Sharon Cunningham and Orlaith Ryan of Shorla Oncology named 2024 EY Entrepreneurs Of The Year

• Sharon Cunningham and Orlaith Ryan of Shorla Oncology named overall 2024 EY Entrepreneurs Of The Year
• John Mackey, Ruth Mackey, and David Mackey of Mbryonics Limited named 2024 EY Established Entrepreneurs Of The Year
• Ivor Queally of QK Group South Africa named 2024 EY International Entrepreneur Of The Year
• Duncan O’Toole of Captured Carbon Ltd receives 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Sustainability Award

Dublin, 28 November 2024: Sharon Cunningham, CEO of Tipperary-based Shorla Oncology and Orlaith Ryan, CTO of Shorla Oncology, have been named the 2024 EY Entrepreneurs Of The Year. The announcement was made at the annual gala awards ceremony which took place at the Powerscourt Hotel, Co. Wicklow.  Sharon and Orlaith were also named as winners in the emerging category at this year’s awards.

Winner bio’s

Sharon Cunningham (CEO) and Orlaith Ryan (CTO) are Co-Founders of Shorla Oncology. Headquartered in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Shorla Oncology is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercialises innovative oncology drugs for orphan and paediatric cancers.

Shorla Oncology’s mission is to make existing oncology treatments better through formulation re-innovation and is focused on indications where existing treatments are limited, in shortage, or the drug applications are inadequate for the target population. The company’s growing portfolio (including four products which are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ‘FDA’ and currently on the US market) brings accessible, affordable and life-saving treatments to patients, delivering a major contribution to patient care.

John Mackey (CEO), Ruth Mackey (CSO/COO), and David Mackey (CTO) of Mbryonics Limited were named 2024 EY Established Entrepreneurs Of The Year. Siblings John, Ruth and David Mackey are Co-Founders of Mbryonics - a deep technology company specialising in space laser systems for extremely high bandwidth satellite communication networks. Founded in 2014, and headquartered in Galway city, Mbryonics’ optical technologies are transforming satellites into orbital data centres and enabling satellite optical mesh networks to create a space-based internet that will enhance global connectivity here on Earth and connect us to the cosmos.

Ivor Queally, CEO of the QK Group South Africa was named 2024 EY International Entrepreneur Of The Year. Ivor is a director of one of Ireland’s largest privately owned agri-businesses, with multi-disciplined food manufacturing facilities located throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and Southern Africa. Founded in 2004, QK Group South Africa operates across a number of different sectors from meat processing, cold storage and warehousing, frozen foods manufacturing, pet food manufacturing and the processing of animal by products. The company is also a significant importer of frozen food products from around the world and the second largest manufacturer of pet food in South Africa.

Duncan O’Toole, Founder of Captured Carbon Ltd, was the recipient of the 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Sustainability award. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Sustainability Award recognises the critical importance of innovative leadership in meeting our collective sustainability challenges. Captured Carbon Ltd is a renewable energy trading and consulting company committed to accelerating the decarbonisation of the energy market. The company is the primary broker of green power and gas contracts in Ireland and advises the majority of Ireland’s energy retailers on how best to meet their renewable electricity targets. It also trades carbon on behalf of large emitters that wish to reduce their carbon emissions.

Commenting at the awards, Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme said: “On behalf of EY, I extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s award winners. These inspiring business leaders embody true entrepreneurial spirit in their daily endeavours - from pioneering innovative concepts to demonstrating unwavering passion and commitment in their remarkable businesses.

“Each year, I’m astounded by the exceptional calibre of our finalists, and 2024 is no exception. This year’s finalists are an extraordinary group of entrepreneurs achieving phenomenal success both domestically and internationally. It has been a tremendous privilege to get to know them and learn about their businesses throughout this year’s programme. I am particularly heartened to see strong bonds of friendship and trust between this year’s group which are already evidently driving trade, mentorship and investment.

“At EY, we take immense pride in celebrating, supporting, engaging, and inspiring entrepreneurs across our island. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy, serving as a vital source of employment and wealth creation. They challenge us to think differently, innovate, and seize opportunities where others may see obstacles. In Ireland, we are incredibly fortunate to have a wealth of entrepreneurial talent that significantly contributes to our economy and communities every day. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community generates revenues of €25 billion and employs over 250,000 people across the island of Ireland. Their success is our collective success, and EY is committed to supporting them on their journey to realising their full potential and helping to shape the future with confidence.”

Harry Hughes, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 and Chair of the Judging Panel said: “On behalf of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year judging panel, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of this year’s finalists. They represent an exceptional group of dynamic business leaders. Once again, the calibre of finalists was extraordinarily high, making the judging process a challenging one. I would like to especially congratulate this year’s winners. I am genuinely excited about what the future holds for them and look forward to celebrating their continued success. I would also like to warmly welcome the entire cohort of this year’s finalists into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Alumni community. I am confident they will continue to make a significant and positive impact.”

Each year, EY also presents a Special Recognition Award to individuals who have made a significant contribution to life on the island of Ireland through their vision, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This year, the prestigious honour was awarded to former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Irish politics and the prosperity of Ireland.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.

For further information, please visit www.eoy.ie