Catriona Gallagher received the Legacy Award at the Women in Construction Awards 2026, honouring her nearly three decades of sustained leadership and contribution advancing construction and engineering excellence. Her career demonstrates consistent achievement across commercial, healthcare, infrastructure, and mission-critical sectors, establishing an enduring benchmark for female construction leadership and sector-wide impact.

A highly respected leader within construction and engineering, Catriona has built a distinguished career spanning complex project delivery across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. Her expertise encompasses mechanical and electrical engineering, project management, and contract management, providing comprehensive understanding of integrated project delivery across multiple disciplines. This multifaceted capability enabled her progression to executive leadership where she shaped organisational strategy and sector-wide practice standards.

As Executive Director, Catriona has provided strategic leadership on major data centre infrastructure projects, championing safety, sustainability, quality, and innovation simultaneously. Data centre infrastructure demands exceptional technical rigour, operational reliability, and forward-thinking approaches to emerging technologies and energy management. Her leadership in this demanding sector reflects capability managing simultaneous imperatives where construction excellence, environmental performance, and technological innovation must converge.

Beyond project and organisational leadership, Catriona's legacy centres on her role as collaborative leader and mentor supporting the next generation of industry professionals. Her commitment to inspiring teams and developing emerging talent reflects understanding that sector advancement depends on cultivating capability across generations. Her mentorship influence extends across organisations and sectors, creating lasting impact through professionals she has developed and inspired.

The Legacy Award recognises sustained contribution reshaping construction sector culture, standards, and capability. Catriona's achievement across three decades demonstrates how consistent excellence, collaborative leadership, and commitment to next-generation advancement create enduring impact extending far beyond individual project success toward sector-wide transformation.

For the full list of winners and category details, visit the official Women in Construction Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and coverage from Ireland's construction sector.