11 December 2025
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The 54th European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN) Conference 2024 at University College Cork took the Social Impact Spotlight Award at Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards.
Led by conference ambassador Dr Lyndsey El Amoud, the conference was themed “University Lifelong Learning: Leading Positive Change in Challenging Times” and positioned universities as agents of transformation. It sparked global dialogue through a Declaration on Equity in Education, signed by 115 universities and aligned with Ireland’s National Access Plan (2022–2028). Judges praised the event for prioritising inclusion and social justice and for introducing a socially responsible conferencing model that influenced policy, partnerships and public awareness.
The 54th European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN) Conference 2024, was held at University College Cork under the theme “University Lifelong Learning (ULLL): Leading Positive Change in Challenging Times,” the conference positioned universities as agents of transformation and sparked global dialogue through a groundbreaking Declaration on Equity in Education, signed by 115 universities and aligned with Ireland’s National Access Plan (2022–2028). Damien Eagers / Coalesce NO REPRO FEE
Pictured representing Cork were (Front Row): Roisin Fitzgerald; Dr Lyndsey El Amoud, Social Impact and Legacy Award Winner; Dr Denis Kelliher; Brian Hayes, Cork All Star; Seamus Heaney, Cork Convention Bureau and Ciara Gallagher, Fáilte Ireland. (Back Row) Greg Carew; Dr Trevor Hogan; Paul McCormack; Mary Nolan; Evelyn O’Sullivan, Cork Convention Bureau; Professor Geraldine Boylan; Dr Robbie Butler; Niall Tracey, Fáilte Ireland and Caroline O’Reilly, Cork Convention Bureau.
Dr. Lyndsey El Amoud, of University College Cork, has been named winner of the Social Impact and Legacy Award for embedding meaningful social impact into every stage of event planning of the 54th European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN) Conference 2024, and is pictured receiving her award at Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards from Paul Mockler and Ruth Andrews, Chairperson, Fáilte Ireland, at an award ceremony in the Royal Dublin Society
Dr El Amoud was one of 17 Cork-based ambassadors to receive recognition at the awards.
In total Fáilte Ireland honoured the outstanding contributions of 109 sector leaders at the biennial Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards held at The Royal Dublin Society on Thursday 27th November. These leading academics and industry experts, known as conference ambassadors, were celebrated for hosting international conferences in Ireland between 2023 and 2024, and collectively generating an estimated €117 million for the Irish economy. The role of conference ambassadors underpins the Government’s Business Events 2030 strategy by attracting high-value international conferences that deliver economic impact and long-term legacy for Ireland.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Conference Ambassador of the Year award to Professor Cathal Gurrin of Dublin City University. Since 2011, Professor Gurrin has secured multiple international conferences worth an estimated €6.4 million, including the 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) in 2023, which alone contributed more approximately €470,000 to the local economy. With more events in the pipeline, his efforts continue to position Ireland as a leading global conference destination.
The second spotlight award for sustainability went to the 35th International Geographical Congress 2024, organised by Dr. Niamh Moore-Cherry (UCD) and Professor Frances Fahy (University of Galway) took place at Dublin City University.
Since its inception in 2009, Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Programme has motivated and supported nearly 3,500 sector leaders in their journey to bid to host conferences worth over €2.9 billion. These events, often held outside the busy summer period, deliver significant economic, social, and environmental benefits, with each international delegate’s value estimated at more than two and a half times that of the average leisure tourist.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: “I congratulate all of the ambassadors recognised at the Conference Ambassadors Recognition Awards. Their success in attracting international conferences is helping to deliver the Business Events 2030 strategy, which I launched earlier this year. This strategy sets out our ambition to position Ireland as a sustainable, world-class destination for business travel, driving economic growth and supporting regional development. The work of these ambassadors demonstrates how collaboration and leadership can turn that vision into reality, strengthening Ireland’s reputation on the global stage.”
Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland Caroline Bocquel added: “Our conference ambassadors are true champions for Ireland on the global stage. Their dedication and expertise have not only delivered an estimated €117 million to our economy over a two-year period, but they have also showcased Ireland as a world-class destination for knowledge exchange and innovation. These conferences create lasting legacies—strengthening our industries, fostering collaboration, and driving regional growth. At Fáilte Ireland, we are proud to support this network and encourage more leaders to join us in bringing future business events to Ireland.”
Seamus Heaney Head of Visit Cork commented: “The Conference Ambassador Awards are not just a celebration of achievement, but a testament to the exceptional dedication and hard work of our conference ambassadors. In total, Cork conferences with an approximate value of €5.7m were acknowledged and these have all played a huge part in enhancing the global reputation of Cork and Ireland as a premier destination for business events. The efforts of these individuals shape the future of Cork’s economy, contribute to the development of cutting-edge research and foster international collaborations that extend far beyond the conferences themselves.”
The Cork ambassadors recognised at the Conference Ambassador Awards:
- Geraldine Boylan, 15th International Newborn Brain Conference 2024
- Trevor Hogan & Prof Luigina Ciolfi, 18th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction 2024
- Julie Conroy, 2023 Spring Meeting of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons
- Prof. Nicole Muller, 21st International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine and Ethics – COMET 2023
- Mary Nolan & Greg Ryan, 41st International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society (IFMSS) 2024
- Catherine O’ Mahony, 46th Annual EAIR Forum 2024
- Lyndsey El Amoud, 54th EUCEN Annual Conference 2024
- Roisin Fitzgerald & Sean McKeown, EAZA Directors’ Days 2024
- Paul McCormack, H2IRL Hydrogen Ireland Conference 2024
- Denis Kelliher, ISSMO-15th World Congress of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization 2023
- Tadhg Leane, OER24: 15th Annual Open Education Conference 2024
- Robbie Butler, The 14th European Sport Economics Association (ESEA) Conference 2023
- Zili Li, The 4th International Symposium of Machine Learning and Big Data in Geoscience & Geoengineering (ISMLG) 2023
- John Morrissey, The 8th Conference on Physiology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi (PYFF8) 2023