2025 Judges

Tina-Marie O’Neill

Editor, Property Plus, Business Post

Tina-Marie is the Business Post Property Editor. She joined the publication some 20 years ago as a general reporter before becoming the newspaper’s World News reporter and its first Bite Size columnist. She has been the publication’s Property Editor since 2013 and co-organised the first Sunday Business Post National Property Summit in 2014. Tina-Marie has a Masters Degree in Politics from UCD, a BA in German and Politics and a diploma in Interior Design. She most recently obtained a distinction from Technical University Dublin having completed the IPAV Level 6 Higher Certificate in Real Estate.

Neil Bannon

Neil Bannon, Executive Chairman, Bannon

Neil has over 30 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial property, particularly in asset management and development consultancy. In his role as Head of Consultancy, Neil specialises in providing strategic advice to client devising solutions for development, investments, disposal and acquisition roll outs, consultancy, and research.

Neil has advised on some of Ireland’s largest and most successful retail developments including Dundrum, Blanchardstown & Tallaght Town Centres and Pavilions Shopping Centre. Over his career to date Neil has bought, sold, leased or managed over 50% of Ireland’s purpose-built retail stock. In the office market Neil has advised on the development Grand Canal Square, Dublin Airport Central & 28 Fitzwilliam.

Neil continues to provide and implement asset management & investment strategies some of the largest institutional and private equity investors in Irish Real Estate.

Catherine Kenny

Catherine Kenny, CEO, Dublin Simon Community

Catherine Kenny was appointed CEO of Dublin Simon Community in 2022 and took up the role from 1st October. She joined Dublin Simon Community in 2001 as a project worker and held a number of positions before becoming Head of Housing in 2007, progressing to Head of Property & Quality. During this time Catherine built on her Diploma in Social Studies to achieve an Honours Degree in Industrial Relation and Human Resource Management BA (Hons) and a Masters Degree in Strategic Management. Catherine has been committed to sectoral engagement consistently during this time being involved in numerous initiatives such as Sectoral Accommodation Co-ordination Group (DRHE), Long Term Accommodation Group (DRHE), Chairperson of the Homeless Network, one of founder’s of Sector Heads Group, Sector Sub Group of MAG regarding Sex Offenders, Reconfiguration of Sector Meetings.

Paul Sheridan

Director of Main Contracting Services, CIF

As part of his brief Paul represents the Civil Engineering, Master Builders and General Contracting sector all of whom are essential to building the infrastructure that supports FDI, Housing for All and Ireland’s economic growth. Paul is also responsible for procurement, tendering and contractual policy in the CIF, in particular, public procurement of the NDP.

Paul is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and holds a Master’s in Business Practice alongside a postgraduate diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration.

Paul began his career as a Contracts Manager in the water and waste-water Industry. He previously worked in the tendering and contracting department in the CIF before working as a Senior Development Executive in the industrial property development sector. Since then, Paul has worked with Engineers Ireland and the Royals College of Surgeons in areas of policy development, advocacy, strategy, business transformation, governance, quality assurance, accreditation and academic and professional education.

Carol Tallon

CEO of Communications Agency, Property District

Carol is a legal graduate, now specialising in PR, new media and public consultation for the built environment. With more than 15 years experience across the planning, construction, property and proptech sectors, Carol has worked with government agencies, industry representative bodies, property developers, construction contractors, auctioneering firms and media outlets. In addition to founding Proptech Ireland as an ESG initiative back in 2016 and rolling out Ireland’s virtual town hall ‘PLACEengage’, Carol and the Property District team produce Ireland’s first weekly radio show for the property industry ‘Property Matters’ on Dublin South FM and iPropertyRadio.com.

Gavin Lawlor MIPI

President of the Irish Planning Institute

Gavin has worked in planning for almost 30 years and is a Director at Tom Phillips + Associates. Gavin’s expertise covers a wide range of areas and he has extensive knowledge across the industrial, energy and waste management sectors. Gavin obtained a Masters in Regional and Urban Planning from UCD having graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science at the Belfield Campus from University College Dublin.

Gavin was an Associate with Tom Phillips + Associates at its inception in April 2002 and was appointed as a Director in April 2007. He was formerly employed as a Senior Planning Consultant with Frank L. Benson and Partners, prior to its dissolution in 2002.

Gavin’s experience covers a wide range of planning areas including forward planning (for example development plans, policy formation and regional plans), project development and evaluation. He also has extensive knowledge and experience of industrial sectors such as mining and quarrying, alternative and conventional energy (in particular wind farms) and waste management. Gavin also has particular experience of attending and leading project teams at An Bord Pleanála Oral Hearings, Compulsory Purchase Order Proceedings as well as giving evidence in defence of enforcement proceedings taken by Local Authorities and Third Parties in the High Court.

Mary Conway

Chairperson, Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA)

 Mary has been letting and managing property full time since 2015 when she gave up nursing and went back to college to study for her PSRA license. Mary began Janus estates in 2019 with the aim of helping families navigate through changes often associated with age and lifestyle transitions. This includes changes due to illness, bereavement, separation, divorce or helping a family to prepare a house for sale after the death of a loved one.

Ivan Gaine

Managing Director, Commercial and New Homes

Ivan has considerable expertise within the property industry in Ireland and manages a great team of experienced property professionals across Ireland. The team works to build long-term partnerships with developer & non-developer clients to develop tailored solutions to achieve clients’ risk/return objectives by providing strategy advice, portfolio management and transaction services across New Homes & Residential Investment (PRS) sectors.

Our dedicated New Homes team have a wealth of experience having successfully sold over 60,000 units across multiple developments. As the market is evolving and re-emerging we are identifying new opportunities for new entrants and existing development companies across the Greater Dublin Area, Cork, Galway & Limerick. Our drive is to provide strategic, policy and sales consultancy advice to a wide range of institutional, capital and developer clients.

Ivan started his career with Sherry FitzGerald in 1999, initially working in the Business Space Department within DTZ Sherry FitzGerald (now Cushman & Wakefield). After qualifying as a chartered surveyor, Ivan made the move to Sherry FitzGerald New Homes where he specialises in residential development land, mixed use developments and portfolio work. Ivan is a member of ULI (Urban Land Institute) and Chairman of Property Industry Ireland (PII).

Genevieve McGuirk

Genevieve McGuirk, Head of Operations, Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV)

Genevieve is Head of Operations at the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV)a representative professional body catering for the professional and educational requirements of over 1,500 Auctioneers and Valuers. She has over 18 years’ experience in the property sector.

Genevieve leads the institute’s comprehensive system of professional education and development for members as well as for students entering the profession which is dedicated to shaping a future orientated, informed and agile property sector operating to the highest ethical standards.

Having completed her property studies at Technological University Dublin, Genevieve dived into the fast-paced world of residential property sales with Savills, a leading real estate firm, becoming a Senior Negotiator in residential sales.

Later, showcasing her versatility and leadership capabilities, she took on the role of managing a homecare agency and helped steer a strategic merger that led to the formation of a new agency based in the Beacon Hospital, Dublin before joining IPAV in 2015.

At IPAV Genevieve has leveraged her leadership, strategic thinking and operational expertise to be a driving force in IPAV’s increasingly influential role in the industry. Under her stewardship the institute has prioritised organisational efficiency, team performance and member engagement.

Genevieve is deeply invested in the professional development of property service providers. She is committed to fostering and promoting high standards of professionalism, ensuring that practitioners are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s property market.

Under her guidance IPAV’s educational initiatives with TU Dublin have seen the institute’s level 6 programme double in numbers. She has also developed the TEGOVA, European Valuation Standard residential programme which holds default status with the Irish and European Central Banks in the event of a dispute arising.

Genevieve has contributed to other bodies, such as Digital Business Ireland (DBI) with other industry leaders.  

Known for her integrity, strong work ethic and ability to foster good working relationships with colleagues, clients, and industry stakeholders, Genevieve is passionate about the property industry and says she is continually inspired by the professionals with whom she works, seeing each collaboration as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the sector

Sponsorship Enquiry

Register your Interest