Business Broadcast of the Year category added to UCD Smurfit School’s 19th Business Journalist Awards, sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Pictured: Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Director of UCD Smurfit School, Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business, Nóirín O’Sullivan (Chair, BJA Panel of Judges), Former Garda Commissioner, NED, Independent Advisor & Consultant, Damien Garvey, Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland.

Now in its 19th year, the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Business Journalist Awards are open for submissions, shining a spotlight on the essential role business journalists play in making complex issues clear, holding power to account, and helping society navigate an ever-changing economic landscape. 

The Awards are sponsored by Bank of Ireland and run in association with the Business Journalist Association of Ireland to celebrate excellence in Irish business journalism across audio, broadcast, online, and print media.

Speaking at the launch, Damien Garvey, Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland, said, “We are proud to continue our sponsorship of the UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards. In today’s dynamic world, trusted, accurate and insightful business journalism has never been more important. 

“Journalists help inform, explain, and scrutinise the issues shaping Ireland’s economy, businesses, and society. These awards celebrate the professionalism and dedication of business journalists, and we are delighted to support that recognition.”

Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Director of UCD Smurfit School and Associate Dean of UCD College of Business, added, “At UCD Smurfit School, we recognise the vital role that high-quality journalism plays in helping our students as future business leaders and the wider public understand the forces shaping organisations, markets, and society.

“We are proud to host the 19th annual Business Journalist Awards, celebrating the reporters, analysts, and editors whose clarity, rigour, and insight inform public debate and inspire responsible leadership.

“This year, we are particularly delighted to reintroduce the Business Broadcast of the Year category, celebrating excellence across online video, radio, and television. This expansion reflects the powerful role broadcast media plays in making complex economic issues accessible, relevant, and engaging to diverse audiences.”

Entries to the awards can be submitted by nominees themselves, editors, or peers via smurfitschool.ie/bja by Wednesday, 2 September 2026.

The winning entry of each category will be honoured at an awards ceremony in December and receive a €1,000 prize. There are eight categories in this year’s awards:

In addition to these entry-based categories, the judging panel may also award an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Each entry is examined by an independent panel of judges, composed of leaders from academia, business, and journalism. The 2026 judging panel includes:

• Nóirín O’Sullivan (Chairperson), Former Garda Commissioner, NED, Independent Advisor and Consultant;
• Carin Bryans, NED and former J.P. Morgan Country Head;
• Michael Cullen, Independent NED, Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland Ltd.;
• Bryan Dobson, Former Journalist, Newscaster and Presenter;
• Professor Patrick Gibbons, Full Professor of Corporate Planning, UCD College of Business;
• Tony Golden, Board Advisor, INED, Corporate Finance Consultant, former Chairman, Citi Corporate and Investment Bank Ireland; 
• John Golding, Executive MBA Student, Director, Financial Services Consulting at NTT DATA;
• Audrey Healy, Director of Alumni Relations and Head of Marketing and Communications, UCD College of Business;
• Niamh Hennessy, Columnist, former Business Journalist and PR Consultant;
• Assistant Professor Catarina Marvão, Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, UCD College of Business; and
• Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Director of UCD Smurfit School and Associate Dean of UCD College of Business.

More judges are expected to join the panel.