Celebrating Innovation & Excellence in South West Tech at Leaders Awards
The Great Southern Hotel in Killarney was abuzz with excitement and celebration on Friday night November 29 as the winners of the prestigious 2024 Tech Industry Alliance Leaders Awards were announced. The awards recognised outstanding achievements across the tech sector in the South West of Ireland, shining a spotlight on the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders driving growth and innovation in the region.
This year’s winners represented the leadership and dynamism of the tech community, ranging from pioneering start-ups to established enterprises. The awards ceremony brought together business leaders, policymakers, and academic luminaries to celebrate the achievements of this vibrant sector.
Speaking at the event, Gerry Murphy, Chairperson of Tech Industry Alliance, said:
“Tonight, we celebrate the visionaries and changemakers shaping the future of the tech industry in the South West of Ireland. These awards are not just about recognising success; they’re about inspiring the entire community to push boundaries, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists—you are the driving force behind our region’s tech excellence.”
Sean Ryan, Board Member of Tech Industry Alliance, added:
“The calibre of entries this year was nothing short of exceptional, highlighting the remarkable talent and innovation that exists within our region. Each of our winners embodies the spirit of collaboration and ambition that defines the South West tech ecosystem. We’re incredibly proud to support their journey and look forward to seeing their continued success.”
The 2024 Tech Industry Alliance Leaders Awards Winners:
- Tech Person of the Year Award: The McCarthy Family, Fexco
- Tech Start Up of the Year Award: Stingray Labs
- Scale Up of the Year Award: Green Rebel
- Environmental Sustainability Award: Astellas Pharma Ireland
- Multinational of the Year Award: ENERCON
- Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet Best Learning Workplace Winner: Aspen Grove
- Smart Technology Innovation Award: BioAtlantis
- Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact Award: NetApp
- Chairperson’s Award: Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation
- Excellence in Education Award: Coláiste Gleann Lí
Tech Industry Alliance extends its sincere thanks to all sponsors, judging panels, partners, and attendees who made this event a resounding success in celebrating the achievements of the tech community.
Leaders Awards Winners 2024
Tech Person of the Year Award: The McCarthy Family, Fexco
Award Sponsor: PepsiCo Ireland
The McCarthy Family have contributed significantly to the development of the South West region not only in terms of economic development,employment creation but also in leading the way as a global Technology leader in their space. Their focus on technology – enabled innovation is underpinned by their collaboration with the Science Foundation of Ireland and UCC where they aim to discover and develop the next generation of Financial Services Technology.
Their organisation, Fexco, from its beginnings in 1981, when it was the first to get a foreign exchange license as a non-bank in Ireland,when it established itself as the Foreign Exchange Company of Ireland it has grown from strength to strength winning many prestigious awards. It is a global leader in the payments and FX technology sector, providing its solutions and services globally with operations in over 50 countries and employing over 2,900 employees worldwide, yet it still remains a very strong family affair over its four decades of existence.
Tech Start Up of the Year Award: Stingray Labs
Award Sponsor: Enterprise Ireland
Stingray Labs is a technology startup developing products to streamline and digitise legal and financial services, meeting the needs and expectations of tech savvy customers. Stingray Labs route to market is through partnerships, working with existing legal and finance organisations to offer streamlined products to the market.
Tech Scale Up of the Year Award: Green Rebel
Award Sponsor: KPMG Ireland
Green Rebel is a dynamic Irish company specialising in data delivery, analytics, and consultancy to support offshore renewable energy developments. It ensures the highest quality service offering with of world class scientists and experienced business leaders, coupled with dedicated survey vessels and equipment. Green Rebel’s mission is to be a driving force in the successful harnessing of offshore green energy globally,through the delivery of best-in-class data products and solutions.
Smart Technology Innovation Award: BioAtlantis
Award Sponsor: Cork Smart Gateway, Cork City Council, Cork County Council
BioAtlantis is a world leader in stress mitigation technologies. Extensive research and collaboration with leading research institutes worldwide has enabled the company to develop the AgriPrime Range. AgriPrime products nourish crops form soil to harvest, helping them cope with various stress and growth limiting factors, allowing them to reach their genetic potential.
Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet Best Learning Workplace Award: Aspen Grove
Award Sponsor: Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet
Aspen Grove Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS)optimises workflow enabling automation, tracking, and managing of any process to enhance responsiveness and productivity while controlling costs and minimising risk.The Aspen Grove platform offers fully scalable architecture across a wide range of use cases, value propositions, and industries.
Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact Award: NetApp
Award Sponsor: Deloitte
NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management.
Environmental Sustainability Award: Astellas Ireland
Astellas Ireland (Kerry Plant) is a finished goods pharmaceutical facility based in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, and headquartered in Japan. The Kerry plant manufactures and packages lifesaving products for the global market including lifesaving immunosuppressants and biologic treatment for cancer patients.
Multinational Company of the Year Award: ENERCON
Award Sponsor: Barden
ENERCON is a pioneer of wind energy technology and a partner of the energy transition, that specialises in turbine and technology development, production, sales and servicing of onshore wind turbines. Pursuing its mission of ‘Energy for the world’, ENERCON has driven sustainable energy generation from onshore wind for over 40 years.
Chairperson’s Community Award: Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation
Louise Quill began working in Tanzania in 2006.Whilst there she could see a great need for a facility that would provide afamily unit for the orphaned and abandoned children of Tanzania. The Tír nanÓg Children’s Foundation was created to alleviate the suffering of Tanzanian children and to provide a home where they would be nurtured in a loving, safe environment.
The aim of Tír na nÓg is to educate these children according to their abilities. The foundation believes in developing not only schools to create the leaders of tomorrow, but also long-term sustainable projects to provide employment for local people. The foundation has been established and operated from Tralee & Tanzania. Louise who lives and teaches in Kerry divides her time between both locations, striving to provide the conditions,training and resources needed to help children grow mentally, physically and spiritually in those values that assure a fruitful and happy future.
Excellence in Education Award: Coláiste Gleann Lí
Award Sponsor: Trend Micro 
Coláiste Gleann Lí is a multicultural, multi-denominational, coeducational post primary school based in Tralee which operates under the patronage of Kerry ETB. Coláiste Gleann Lí is a school for all. Coláiste Gleann Lí believe in harnessing and nurturing technology in their approach to provide students with a rounded education.