Judging Panel
An independent panel of recognised and expert judges, representing the operational discipline, will determine the winners of the Operational Excellence Awards.
We understand the importance of a fair and objective judging process. That's why we assemble a prestigious panel of industry leaders, renowned for their extensive knowledge, enthusiasm, and expertise in business operations.
Our selection process is meticulous. Judges are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and declare any potential conflicts of interest. Entries with conflicts are reassigned, ensuring complete impartiality.
This unwavering commitment to integrity is the foundation of our awards programme. Become a part of recognising industry excellence. If you're interested in joining the judging panel, email your details to judges@businessriver.com
2025 Judging Panel
Robert Burdock
Site Operational Excellence Lead - Ireland, IMIL - Ipsen Manufacturing Ireland Limited
Rob Burdock is the Site OpEx Lead who manages the implementation of the overall Enterprise Excellence strategy for the Ipsen Dublin site, in partnership with site management team. He is the lead in our preparation for the Shingo Assessment and ensures our culture is sustained. VIEW MORE
Eric Clinton
Director DCU National Centre for Family Business, DCU
Eric Clinton is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at DCU Business School. Dr Clinton is the Director of the DCU National Centre for Family Business, a leading European family business research centre. Eric works with some of Europe’s leading family firms to navigate the succession process. VIEW MORE
paul davis
Associate Professor, Dublin City University
Dr Davis is an Associate Professor in Strategic Procurement and Supply Management at Dublin City University. Dr. Davis left industry after 15 years in senior supply management roles to pursue a PhD and a research career in procurement and supply management. VIEW MORE
steve giles
Head of Operations, Aurivo consumer foods
Steve is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in leading operations within the FMCG sector, with a particular focus on the dairy industry. With a career spanning over 35 years, has consistently demonstrated a passion for optimizing processes and continuous improvement. VIEW MORE
Ian Gourlay
Founder, Business Process Solutions
Ian worked for 10 years with Toyota Motor Corporation and holds a Master of Business in Lean Practice from SETU Waterford. He is a long-standing Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Lean Service Provider and is on the steering committee of the Operational Excellence Association of Ireland (OEAI) VIEW MORE
Miriam Keogh
Head of Supply Chain, Lean and Human Resources, Dawn Farm Foods Ltd
Miriam sits on the Leadership team in Dawn Farm Foods and is Head of Supply Chain, HR and Lean Continuous Improvement. She has an MSC in Supply Chain and a Lean Black Belt and believes passionately in the power of great team work and sustainable long term solutions. VIEW MORE
Alessandro Laureani
Independent Lean Six Sigma Scholar, N/A
Operational Excellence and Business Transformation leader, researcher, lecturer, and published author in the fields of Leadership, Operational Excellence, Quality Management and Continuous improvement. VIEW MORE
Seamus O'Reilly
Senior Lecturer, UCC
Dr Seamus O’Reilly is Academic Director of Supply Chain Management (SCM) programmes in Cork University Business School, UCC. His research interests include supply chain networks, supply chain sustainability and business process management. VIEW MORE
Patrick Quinn
Head of Operations, Cheshire Ireland
The focus of Patrick’s work is the support Cheshire Ireland in their vision “to support people to live their best possible life”. As the Head of Operations, he aims to support their staff to work in line with the values of the organisation. VIEW MORE
Darren Woods
CEO, WD Excellence
Darren is the CEO of WD Excellence, a consulting business specialising in helping businesses embed a culture of Operational Excellence. VIEW MORE
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