01 December 2010

Dr Emmeline Hill wins 2010 IMAGE Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Dr Emmeline Hill, co-founder of Equinome, was last night presented with the 2010 IMAGE Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Dr Hill was presented with the accolade in recognition of her innovative idea and its transformation into a commercial success as a UCD equine genomics spin-out company.

Equinome, headquartered in NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is a world leader in the development and provision of genomic selection tools for the bloodstock and racing industry.

The company was co-founded by Dr Hill and Mr. Jim Bolger, the renowned Irish horse breeder and trainer, and the Equinome Speed Gene Test was commercially launched last January. Still in its first year of operation, Equinome has already secured customers in Ireland, UK, France, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Melanie Morris, Editor of IMAGE magazine, speaking at the awards ceremony at The Merrion Hotel, said, "As this is the fourth IMAGE Businesswomen of the year awards, it is rewarding to see the calibre of entries has once again risen to a very impressive standard. Considering the challenges the winners and nominees have overcome in 2010, it proves just how hard working, creative and versatile Irish businesswomen are."

The judging panel, chaired by Nick Mulcahy, editor, Business Plus, comprised IMAGE Publications director Robert Power; The Sunday Business Post deputy editor and Dragon's Den presenter Richard Curran; Orla Nugent, MBA Programme Director, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School; Caroline Kennedy, MD, Kennedy PR, and last year's winners Domini and Peaches Kemp of Itsa.