Annual Leadership Awards
Celebrating leadership, impact and excellence across Northern Ireland’s VCSE sector.
CO3 Leadership Awards
Celebrating leadership, impact and excellence across Northern Ireland’s VCSE sector.
About the awards
The CO3 Leadership Awards is a fundraising event that takes place annually to recognise and celebrate outstanding leadership within Northern Ireland’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Each year, we bring together sector leaders, partners and supporters to acknowledge the people and organisations driving positive change — often in challenging and complex environments.
The awards are designed not only to recognise achievement, but to elevate the visibility of the sector and the vital role it plays in society.
How the awards work
Nominations are opened annually across a range of categories reflecting different areas of leadership and impact.
Submissions are reviewed by an independent panel of judges, and winners and highly commended recipients are selected based on clear criteria and scoring.
The process ensures fairness, transparency and recognition of genuine impact across the sector.
2026’s Winners
Anne-Marie McClure
Lifetime Achievement
Renee Quinn
Inspiring Leader of the Year
Emma Shaw
Emerging Leader
Charmain Jones
Leading Community Relations
Eamonn McNally
Mentor of the Year
Richard Spratt
Leading Collaboration and Partnership
Emma McGinnity
Leading Workplace Wellbeing
Declan McKillop
Leading a Social Enterprise
Pat McClelland
Leading Healthcare
Ken Brundle
Trustee of the Year
Received by a colleague
Teresa Canavan
Leading a Small Organisation
Marion Kerr
Leading Volunteering
Louise Coyle
Leading Policy and Communications
Diane Davis
Leading Diversity and Inclusion
Received by a colleague
2025’s Winners
Paddy Kelly
Lifetime Achievement
Imelda McGucken
Inspiring Leader of the Year
Received by a colleague
Michael Nugent
Emerging Leader
John Noble
Trustee of the Year
Sara McCracken
Mentor of the Year
Patricia Cathcart
Leading Healthcare
Lynn Carvill
Collaboration and Partnership
Natalie Duncan
Leading Workplace Wellbeing
Ellen Finlay
Leading a Social Enterprise
Liza Wilkinson
Leading Community Relations
Robert Gardiner
Leading a Small Organisation
Siobhan Rocks
Leading Volunteering
Linda Rodgers
Leading Policy & Communications
Sharon Didrichsen
Leading Diversity & Inclusion
Event Highlights
From powerful speakers to well-deserved celebrations, the awards ceremony is a moment to come together as a sector.
Explore photos from previous events and relive the highlights.
See full 2026 gallery
See full 2025 gallery
Stay Updated
Planning for the next CO3 Leadership Awards is underway.
Details on nominations, categories and event dates will be announced in advance.
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The CO3 Leadership Awards are more than a celebration. They are a recognition of the commitment, resilience and impact of leaders across our sector.