Willie Donnelly, Director of Research and Innovation at The Technical Higher Education Association (THEA), has been named as the Judging Coordinator for the Education Awards 2026, bringing extensive experience in research leadership, technology transfer, and higher education governance to the role.

Donnelly's career spans academic research, institutional leadership, and innovation commercialisation. As former President of Waterford Institute of Technology from 2015 to 2022, he led strategic development during a transformative period for the institute.

His earlier work established him as a leading figure in Irish research, creating and directing the Telecommunications Software and Systems Group (TSSG) and Walton Institute, one of Ireland's foremost academic research centres.

Between 2003 and 2014, Donnelly secured over €100 million in competitive research funding, serving as principal investigator on Science Foundation Ireland and European projects spanning communications management and smart agriculture. His approach to research consistently prioritised real-world application, resulting in the creation of multiple campus companies to commercialise intellectual property. Among these, FeedHenry was acquired by Red Hat, demonstrating the commercial viability of academic innovation.

Donnelly holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from University College Dublin and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics and Physics from Dublin Institute of Technology. His academic foundation underpins a career trajectory that bridges theoretical research, applied innovation, and institutional strategy, qualities directly relevant to evaluating entries across the Education Awards' 27 categories.

As Judging Coordinator, Donnelly will oversee the independent evaluation process, ensuring entries are assessed against rigorous criteria measuring innovation, impact, and scalability. His role involves coordinating expert panellists drawn from Irish and international higher education leadership, maintaining consistency in judging standards, and upholding the integrity of the awards process.

Winners will be announced at the Education Awards 2026 ceremony on 16 April at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath, where Ireland's education community will gather to celebrate excellence spanning higher education, further education, and professional training.

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