Pictured: Dr Fardod O'Kelly, UCD Smurfit School graduate and MBA Student of the Year award winner for 2022/2023

Dr Fardod O'Kelly, a graduate from the UCD Smurfit School has won the coveted MBA Student of the Year award for 2022/2023. He 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.

“I would like to sincerely congratulate Fardod for his dedication to excellence which has led to his extraordinary recognition as the AMBA and BGA MBA Student of the Year,” said Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business.

“A trailblazer in his field, Dr O'Kelly continued to practise medicine throughout his Executive MBA studies at UCD Smurfit School. With his new business acumen, he developed a thriving new surgical practice during COVID, and a new public-private partnership to allow access to surgery for children in the west/south of Ireland.” 

“Dr O’Kelly is an inspiring figure in our community and we look forward to his future work which will have a positive impact in Ireland and beyond.”

AMBA’s MBA Student of the Year award plays a pivotal role in supporting AMBA’s pledge to promote the MBA as the leading international business qualification.

The MBA Student of the Year award recognises students who have shown exceptional career potential and who AMBA believes can act as ambassadors for the high quality of accredited MBAs and the opportunities these programmes provide for students from a wide range of different personal and professional backgrounds.

This award doesn’t just reward ‘straight-A’ students but also focuses on leadership potential and career progression.

Fardod O'Kelly is a true inspiration who has achieved an incredible amount while undertaking his executive MBA at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, in addition to an advanced diploma in medical law, at the same time as continuing to practice medicine and progress his professional goals.

Furthermore, he has been invited onto several European urological boards as an expert in his field and has continued to research and publish.

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.”