Event promoter wins Image Businesswoman of the Year
Avril Bannerton, whose productions include Taste of Dublin, Taste of Christmas, the Top Gear Festival and the 7-Up on Ice skating rinks, was selected for her dedication to being the best in the event management industry.
Ms Bannerton received the award at a ceremony in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel last night.
The Image Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to University College Dublin (UCD) Lecturer and Businesswoman Dr Emmeline Hill.
Dr Hill is the co-founder and chairman of Equinome, a world leader in the development of genomic selection tools for the bloodstock and racing industry.
Her identification of the “speed gene” in thoroughbreds has the potential to transform breeding decisions in an industry which has remained relatively unchanged for over 300 years and Dr Hill has already secured customers in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
The Image Young Businesswoman of the Year, aimed at inspiring achievers under the age of 35, was awarded to developer of luxury confectionery brand Pandora Bell, Nicole Dunphy.
Ms Dunphy’s acute business sense has seen her brand grow from a modest kitchen operation to being stocked in more than 50 shops within a year.
Peter Marks marketing director Jenny McDermott took the Image Professional Woman of the Year award for her development of a campaign aimed at retaining the maximum number of salons, employees and clients.
Image magazine editor Melanie Morris said it was very rewarding to see the calibre of entries at such an impressive standard.
“Considering the challenges the winners and nominees have overcome in 2010, it proves just how hard-working, creative and versatile Irish businesswomen are,” Ms Morris said.
