CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research have announced the judging panel for the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025, a new initiative open to late-stage start-ups and ventures driving innovation in the circular economy across the island of Ireland.
The panel of circular economy innovation, venture investment, and advanced manufacturing leaders includes Joint Chief Executive Officer of Makers Alliance, Mark Nodder; Jamie Rowles, Partner at Regeneration.VC; Founding and Managing Partner of WakeUp Capital, Faye Walsh Drouillard; and Dr. Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research.
Mark Nodder brings a wealth of knowledge in advanced manufacturing in Northern Ireland, gained through an extensive career of service to the economy at the NI Chamber of Commerce and Invest NI.
Jamie Rowles provides his expertise in leading early-stage circular and regenerative technology investments globally, climate investments across the UK and US, and co-founding tech start-ups.
Faye Walsh Drouillard contributes with her experience in driving financial, social and environmental impact via venture investment, entrepreneurship, innovation, enlightened funding models and encouraging diversity in finance and governance.
Dr. Geraldine Brennan completes the panel with her leadership in industry applied research and as head of CIRCULÉIRE, Ireland's flagship Platform for Circular Manufacturing & Innovation.
Referring to the awards, Dr Geraldine Brennan said: “Ireland’s transition to a circular economy is not just an environmental imperative —it’s a strategic opportunity to unlock innovation, create green jobs, build resilient economies and enable communities to thrive. Pioneering circular ventures represent the bold thinking and collaborative spirit needed to redesign production and consumption system for a regenerative future.”
CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research welcome applications from ventures pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition.
The Circular Venture Awards are funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) and will be held on 27th November at ESB HQ, Dublin 2.
Shortlisted companies will pitch and compete for a total prize pool of €10,000 plus additional coaching sessions.
The deadline for applications is Thursday 30th October at 23.59.
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
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