Olivia McDermott of the University of Galway joins the judging panel for the National Procurement Awards 2026, bringing a rare combination of academic research depth and hands-on industry experience to a programme that celebrates excellence across Irish procurement.

Olivia's research interests span Quality 4.0, Industry 4.0, Lean, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence, disciplines that sit close to the heart of modern procurement and supply chain performance. Since 2021, she has published and co-authored over 190 journal articles, and her published work has earned her many awards. She is also recognised among the top 2% of researchers in her field in the Stanford University and Elsevier rankings.

Her research leadership is equally substantial. Olivia manages a team of 10 industry-based PhD students and has secured just under 1 million in research funding, a record that reflects both the quality and the practical relevance of her work. That emphasis on research connected directly to industry gives her a strong understanding of how process improvement and operational thinking translate into measurable results.

Before entering academia, Olivia spent over 15 years in industry in Operational Excellence and Quality Management roles. That background means she evaluates excellence from both sides: the rigour of the researcher and the practical perspective of someone who has delivered improvement inside real organisations. For a programme that recognises procurement teams and professionals for the results they achieve, that dual perspective is a valuable asset.

Her appointment to the judging panel brings analytical depth, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a grounded understanding of operational performance that will strengthen the evaluation process at the National Procurement Awards 2026.

The National Procurement Awards 2026 gala takes place on 22nd October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

View the full list of judges here procurementawards.ie/judges, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with announcements, shortlists, and event news.