By Business & Finance 
Marie Donnelly has been announced as a recipient of the ESG Leader Award at the 2026 ESG Awards, presented in partnership with Grant Thornton.
By Héloïse Chaudot
The Business & Finance ESG Awards, in partnership with Grant Thornton, will present Marie Donnelly with the ESG Leader Award at the 2026 ceremony on 16 April 2026 at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Marie Donnelly
Marie Donnelly is a long-time advocate for forward-looking policies, particularly in accelerating the energy transition.
Until recently, she was Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council. She also serves on the Governance Committee of MaREI and the Advisory Board of the UCD Energy Institute.
As Director for Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Innovation at DG Energy in the European Commission, she helped shape the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package. The plan aimed to prioritise energy efficiency, boost renewable energy leadership, and ensure a fair deal for consumers.
Earlier, she played a key role in European pharmaceutical policy, including Good Clinical Practice and the creation of the European Medicines Agency. She also contributed to policy responses, helping businesses and employees adapt to globalisation and technological change.
Marie Donnelly continues to influence energy and innovation policy. She sits on the European Advisory Board of the Hawthorn Club, the only international network for professional women in energy. There, she champions women’s advancement and promotes gender equality for all.
At the 2026 Business & Finance ESG Awards, she will receive the ESG Leader Award, recognising her outstanding leadership in sustainability and energy transition.
The Business & Finance ESG Awards
Sustainability stands as the paramount and most pressing issue of our era. According to EPA projections, Ireland will achieve a reduction of just 29% in Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2030 compared to a national target of 51% unless all sectors of the economy play their part and offer sustainable solutions to the way they work.
The ESG criteria provide essential metrics for companies to measure, benchmark and report their efforts towards sustainable growth and effective decision-making. Using these benchmarks, the ESG Awards offers businesses the opportunity to give a visible and attainable contribution towards a greener future.
Now in its fourth year, the ESG Awards continue to grow and expand, introducing new categories to reflect the evolving ESG landscape. The esteemed judging panel evaluates entries across various criteria, acknowledging those setting the standards for ESG excellence.
With a variety of categories, the Awards will showcase the successes of ESG initiatives, examples of best practice and highlight the importance of transparency in this area. There are 18 categories, including ESG Innovation Award, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Initiative Award and, of course, the ESG Leader award. See the full list of categories on the website.
Enter the Awards
To get involved in the ESG Awards, please fill in the form on the ESG Awards website.
The Business & Finance ESG Awards will take place on 16 April 2026 at the Mansion House, Dublin.
