Darren Woods, CEO of WD Excellence, joins the judging panel of the Operational Excellence Awards 2026, bringing two decades of hands-on expertise in operational excellence consulting to the evaluation process. His appointment strengthens the panel's capacity to assess entries through a rigorous, practitioner-led lens.

At WD Excellence, Woods leads a consulting practice dedicated to helping organisations embed operational excellence as a cultural discipline rather than a project-based initiative. His work centres on building the internal capability, leadership behaviours, and process frameworks that enable businesses to sustain improvement long after external engagements conclude. This systems-level perspective positions him to evaluate not just what organisations have achieved, but how durably they have built the conditions for continued performance.

Woods holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and an MBS in Business Practice, qualifications that underpin his ability to assess both the technical rigour of submitted entries and their broader strategic alignment. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Galway, deepening his academic grounding in operational excellence theory and practice. His dual standing as a working consultant and active researcher provides a balance of practical application and analytical scrutiny that is well suited to an independent judging role.

As a panel member, Woods will evaluate submissions against criteria measuring cultural maturity, process sustainability, leadership commitment, and measurable performance impact, with particular attention to organisations demonstrating systemic rather than superficial improvement.

Winners will be announced at the Operational Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony on 27 May at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

For the full judging panel, category criteria, and shortlists, visit the Operational Excellence Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates ahead of the ceremony.