Top sustainability award for Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry
10 December 2025
Sally-Ann O'Brien, Business Events Manager- Sustainability & Social Impact at Fáilte Ireland; Professor Frances Fahy, University of Galway; Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry, UCD; Ruth Andrews, Chairperson, Fáilte Ireland
Professor (opens in a new window)Niamh Moore Cherry from the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law has won a prestigious Fáilte Ireland prize for sustainable practices in conference planning.
The Fáilte Ireland National Spotlight Award for Sustainability, presented at the Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards, recognised her work in planning the 35th International Geographical Congress 2024.
Professor Frances Fahy from the University of Galway, who organised the conference along with Professor Moore Cherry, also received the award.
The International Geographical Congress is the largest global gathering of geographers, organised every four years to share research, discuss geographic issues, and promote the discipline’s role in addressing global challenges such as climate change.
Judges praised the 2024 event’s strong evidence of environmental responsibility and its collaborative approach.
Held at DCU, the Congress integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, appointed a dedicated Sustainability Officer, launched public engagement programmes, and introduced a voluntary environmental levy that funded local green projects.
“This recognition from Fáilte Ireland showcases the centrality of sustainability to our congress planning and operations, and hopefully will provide inspiration to others that we can take simple steps to minimise the environmental footprint and maximise the social impact of large scale international events that are so important to our disciplines,” said Professor Moore Cherry.
Fáilte Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards are held every two years. This year, academics and industry experts 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.
“Our conference ambassadors are true champions for Ireland on the global stage,” said Caroline Bocquel, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland.
“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.”
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
