Dr Mary Kelly, President of Hibernia College, has been confirmed as a member of the judging panel for the Education Awards 2027, bringing a career that began in primary school classrooms in Ireland and abroad and has since reached the executive leadership of one of the country's most distinctive higher education institutions.

Kelly joined Hibernia College in 2012 and has been a decisive influence on its academic and strategic direction ever since. Most recently serving as Academic Dean, she held oversight of the School of Education's full programme portfolio, spanning the Professional Master of Education in Primary and Post-Primary Education, the Masters in Special and Inclusive Education, and the Continuing Professional Development programme.

Under her stewardship, Hibernia College established itself as the leading provider of primary school teachers in Ireland, a position that reflects both institutional ambition and a sustained commitment to educational leadership and teaching excellence across the sector.

Her academic formation traces a deliberate arc through the education system she now leads. A graduate of St Patrick's College Drumcondra, Kelly subsequently completed a Masters in Education at University College Dublin and a Doctor of Education in Education and Leadership at Dublin City University, an academic progression that moves from classroom practice through to the governance and strategic direction of educational institutions.

Beyond Hibernia College, Kelly served two terms on the Teaching Council, including a place on its Executive Committee, and represents her institution across a network that takes in educational agencies, professional bodies, government departments, and community organisations, reflecting a commitment to the broader education sector in Ireland that extends well beyond her own institution.

Kelly joins a panel that includes Triena Delany of Mary Immaculate College, Allison Kenneally of South East Technological University, Rachael Langford of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Paul Mullally of Education Lighthouse, Ciarán Ó Hannracháin of Atlantic Technological University, Martin O’Connell of UCC-Tyndall, Dr Kushan Rathnasekara of the University of Kelaniya, Patrice Twomey of the University of Limerick, and Shauna Whyte of South East Technological University.

Entries for the 2027 cycle are now open, with submissions closing on 18 December 2026. The Education Awards 2027 ceremony will take place on 15 April 2027, with finalists to be announced on 11 February 2027.

For the complete judging panel, category criteria, and past winners, visit the Education Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and insights.