Engineers Ireland President’s Award for Professor Aoife Ahern

(opens in a new window)Professor Aoife Ahern from the (opens in a new window)UCD College of Engineering and Architecture has received an Engineers Ireland President’s Award for Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the Engineering Profession.

Engineers Ireland is the country’s professional body for engineering, and the award honours individuals who have made an impact on the field through academic achievements, industry leadership or public service.

The award was presented at the Engineers Ireland National Conferring Ceremony 2025 by Laura Burke, President of Engineers Ireland and a UCD Chemical Engineering graduate.

Professor Ahern is also UCD Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

“I am very honoured to receive this award from Engineers Ireland,” said Professor Ahern.

“For me, this is recognition of the success of the UCD College of Engineering and Architecture. My colleagues and I are meeting national and global needs by educating and creating excellent engineers across a wide variety of disciplines.

“Those UCD engineers will go on to make a valid and important contribution to the sustainable development of Ireland and beyond.”

Other recipients of the President’s Award this year included Richard Crowe, Consultant and former Managing Director at Nicholas O’Dwyer, and Jerry Grant, Chairperson of Uisce Éireann and the Dublin Port Company.

Meanwhile, broadcaster Pat Kenny was named an ‘Icon of Processing Engineering’ by the Engineers Ireland’s Chemical and Process Engineering Division.

Kenny, who is a UCD Chemical Engineering graduate, lectured on the subject before turning to broadcasting. He has continued to voice strong support for engineering, helping to promote the profession.

“All engineers conferred with professional titles stand as exemplars of our profession, at a time when Ireland needs engineers more than ever,” said Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland.

“There is no easy path to an accredited professional title, and each recipient can be exceptionally proud of their achievements.

“Challenges in housing, water infrastructure, energy, climate action, AI and digital applications require engineers’ expertise and experience to navigate, and engineers will play a central role in shaping Irish society over the coming decades by pursuing innovative solutions to the many pressing questions in these areas, and beyond.”

By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations