Josephine Daly, founder of CNC Components has been named Business Woman of the Year for 2002.
The annual award, presented by the Business Professional Women’s network (BPW) in association with O2 is designed to recognise and reward business excellence among female entrepeneurs.
The winner was chosen from nine other shortlisted nominees by a judging panel which including Senator Mary White, CEO of Lir Chocolates, Padraig O’Céidigh, CEO Aer Arann and Danuta Gray, CEO of O2 Ireland.
Ms Daly was praised by the panel for her “sheer grit, determination and passion she holds for her business. Judges said her achievement was particularly notable given that she operated in a largely male dominated business.
She established CNC Components, Precision Engineers in 1997. Based in Carlow, CNC’s core business is the manufacture of precision turned steel parts to the precise specifications required by clients who operate in variety of industries.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan said: “Businesses that do not secure a proper balance of women in their management, in their human resource departments and in their product development departments, will fail to ensure that their overall business strategies reflect the market place in which they operate.
Danuta Gray, Chief Executive of O2 Ireland, said: “While Ireland fares well in terms of female entrepeneurial activity when compared to the rest of Europe — currently 7.5pc of Irish entrepeneurs are females compared with the UK (4.5pc) and Belgium (3pc) — there is still room for improvement.”
Currently in its ninth year the Business Woman of the Year Award aims to raise the profile of female entrepeneurs as well as encouraging women to achieve their full entrepeneurial potential.
Past winners of the award include: Áine Ní Chongahaile, Europas Teo — an Irish Language Translation service for TV and Public Bodies, Patrice Gallagher, Hamel Clothing – Children’s Clothing Company and Rita Aherne, Rita Aherne Foods, Frozen Foods Company.
By Suzanne Byrne
