By Business & Finance 
IAPI this morning announced the 2015 winner of the IAPI Doyenne Award ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday, March 8th.
The IAPI Doyenne Award was launched last year to mark and celebrate the success and leadership potential of women working in advertising in Ireland. The initiative runs as part of the many global events marking International Women’s Day. It aims to address the underrepresentation of women at director and senior management level in the Irish advertising industry.
Ireland’s future female leaders today attended the IAPI Doyenne Award breakfast ceremony with keynote speaker managing director, Google UK and Ireland, Eileen Naughton in attendance. This year IAPI also extended the award to put the spotlight on women under 30 with the introduction of the IAPI Rising Star Award. The shortlisted candidates were chosen on their ability to lead but also on their potential to inspire and act as a role model to other women.
The IAPI Doyenne Award winners, in association with Evoke.ie are:
- Overall IAPI Doyenne Award winner: Gemma Teeling, account director, PHD Ireland
Announcing the IAPI Doyenne Award winner Orlaith Blaney, CEO McCannBlue and president of IAPI said: “Gemma is a hugely deserving winner of the IAPI 2015 Doyenne Award. Her career to date has spanned London and Dublin and she has lead a number of global brands and agency teams. Her clarity and conviction struck us and her relentless commitment to doing the very best work she can. Gemma is a natural collaborator and has a proven ability to persuade and influence clients and agency teams. Her presentation was very creative and she told a very compelling story. It was obvious Gemma takes immense pride in her career and her achievements and it lead to her being headhunted for her current role. Gemma’s ‘stick-at-it ability’ was obvious and her theme, ‘going in to battle’ demonstrated the real challenges in working in our industry and the tenacity and drive needed to make things happen. The judges were unanimous in choosing her as our 2015 winner.’’
- IAPI Doyenne Rising Star Award winner: Aoibhin Lennon, client director, Mediavest
Blaney said: “IAPI Rising Star Doyenne Award Winner Aoibhín Lennon is an outstanding winner and a true rising star. She has not only lead major accounts but her strategic approach to handling important client data and insight, both in Australia and Ireland and her commitment to ensuring the right action was taken was impressive. She struck the judges as someone who really cares and is passionate about doing the right thing for clients to get strong and effective solutions. She is so strong, senior blue-chip clients are keen to have her, at the age of just 28, at the top of their agency leadership teams. Aoibhin has strong strategic talent and capability, genuine enthusiasm and drive and we look forward to seeing her career thrive in the Irish agency business.’’
The IAPI Doyenne Special Recognition Award went to Amy Satelle, account executive, McCannBlue for achieving so much in her career to date.
Orlaith Blaney added: “With the IAPI Doyenne Award we are striving to find women who have the potential to shape our industry in the future. The IAPI 2014 Census identified that just 13% of women are at CEO/MD/ Managing Partner level. The IAPI Doyenne Award is ultimately about encouraging and inspiring brilliant women and leadership. It is not about quotas or addressing the gender imbalance for gender imbalance sake.”
