IAPI Announces Recipients for the 2024 Female Futures Fund Programme

Celebrating its fifth consecutive year, IAPI proudly announce the recipients of the 2024 Female Futures Fund programme. The remarkable calibre of applicants posed a formidable challenge for the judging panel, leading to the decision to expand this year's recipient pool from 25 to 27 to accommodate more of these exceptionally talented women.

The Female Futures Fund Programme is dedicated to nurturing, retaining, and propelling outstanding female talent within the advertising, media, and communications industry into leadership roles. Through networking, coaching, and personal development opportunities, the program equips these women with the tools and strategies essential for their leadership journey.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that our Female Futures Fund programme is making such an impact on the lives of the future leaders in our industry and yet again, we have an outstanding group of women selected for the 2024 programme. However, for those of us judging, it’s popularity is a double-edged sword”, says Charley Stoney, CEO, IAPI.  “It is wonderful to see so many strong applicants but also incredibly difficult to whittle it down to the final selection. It can come down to the smallest thing when you’re having to select the recipients as the vast majority of applicants would be worthy recipients. All I would say to those not chosen this year is, please apply again, make it as personal and individual as you are comfortable with, and be very explicit about why you need the programme.”

Linda Bradley, head of planning and insights, Diageo Ireland said, ‘We extend our congratulations to all the recipients this year. I was honoured to be involved in the two rounds of judging in this year’s IAPI Female Futures Fund. The standard was incredibly high, making it a really difficult decision to narrow it down. Every one of the applicants is deserving of the bursary in some way and I would encourage anyone who doesn’t make it through this year to apply again next year. 

Diageo is incredibly proud to sponsor the programme in its fifth year and see the partnership evolve and the real difference it is making to equip women with the tools and support needed to ascend into leadership roles in the advertising, media, and communications industry.”

IAPI vice president and managing partner, strategy at Mindshare Ireland, Chris Cashen, said, “Like most, I have seen first-hand the benefits of the Female Futures Fund from previous recipients. Judging has given me a richer respect for the program, and I was sincerely blown away by the calibre of the candidates. The industry should commend IAPI and the sponsors for what lies ahead for the successful recipients, which will undoubtedly influence our industry for many years.”

The recipients of the 2024 programme are: 

• Adrienne Hudspeth, global programme director, OLIVER Ireland 
• Alenna Schneider, senior account manager, Spark Foundry 
• Catherine Marley, account director, PHD Media 
• Clara Traynor, senior copywriter, TBWA/Dublin 
• Deirdre O’Sullivan, strategic content director, Pluto 
• Elaine Cashen, video investment director, Core 
• Emily Turner, senior brand designer, Dynamo 
• Grainne Earley, global experience director, Fuel 
• Hazel Byrne, account and production director, Verve | Showrunner
• Isabel Harvey, creative copywriter, Publicis Dublin
• Ivona Poljak, art director, Publicis Dublin
• Johanna Torwesten, head of social, Forsman & Bodenfors Dublin
• Karla Whelan, senior account manager, Connelly Partners Dublin
• Lydia Ward, design researcher, Droga5 Dublin 
• Larah Burke, account director, dentsu 
• Mariana Nevado, account director, The Public House 
• Naomi Frew, experience director, Catapult 
• Niamh Purcell, senior environmental designer, Verve
• Orla Byrne, art director, Folk VML 
• Pia Schuster, account director, Boys + Girls 
• Rachel Costello, business director, EssenceMediacom  
• Rebecca Walsh, senior digital client manager, Starcom Ireland
• Shelly Farrell, senior frontend developer, DEPT
• Sinead Brennan, account director, Goosebump
• Sarah Flannery, account director, OMD Ireland 
• Vivian Huynh, social and content director, Folk VML 
• Zoe Powderly, account director, Group M Ireland

The recipients will participate in a series of three full-day workshops facilitated by Danica Murphy, founder of PRISM Leadership and Change Consulting, later this year. The workshops will be held at the Guinness Storehouse, courtesy of our generous sponsors at Baileys and Guinness. As the recipients embark on their journey of growth and development IAPI look forward to witnessing the transformative impact they will have on the industry. 

Read the full list of recipients of the 2024 Programme on the IAPI website.