient will receive an ‘acorn to mighty oak’ sterling silver trophy, designed by Don O’Mahony, an engraver and jeweller in Cork. Many generations of students have attended UCC and there are now over 100,000 UCC alumni scattered around the globe, many of who are internationally recognised as leaders in their chosen field. The five recipients join the likes of comedian Des Bishop, former Ireland rugby coach, Declan Kidney, poet, Paul Durcan, US physicist, Professor Margaret Murnane, paediatric consultant surgeon, Edward Kiely and business leader, Sean O’Driscoll in receiving a UCC Alumni Achievement Award. Over 60 distinguished alumni have been honoured with Alumni Achievement Awards to date.
For further background, please see: http://www.ucc.ie/en/alumni/events/awards/