Niamh Donnelly

Niamh Donnelly is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Akara, a Trinity College Dublin spin-out developing AI-powered robotics for healthcare. With a background in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in computer science specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence, she has spent the past decade building intelligent systems that improve efficiency and support frontline healthcare staff by bringing advanced robotics from the laboratory into real-world clinical environments.

‍

A globally recognized speaker, Niamh brings a practical perspective to the rapidly evolving fields of AI and robotics, focusing on what it takes to deploy innovation safely, reliably, and at scale. She has delivered keynote presentations at leading events including Web Summit, WIRED Health, Sifted Summit, and United Nations forums, and has spoken for organizations including Siemens, Accenture, Mouser, and KPMG on innovation and entrepreneurship.

‍

Her work has earned international recognition. Niamh received the European Commission's Rising Innovator Prize and is a laureate of the European Innovation Council. Her innovations have appeared twice on TIME magazine's Top 100 Inventions list (2021 and 2025), and one of her healthcare robots was featured on the cover of TIME. She has also been featured by TechCrunch, Bloomberg, CNN, and Forbes, and has been named among the Top 50 Women in Robotics by RoboHub and the Top 100 Women in AI by Flybridge and XFactor Ventures.

‍

Beyond her work in technology and entrepreneurship, Niamh is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. She has served as an ambassador for the European Innovation Council, mentored entrepreneurs through the European Union Women's Leadership Programme, and represented Ireland as a technology ambassador on international trade missions to New York, Paris, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and beyond.

‍