Fexco Female Empowerment Awards 2026: Driving inclusion and opportunity
Fexco hosted its annual 2026 Female Empowerment Awards at the RDI Hub, Kerry, Ireland, on Wednesday, 6th of May, celebrating the creativity, collaboration and ambition of students from across Munster.
The initiative continues to play an important role in supporting the next generation of talent, providing students with the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges while building confidence and key STEM skills.
Supporting innovation through collaboration
This year, students from six schools across Munster, Ireland, took part, working alongside Fexco mentors to shape and refine their ideas before presenting to an expert judging panel, including Paula O’Sullivan (Group HR Director), and Cathal Foley (Chief Commercial Officer DCC & Managing Director Americas) from Fexco, and Máire Daly (Munster Technological University).
Opening the event, Fexco Chief Technology Officer David O’Brien highlighted the importance of fostering innovation and creating opportunities for young people to explore their potential in STEM.
The programme forms part of the STEM Passport for Inclusion, which equips students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to develop projects aligned with global challenges.
Recognising impactful ideas
A standout moment of the day was the quality and originality of the projects presented, reflecting the strong engagement and commitment of participating students.
Congratulations to the winning team from Coláiste na Sceilge for their project Clean Waves.
Their solution addresses plastic pollution through an app that scans product barcodes, assesses packaging sustainability, and rewards users for making lower-plastic choices.
By encouraging more green and sustainable behaviours, the concept demonstrates how simple digital solutions can create meaningful environmental impact.
Building confidence and future pathways
Closing the event, CEO Neil Hosty gave his advice to the young students:
“…none of us control where we start, none of us control how we come into the world, but we do control who we are, and we do control who we hang out with. Try to make sure you always hang out with people who value you, and help you become a better version of yourself…”
Neil also spoke about the lasting impact of programmes like STEM Passport for Inclusion, for inspiring future career pathways in STEM, giving students the opportunity to learn different skills such as coding, and imbuing students with the confidence to present in front of an audience.
A collaborative effort
Fexco extends sincere thanks to its programme partners:
- STEM Passport for Inclusion
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University
as well as the RDI Hub for hosting the event and Fexco mentors for their ongoing support.
Looking ahead
The Female Empowerment Awards are about more than a single event. They are about creating opportunity, empowering young people to innovate, build confidence and explore career paths in STEM.
Fexco looks forward to continuing this momentum and supporting future generations of innovators.
Take a look at this year’s event below:
