We are proud to present the esteemed judging panel for the Pharmacy Excellence Awards. This distinguished group of professionals brings together a wealth of experience, expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing excellence in the pharmacy industry.

Our judges represent various facets of the pharmacy sector, including leading pharmacists, industry experts, academic leaders, and healthcare innovators. Each judge has been carefully selected for their proven track record of excellence, integrity, and their contributions to the advancement of pharmacy practice.

Their collective insights and impartial judgment will ensure that each award category is evaluated with the highest standards of fairness and professionalism. As they undertake the challenging task of selecting the best of the best, you can be assured that the outcomes of this process will truly reflect the pinnacle of achievement in our industry.

We are confident that this year’s awards will set a new benchmark for excellence, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our judging team. We look forward to celebrating the outstanding contributions and achievements within our community, as recognized by this exceptional group of leaders.

Agnese Liepina, BSc in Pharmacy Technician Studies, is an award-nominated clinical pharmacy professional currently serving as a Pharmacy Technician within the Aseptic Compounding Unit at St. James’s Hospital. As a past nominee of the Irish Pharmacy Awards, Retail Excellence Awards and Pharmacy Excellence Awards she brings a comprehensive, multi-sector perspective to the Pharmacy Excellence Awards 2026 judging panel.

Throughout her distinguished career, Agnese has built extensive experience across both community and hospital pharmacy, combining several years with Allcare Pharmacy and advanced clinical practice in acute hospital care. She has developed expertise in sterile manufacturing, cytotoxic drug reconstitution, and hazardous chemotherapy preparation, giving her a strong understanding of the technical precision and stringent HPRA and PSI regulatory standards required in modern pharmacy practice.

Agnese is deeply passionate about her profession and is committed to driving clinical excellence while ensuring outstanding patient care is delivered with the highest standards of quality, safety, and compassion. As a former award nominee, she combines clinical rigour with genuine professional empathy and looks forward to benchmarking, recognising, and celebrating the exceptional dedication, innovation, and achievements of pharmacy teams across Ireland.

Áine graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2012. She is currently the Head of Retail Sales at McCabes Pharmacy Ltd, overseeing a network of 110 pharmacies. Áine is also a former Gold Award winner in the Pharmacist-Led Team category. . Driven by a strong passion for excellence in community pharmacy, she is dedicated to fostering innovation, enhancing patient care, and demonstrating effective leadership.

Aisling Reast is Head of the Quality Enhancement Office at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, leading quality across its Irish and international campuses. She has held leadership roles in national and international higher education quality initiatives and previously served as Registrar at Hibernia College. As a registered pharmacist, Aisling has worked across community pharmacy, practice development, regulation, continuing professional development and pharmacy education. Her previous pharmacy roles include Director of APPEL, Director of Operations at the IIOP and roles at both the PSI and IPU. She also spent more than 13 years in community pharmacy as both an employee pharmacist and pharmacy owner, and is a former President of the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund. She holds a BSc (Hons) Pharmacy, MSc in Community Pharmacy, and Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership, and is currently working towards a DProf in Health Professions Education.

Emily is a qualified pharmacist since 2001 with extensive senior management and board-level experience across Ireland, Italy, and Belgium. She currently serves on the board of Life Pharmacy and practices as a community pharmacist. Emily is also a member of the IIOP Mentorship Steering Group and is a peer support pharmacist.

Gráinne Henson is Head of Health Sector at Bank of Ireland and a registered nurse with more than 30 years’ experience in health service delivery and management across both the public and private sectors in Ireland and the UK. She has also owned and operated her own retail start-up business, providing her with first-hand experience of the opportunities and challenges faced by business owners and entrepreneurs. Drawing on her clinical, operational and commercial experience, Gráinne works closely with healthcare providers, offering expert insight into sector trends, market dynamics and business growth. In her current role, she supports healthcare businesses through a deep understanding of the evolving healthcare landscape, helping them navigate change, invest for the future and achieve sustainable growth.

This blend of healthcare expertise and practical business experience gives her a unique perspective on innovation, leadership and excellence within the pharmacy sector.

Joan Peppard is a registered pharmacist with significant experience in hospital pharmacy, a senior leader in pharmacy
representation in Ireland and Europe as a past President of both HPAI and EAHP. She is currently working as a pharmacy
consultant and locum pharmacist in hospital and community
She holds a pharmacy degree from UCD, BA in Health System Management from the IPA and an MA in Ethics from DCU.

Julie Ann Alsaddique is a registered pharmacist with extensive experience across patient-facing and non-patient pharmacy roles, spanning regulatory, research, community and hospital practice.

She currently works as a Senior Antimicrobial Pharmacist in the hospital sector and as a Dublin-based pharmacist in community practice. Julie also holds several senior professional leadership positions, including membership of the AMRIC Expert Advisory Group in Pregnancy, Chair of the Employee Pharmacist Committee of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), and membership of the IPU Executive.

She holds pharmacy degrees and an MSc in Healthcare Management from RCSI.

Kevin Kelly is an accomplished registered pharmacist (MPSI) with over 35 years of leadership in community healthcare. He completed his pharmaceutical education at Trinity College Dublin (School of Pharmacy), establishing a strong foundation in clinical pharmacology and patient care that has defined his career.

As Managing Director, Kevin founded and expanded Kevin Kelly Pharmacy into a multi-branch network across Carlow. Under his direction, the practice has grown into a leading regional provider specializing in sports medicine, orthotics, and clinical consultation alongside digital pharmacy services. Combining operational expertise with a patient-first focus, Kevin continues to drive innovation and high clinical standards in modern independent pharmacy practice.

Dr. Maura Kinahan is a registered pharmacist who has spent her career to-date in various roles in the pharmaceutical industry (Pharmaceutical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs) with Élan, Bristol-Myers Squibb & Pfizer.

Maura is a founding member of Pharmacists in Industry, Education, Regulatory (PIER) which represents the interests of non-patient facing pharmacists, leading on career and mentorship activities.

She holds a pharmacy degree from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), Ph.D. from the University of Manchester and is a fellow of BioInnovate Ireland.

Ramy Seraphim MPSI, MSc Health Economics

Ramy is a community- based pharmacist and the Superintendent Pharmacist for Uniphar-owned pharmacies, including Allcare, Hickey’s, McCauley, and Life Pharmacies. He brings over 15 years of experience across community pharmacy and regulatory environments, both in Ireland and internationally.

He holds a master’s degree in health economics, combining clinical expertise with strategic insight to drive high standards in patient-centered care, regulatory compliance, and governance. Ramy is committed to the advancement of the pharmacy profession through education and mentorship. He has served as an APPEL preceptor since the programme’s inception, playing a role in the training and professional development of future pharmacists.

Principal, Amharc Consulting Limited

Rosemarie Tully is a life sciences professional with more than 25 years of experience across pharma, biotech, drug delivery, medical devices and strategy consulting. Rosemarie was VP & GM, Europe at Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, until its acquisition by Alkermes in 2026. Throughout her career she has held senior leadership roles with responsibility for operations, strategy, corporate development, and consulting at companies including Neuromod Devices, Sigmoid Pharma, Elan, and McKinsey.

She graduated with a BSc. (Pharm) from Trinity College Dublin, an MBA from INSEAD and is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Rosemarie was a founding and is an ongoing committee member of PIER, a voluntary organisation for pharmacists in industry, education and regulatory settings.

Tara Hayden is a Lecturer, Educator, and Senior Hospital Pharmacy Technician with
expertise spanning pharmacy education, clinical pharmacy practice, medication safety and
pharmacy workforce development.
Tara is a Lecturer at SETU where she delivers evidence-based education for pharmacy
technicians and dispensary assistants. As an Educator at RCSI’s School of Pharmacy and
Biomolecular Sciences, Tara teaches undergraduate pharmacy students, focusing on
pharmacy practice and patient-centred care. She also works as a Senior Hospital Pharmacy
Technician at St. Luke’s Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny, where she designed and leads a
competency-based medicines reconciliation training programme supporting pharmacy
technicians in expanded clinical roles.
Tara holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Education and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health
Professions Education. A two-time RCSI Innovation in Education Awards finalist, she also
received the inaugural ‘Margaret Murphy’ All-Island Medication Safety Best Poster Award.
She is Vice President of the National Association of Hospital Pharmacy Technicians of Ireland
(NAHPT), represents Ireland on the European Association of Pharmacy Technicians (EAPT),
and is a founding member of the EAPT European Academic Network, which fosters
collaboration and innovation in pharmacy technician education across Europe.