L-R: Kerry McLaverty, UCD Smurfit School alumna and LauraLynn CEO with Gillian Durnin, Alumni Relations Manager, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 

UCD Smurfit School alumna Kerry McLaverty has won the coveted MBA Leadership Award 2022/23. She received this accolade at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards, which were held on December 9, 2022 at the five-star Biltmore Hotel in London. The event brought together leaders from the global business education community to celebrate excellence and commend achievement among business schools, MBA students and graduates, suppliers and employers.

The ceremony was attended by more than 210 business school leaders, as well as category finalists, judges and members of the media.

“On behalf of UCD Smurfit School, I would like to sincerely congratulate Kerry for her outstanding achievement in being selected as the winner of the MBA Leadership Award,” said Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business.

“As Chief Executive Officer at LauraLynn, Kerry leads Ireland’s only children’s hospice, supporting over 350 children and their families from across the country. Undertaking the Executive MBA allowed her to develop the key leadership skills required to advance as a senior leader in the Irish healthcare sector. In turbulent times and in less than two years since assuming the CEO role, Kerry has capitalised on her MBA learnings to oversee record fundraising revenues for LauraLynn year-on-year.”

Furthermore, McLaverty secured a historic €1.5 million EUR in annual statutory funding, enabling the expansion of hospice services and the development of the first Childrenʼs Hospice Regional Hub in Ireland.

The MBA Leadership Award honours alumni from AMBA-accredited business schools who have been making an impact in the business world following their graduation.

The award recognises the great work of these graduates through their achievements, performance and recognition. This important award gives graduates the chance to stand out and showcase their work following graduation.

Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA & BGA) said, “On behalf of the AMBA and Business Graduates Association (BGA) team, I would like to congratulate the finalists and winners of this year’s Excellence Awards.”

“This year, the competition was stronger than ever. The entries who have made the final shortlist in each category should feel proud of their achievements. 

“Additionally, the students and graduates who have been shortlisted as finalists today have all used their qualifications to achieve a spectrum of impressive results, in terms of the positive impact they have made to business, education and society as a whole.

“It was thrilling to be able to celebrate the AMBA networks achievements in person at our Gala Dinner – our first in-person awards ceremony since 2020.

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank our sponsors, Barco and Kortext. Their support for our awards – and the business education sector – is greatly appreciated.”