Mary McKenna MBE, Chair and Co-Founder of all-Ireland women-founder and investor communities AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, has become the first-ever recipient of a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) Fellowship at Ulster University.
The prestigious EiR Fellowship is also only the third ever awarded in Northern Ireland by the Royal Society.
The well-known tech entrepreneur and angel investor is one of only 15 new EiRs joining the Royal Society this year, underscoring her exceptional contributions to innovation, investment, and female entrepreneurship.
Originally from Dungannon in Co. Tyrone, Mary is also a visiting Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Oxford. She was named European Female Business Angel of the Year and UK Business Angels Association UK Angel of the Year in 2023/24. In her role as Chair of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, she focuses on removing barriers to investment, scale and success for women founders, introducing them to vital new connections, and creating equity in the founder ecosystem for all.
The Entrepreneur in Residence scheme by the Royal Society was founded in 2017 to strengthen links between academia and industry by placing experienced entrepreneurs in UK research institutions. The programme helps researchers translate cutting-edge science into real-world innovation by providing mentorship, industry insights, and commercial expertise.
As part of her new EiR role, Mary will join the team at Ulster University Business School (UUBS) and work alongside academics, students, and potential company builders to empower them in transforming their hard-earned intellectual property into useful and commercial real-world solutions, creating value for the University and wider society. A leading centre for entrepreneurial education, research, and impact, UUBS is ranked first in Northern Ireland for research excellence in Business and Management (REF 2021). With over 10,000 students and 200 staff members, it is one of the largest business schools in the UK and Ireland.
Commenting on her appointment, Mary, said: “To have been chosen as an Entrepreneur in Residence by the Royal Society and the first at Ulster University is an incredible honour. Having been lucky enough to have spent many years as an advocate for entrepreneurship, women founders, angel investing, and innovation, this is an exciting new opportunity to enable Ulster University’s talented researchers and students to bridge the gap between academia and industry. This kind of mentoring and work is so vital within the founder ecosystem, something that was reinforced for me on our recent AwakenHub and AwakenAngels US trade mission, so I would like to thank the Royal Society and Ulster University for their valuable support. I can’t wait to get started alongside the team at UUBS and look forward to supporting their advances, helping to foster their spinouts, and inspiring the next generation of our entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland.”
Welcoming the announcement, Professor Sandra Moffett, Professor of Business Analytics, Ulster University Business School, said: "We look forward to welcoming Mary to the Ulster University Business School, where she will have so much to offer our students. Her extensive experience in innovation and investment will not only amplify their learning experience but also provide them with the skills, knowledge, and networks to transform ideas into tangible impact.
“Mary brings invaluable industry insights and perspectives that will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. We are committed to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset that enables talent to thrive, and her leadership will help drive new opportunities for collaboration, commercialisation, and growth across Northern Ireland’s business ecosystem."
Clare McGee, CEO and co-founder of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, added: “Mary’s appointment as a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence at Ulster University is a huge win for the entrepreneurial landscape across Northern Ireland and beyond. At AwakenHub and AwakenAngels we see the incredible impact her leadership and mentoring have on our women founders and early-stage businesses every week. This new role, made possible by the Royal Society and Ulster University, means she will now be able to bring her expertise and network to an even wider audience and that’s fantastic news for all the innovators and startup founders who are going to be lucky enough to work alongside her, as well as for the people set to benefit from their innovations.”
Speaking about the importance of the EiR Fellowships to academia and industry, Sir Robin Saxby FREng FRS, Chair of the Royal Society’s Science, Industry and Translation Committee, said: “The Royal Society is delighted to welcome this year’s new cohort of Entrepreneurs in Residence, who bring an inspiring range of expertise and vision. The EiR programme plays a vital role in strengthening the links between cutting-edge research, commercial expertise, and real-world impact. The programme helps the application of scientific excellence to meet customer needs, enabling innovation that benefits society. We can’t wait to see the impact our new EiRs create over the next two years.”
The Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence scheme plays a vital role in bridging the gap between research and commercialisation, ensuring that scientific discoveries can benefit society. By strengthening academic-industry connections, the programme contributes to the UK’s innovation ecosystem and helps turn breakthrough ideas into impactful enterprises.
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