Press Release - Dublin, Ireland, 30 January, 2020
The founders of TestReach and the founder of THEYA Healthcare were among the Award winners announced last night at the final of the 2020 Irish Women’s Awards.
These Awards, taking place for the second time in Ireland, honour the talent and hard work of female professionals and entrepreneurs across all industries. The Awards celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs, business women, professionals, civil servants, charity workers and many others, across the country.
Sheena Bailey and Louella Morton, co-founders of TestReach, won the Business of the Year Award.
TestReach has developed a cloud-based assessment application that enables organisations to create, mark and deliver exams online, removing the need for paper. The company covers a wide range of exam delivery options, including live remote invigilation for formal exams, where the candidate is monitored in real-time over the web by trained supervisors using video, audio and remote screen share technology. TestReach is headquartered at NexusUCD, the Industry Partnership Centre at University College Dublin (UCD).
Louella Morton, Executive Director, TestReach said, “We are thrilled to be awarded the 2020 Irish Women’s Award for Business of the Year. It is wonderful recognition for TestReach and what we have achieved in bringing a new technology to market, which has had such a transformational impact. It is a very exciting time for TestReach as we continue to expand and work with so many clients to improve their examinations process.”
Sheena Bailey and Louella Morton established TestReach in response to the massive increase in demand for qualifications globally, a demand that cannot be met by running exams in a traditional manner.
The company is already working with leading names in assessment, including major awarding bodies, professional membership associations, corporations and government in Ireland, such as the Institute of Directors, the Public Appointments Service, ACCA and The Council of Europe.
“While there have been huge advancements in the options for learning, such as immersive learning and virtual classrooms, not much has changed with how exams are run. Candidates go to exam halls and sit exams via paper with essays and multiple choice questions. We set out to change that. The ability to run an exam anywhere, and have it professionally invigilated over the web by trained supervisors is a game changer,” said Sheena Bailey, CEO, TestReach.
Ciara Donlon, founder of THEYA Healthcare won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award
THEYA Healthcare designs and manufactures innovative medical garments using natural fibres. The company’s flagship post-surgery lingerie range designed initially for use by breast cancer patients now serves many more medical niches.
THEYA Healthcare is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at UCD.
Ciara Donlon, THEYA Healthcare said, “I am delighted to have won the 2020 Irish Women’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. It is fantastic to be recognised as a founder of a company that through the use of natural materials is not only helping patients feel better about themselves, both physically and mentally, but we are also helping ease the burden on our planet by only using natural fibres that do not require the use of chemicals or water to thrive and grow.”
The company uses a patented bamboo fabric mix, made from OEKO-TEX® bamboo, which was tested as part of a clinical study carried out at UCD. The fabric has been scientifically proven to be ideal for post-operative wear as it is highly anti-bacterial naturally, breathable, 59% more absorbent than cotton and extremely soft thus helping to reduce skin irritation, keep patients cool and dry and increase recovery times.
THEYA Healthcare currently supply hospitals and retailers across Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US.
Tracy O’Rourke, founder of Vivid Edge also headquartered at NovaUCD, was a runner-up in the Business Woman of the Year Award category. Vivid Edge has developed a pioneering ‘energy efficiency as a service’ model for organisations which use large amounts of energy.
The Irish Women’s Awards are organised by Creative Oceanic which has delivered award ceremonies for nearly a decade in cities around the world, including Dublin, Belfast, Toronto, London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester Leicester, Birmingham and recently in New York.
Irfan Younis, CEO, Creative Oceanic, said, “Congratulations to all winners and finalists at the 2nd Irish Women’s Awards 2020. We were delighted to host exceptional finalists who make brilliant role models and are leading a new generation of women and girls to greater success and more open doors. We look forward to growing this campaign and are excited to see it how it evolves over coming years.”
Further details on all winners of the 2020 Irish Women’s Awards can be read here.