Women in AI
Niamh Donnelly
Co-founder & Chief Robotics Officer, Akara
Niamh Donnelly is the co-founder and Chief Robotics Officer of Akara, an Irish robotics company that developed autonomous UV disinfection robots for healthcare environments. Founded in 2020, Akara's robots use AI-driven navigation and UV-C light technology to autonomously disinfect hospital rooms and public spaces, helping reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Donnelly studied mechanical and manufacturing engineering at Trinity College Dublin and developed expertise in robotics and autonomous systems. Her work gained particular prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for autonomous disinfection solutions surged globally.
Akara's technology represents the intersection of robotics, AI, and public health — using intelligent autonomous systems to protect the most vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.
