Siobhán Talbot honoured with IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award 2025

We are delighted to announce Siobhán Talbot will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards on Friday, April 25.

Siobhán is one of a handful of female CEOs to head up an Irish-listed company. She’s been at the helm of one of Ireland’s best-known multi-national companies, Glanbia, for over 30 years, overseeing its impressive growth and expansion. Initially in finance roles, she rose through the organisation to become Group Managing Director in 2013. 

Siobhán held this position for a decade, seeing the business gain a significant foothold in over 30 worldwide territories, and with a team of over 5,000 people. Glanbia has become a global leader in nutritional ingredient solutions and performance and lifestyle brands. 

A native of Kilmoganny, Co Kilkenny, Siobhán graduated from UCD in 1984 with a Bachelor of Commerce, followed by a postgraduate diploma in accounting in 1985. She started her career with PwC, working in Ireland and Australia. Today, alongside her role as CEO of Glanbia, she also sits on the board of CRH as a Non-Executive Director. 

Leading the way

Siobhán joins a group of outstanding Irish women to receive the IMAGE PwC Lifetime Achievement Award, including Mary Robinson; Breege O’Donoghue, company director, Penneys/Primark; Voxpro co-founder Linda Kiely; former global president of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers, Fiona Dawson CBE; and last year’s winner, Anne Heraty, founder and former CEO of Cpl Resources plc. 

Clodagh Edwards, CEO, IMAGE Media, says: “Siobhán Talbot is an exemplary businessperson and leader. She has devoted the lion’s share of her career to shaping, developing and expanding Glanbia into one of the world’s most relevant, modern food businesses. She is exactly the sort of role model our community of aspirant and dedicated businesswomen look up to, and it gives us at IMAGE immense pleasure to recognise Siobhán Talbot as the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025. I look forward to celebrating her legacy on the night of April 25.” 

Marie Coady, Markets Partner at PwC Ireland, says: “Siobhán Talbot’s career is a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership. From her early days as a PwC graduate to her role as Group Managing Director of Glanbia, Siobhán has consistently demonstrated the qualities we celebrate at these awards – vision, resilience and ambition. Her journey not only showcases personal achievement but also highlights the significant impact women have on shaping our economic landscape. At PwC, we’re proud to recognise leaders like Siobhán who not only excel in their own careers but also pave the way for future generations of businesswomen. Siobhán’s lifetime of achievements serves as an inspiration to us all.”

About the awards

The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards will welcome guests to the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin, on April 25.

Sponsored by Samsung, Cpl, Eversheds Sutherland, DS Automobiles, Cantor Fitzgerald, Kuehne+Nagel, Nespresso, its4women, Designed by Woulfe, Pinergy and Tarasis Enterprises, and in association with Marks & Spencer and istil 38, the awards celebrates women in business across 14 categories, plus the overall IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year. 

Now in its 17th year, the awards ceremony recognises the contribution Irish women make to every facet of business and modern life. The shortlist for the 2025 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards can be viewed here. For more details on the event and to purchase tickets, visit here. 

Photography by Kieran Harnett