Emma Maye, CEO of Ardale Property and Chairperson of CORE Building Providers, will serve as Judge for the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2026, bringing extensive entrepreneurial experience, sector leadership, and commitment to inclusive practice to the evaluation of entries competing for recognition in construction achievement and innovation.

Emma's career trajectory reflects resilience, strategic vision, and the ability to build substantial enterprises from challenging circumstances. She began her professional career in IT, rising to EMEA Head of Sales for Salesforce before a dramatic life change redirected her path. When her father, well-known developer Liam Maye, died suddenly in 2008 during the global financial crisis, Emma, then pregnant with her first child, stepped away from corporate career to help her mother navigate the complexities of his substantial estate as property values plummeted. This five-year immersion in estate management provided direct understanding of construction sector challenges, financial resilience, and operational complexity during crisis conditions.

Following completion of her father's estate, Emma and her husband Alan established Ardale Property, which subsequently expanded to include CORE Building Providers, consolidating individual building providers into a cohesive organisation now spanning six branches. In 2022, Ardale established a dedicated construction division to control delivery of its development communities, reflecting her commitment to integrated quality management across development and delivery. Her current launch of a self-storage business demonstrates continued entrepreneurial expansion and sector diversification.

Emma's recognition as 2024 IMAGE PWC Business Woman of the Year Award winner reflects her distinctive contribution to construction sector leadership. As a proud dyslexic woman, Emma is a powerful advocate for neurodiversity and inclusive practice, using her platform to speak on neurodiversity, leading with empathy, and advancing women in construction. This advocacy extends beyond personal achievement toward systemic sector change, positioning her uniquely to evaluate entries demonstrating inclusive leadership and neurodivergent talent advancement.

Her commitment to women in construction and neurodiversity reflects understanding that sector excellence requires accessing and nurturing diverse talent pools and fostering workplaces where different cognitive styles are recognised as strengths rather than limitations. This perspective positions her to evaluate entries demonstrating genuine commitment to inclusion beyond tokenism toward substantive cultural and operational change.

For category details, entry information, and to submit your achievements, visit the official Irish Construction Industry Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and coverage from Ireland's construction sector..