Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE is an award-winning entrepreneur and sustainability leader redefining waste management, safety culture and responsible business.
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Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE is a globally recognised entrepreneur whose career spans nearly four decades at the forefront of waste management, sustainability and safety advocacy. As Managing Director of O’Donovan Waste for 38 years, she transformed a family-run operation into a multi-million-pound enterprise, earning international respect for her forward-thinking leadership and uncompromising standards. Awarded an OBE in 2023 for services to recycling, safety and industry, Jacqueline brings rare, lived experience to the stage, combining commercial success with purpose-driven leadership.
Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE is widely regarded as one of the most influential entrepreneurs within the waste management and environmental services sector. Her career began in a family business that, under her leadership, evolved into a highly successful, multi-million-pound operation. Over 38 years as Managing Director of O’Donovan Waste, Jacqueline built a reputation for innovation, resilience and integrity, proving that commercial success and responsible business practices can go hand in hand.
In 2023, she successfully sold O’Donovan Waste to a Swedish conglomerate, marking a defining moment in her entrepreneurial journey. This milestone reflected the strength, scale and credibility of the business she had built, as well as her ability to position companies for long-term value and international interest. The same year, her contributions were formally recognised when she received an OBE in King Charles III’s Birthday Honour List for outstanding services to recycling, safety and industry.
Throughout her career, Jacqueline has been a leading voice on the environmental consequences of poor waste management and pollution. Her work has consistently focused on raising standards, improving education and embedding best practice across the industry. She has championed training initiatives that empower workforces, reduce risk and support a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management.
As a speaker, Jacqueline brings clarity to complex environmental challenges. She shares practical insights on how organisations can reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining operational efficiency and profitability. Her experience makes her particularly relevant for audiences navigating regulatory change, sustainability targets and increasing public scrutiny around environmental responsibility.
Health and safety have been central to Jacqueline’s mission. She has led influential campaigns to improve workplace and road safety, earning widespread recognition across construction, logistics and related sectors. Her advocacy is grounded in real experience, shaped by decades of operational leadership in high-risk environments.
Jacqueline speaks candidly about the cultural shifts required to embed safety at every level of an organisation. Her talks highlight accountability, leadership behaviour and the importance of education in preventing accidents and saving lives. This makes her a compelling speaker for events focused on leadership, risk management and organisational culture.
Following the sale of O’Donovan Waste, Jacqueline has rapidly expanded into the world of serial entrepreneurship. She recently launched ODPR, a PR and marketing agency dedicated to supporting businesses within construction, the construction supply chain and logistics. Through ODPR, she brings trusted partnerships and strategic insight to sectors where reputation, communication and responsible practice are critical.
In parallel, Jacqueline has invested in an employment initiative focused on supporting over-55s back into meaningful work, a female supplement business, and an upcoming first-to-market breast flow monitoring technology. These ventures reflect her instinct for identifying unmet needs and her commitment to innovation that delivers tangible social impact.
Jacqueline’s leadership has been recognised through numerous prestigious awards. She has been named Director of the Year twice by the Institute of Directors, received the PwC Private Businesswoman of the Year award, the Growing Business Awards’ Entrepreneur of the Year, and was a National Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award. These honours underscore her credibility as a business leader who consistently delivers results.
Beyond business, Jacqueline is a resolute philanthropist. Her contributions to community, culture and social progress have been honoured by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, with a Presidential Distinguished Service Award – the highest accolade achievable in Ireland. This recognition reflects her deep commitment to giving back and driving meaningful, lasting change.
When you book Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE for your event, you secure a speaker who combines commercial acumen with purpose, authenticity and authority. Her talks resonate with business leaders, sustainability professionals and organisations seeking to lead responsibly in complex industries. With compelling stories, practical insight and a clear moral compass, Jacqueline leaves audiences informed, motivated and ready to act.
Keynote by Jacqueline O'Donovan OBE:
Are your sustainability goals, safety initiatives or leadership strategies failing to gain real traction across your organisation? Many leaders struggle to turn ambition into action, especially in complex, high-risk industries where change feels slow and resistance is real.
A keynote by Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE tackles this challenge head-on. Drawing on nearly four decades of hands-on leadership, she shows how to embed sustainability, safety and responsibility into the core of a business without compromising performance. Her insights come from building and scaling a multi-million-pound enterprise, navigating regulation, driving cultural change and delivering measurable impact.
Jacqueline’s keynotes resonate because they are practical, credible and grounded in lived experience. Audiences leave with clarity, renewed accountability and a roadmap for action. The value is clear: sharper leadership, safer operations and sustainable progress that lasts.
Jacqueline can talk about the following topics:
