Each member brings unique expertise and a shared commitment to fostering innovation, diversity, and collaboration across disciplines. We’re excited to introduce the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support and inspire our global community of students.
© Undergraduate Awards CLG. Registered in Ireland No. 463125
Executive Director
Dr. Garret Maher is the Executive Director of the Global Undergraduate Awards, joining the team in summer 2018, and is responsible for the overall management of the Awards and Annual Summit.
He has worked in the higher education sector for more than a decade in a number of roles.
Most recently, Garret worked at the University of Exeter, as a key member of the Global Partnerships team, focused on strengthening Exeter’s ties with key universities in Europe.
Prior to that, Garret worked at the University of Warwick to advance international links in Central Asia; as a lecturer at the National University of Ireland, Galway; and as Assistant Professor of Geography at Gulf University for Sciences and Technology in Kuwait.
He has also worked as a private Research Consultant for the British Council and Brown-Forman; and led research operations in Brazil, Ireland, USA, the UAE, Kuwait, and Lebanon, and has published in a number of highly ranked international journals.
He received his PhD in Geography, and BA, from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and his Master’s Degree from University College Dublin.
University Partnership Executive
Niamh is a highly skilled professional with a diverse background in makeup artistry and digital marketing. She holds a certificate in digital marketing with a specialisation in content development, showcasing her expertise in creating engaging and impactful online content.
Niamh initially joined the Global Undergraduate Awards as a Programme Executive, where she excelled in handling all administrative tasks and managing the organisation’s social media presence. Her exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail quickly made her an invaluable member of the team.
With a passion for fostering partnerships and driving growth, Niamh is now our University Partnership Executive.
Currently, Niamh is leveraging her strategic thinking and communication skills to establish new partnerships, develop new avenues for corporate dialogue and maintain existing relationships with all our partner universities around the world, furthering the organisation’s core mission of recognising outstanding undergraduate research and innovation.
Judging Executive
Helen is our Judging Executive here at GUA, her role involves managing the judging process, keeping our library of papers up to date and supporting/recruiting our esteemed judges each cycle.
Originally from Dublin, Helen obtained her BA History at Trinity College Dublin and later completed a Masters in African Studies at Leiden University and a Diploma in Law from The Law Society of Ireland.
She is currently in the process of completing her MSc in Library and Information Management and is especially interested in researching topics which merge the perspectives of Information Science and Environmental Humanities.
She loves music, books, all things Whitney Houston and is slowly trying to improve her cooking skills with the help of Youtube and her enthusiastic daughters!
If you have any questions regarding the GUA and the judging process find out more here, or…
Office Manager/ GUA Swiss Army Knife
Our Office Manager’s journey from Marseille, France, to Dublin, Ireland, has been one of adventure, growth, and determination. In 2021, she embraced the opportunity to volunteer with an association supporting elderly people through the French “Service Civique” programme. This experience allowed her to develop strong organisational and interpersonal skills, alongside a deep sense of empathy, all of which are vital in her role at GUA.
Serving part-time on administration roles and as photographer at our Summit in 2023 she officially joined the team in February 2024. Bringing her passion for art, photography, and travel into her work, adding creativity and a fresh perspective to everything she does. Her adaptability and dedication make her an invaluable part of the team, helping to ensure the smooth operation of the office and contributing to the organisation’s vibrant and supportive culture.
Summit Coordinator
With over 20 years of experience as an Event Manager Consultant, I am driven by creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence. In 2021, I returned to my early passion for the craft world and, combining my flair for art, style, and culture, I opened a small craft shop in Enniskerry Village – Objects
In my spare time, I enjoy challenging myself by pushing my boundaries through marathon swimming.
Head of Communications
Diane is our Head of Communications, spearheading the promotion of the Global Undergraduate Awards Programme worldwide. Hailing from the UK originally, she initially studied for dual undergraduate degrees – BA in Fine Art and a BSc in Computer Programming when no one could see a link between her two passions. Upon graduation, something called the web happened and from there she delved into interactive media, web programming and graphic design for corporate clients during the emergence of these, then, new platforms.
With a passion for sharing the joy of this diverse and ever-changing subject, guest lecturing at universities on interactive media in the evenings, her journey led her back to academia, where she focused on researching the potential impact of social platform development and mobile gaming techniques.
Since those early days she has worked for the biggest names in the field, traveled the world, lectured, presented, written and advised on these topics with international clients, government bodies, universities, colleges, and schools across Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, the UK, and the USA, while empowering thousands of students to pursue careers in the creative industries.
Diane’s zest for travel, meeting new people, learning languages, and embracing life brought her to Ireland, where she resides with her husband, three sons, and two rescue Chihuahuas. If you have any questions related to media and communications please get in touch.
