EM - December 2013/January 2014 - (Page 7)

December 2013/January 2014 * www.esb.ie/em 2013 ESB Spark of Genius wins €25,000 cash prize for Viddyad at Web Summit Pictured is John McKiernan, Strategic Partnership Development Manager with ESB and Grainne Barron from Viddyad, the 2013 ESB Spark of Genius Award winner at this year's Web Summit. 7 ElectricAid launches joint special appeal for the Philippines and Syria 8 ElectricAid is once again appealing to our members, friends and supporters to reach out to the suffering people of the Philippines, and of Syria. THE IMPACT OF Typhoon Haiyan on the Philippines has been cataclysmic - on a par with the Tsunami of 2004. Tens of thousands are dead, at least a million without shelter, and 10 million people directly affected. The very basics of food, clothing, shelter, water, sanitation, and medical care are the priorities. The situation for the innocent victims of the Syrian conflict continues to deteriorate, with 7 million people displaced both inside and outside the country. Basic needs for food, water, shelter and medical care are unmet, as winter takes a grip. n ElectricAid is now discussing further support in both the Philippines and Syria with a number of agencies. We know that times are tight, that Christmas is coming, and that people are feeling uneasy and financially constrained. But we feel that we have no alternative but to ask you to do what you can to reach out to millions of desperate people - every euro counts. ESB has generously pledged an additional €10,000 in direct matching of the first €10,000 donated by staff and retirees. As ever, your money goes further with ElectricAid. Please, make an online donation now at the ElectricAid intranet site - or by completing and returning the deduction form below. You may direct your kindness to Syria, to the Philippines, or to both. In both Syria and the Philippines, the needs are enormous, millions of people are on the brink. People are hard-pressed here at home, and we were reluctant to ask again. But, in our hearts, we know that the ESB family will rise to this latest humanitarian challenge - and we thank you, once again. ElectricAid ESB Staff Fund 27 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 Telephone 01 702 7732  VIDDYAD WAS announced on October 30th last as the winner of the 2013 ESB Spark of Genius Award at this year's Web Summit. In its fourth year, the competition saw over 100 Irish technology companies battle it out to win a cash prize of €25,000 plus a fund of services. Viddyad is the world's first cloud-based video ad creation tool, with access to over 10m+ videos and images to choose from. It's super easy, super-fast and super affordable. Simply select the videos and images, add text, logo, music and special effects and the Viddyad platform creates a video commercial in seconds for use online, through social media, blogs or websites. See www.viddyad.com. On the win, Grainne Barron from Viddyad said: "I'm really proud of my team, their professionalism and everything we have build together". Speaking at the event, John McKiernan, Strategic Partnership Development Manager with ESB said: "On behalf of ESB, it's a great pleasure to present the ESB Spark of Genius Award to Viddyad. "The calibre of this year's entries highlights the talent and creativity that exists in Ireland today, and the spirit of enterprise that will help to uphold our reputation as a centre for innovation excellence. ESB is proud to be associated with this truly world class event which encourages, facilitates and promotes the very best that Ireland has to offer." Web Summit Founder Paddy Cosgrave added: "This award offers a superb opportunity for fledgling Irish tech start-ups to showcase their product to some of the world's top investors and tech leaders, as well as the international media. We congratulate Viddyad on winning this prestigious prize against stiff competition. They join an elite group of previous winners of the award including Datahug, which has since gone on to raise €6 million in funding from Salesforce, DFJ and several others, and last year's winners, Smartthings who have raised €3 million in funding to date". The ESB Spark of Genius Award focuses on high potential technology start-ups and was open to any Irish start-up which has been in operation for less than three years and has received under €1 million in funding to date. Entrants were judged on the uniqueness of their idea, their level of development thus far, and their potential for future growth. Two rounds of pitching took place during the Web Summit with the grand final playing out on the Main Stage in front of an audience of thousands of leading international start-ups and technology investors. An expert panel of judges including Noel Ruane of Polaris Ventures, Sean Blanchfield of Scale Front and John McKiernan of ESB were tasked with crowning the overall winner. n NEWS ElectricAid once-off donation for THE PHILIPPINES & SYRIA Name Staff No Pedometer Challenge THIS YEAR'S PEDOMETER Challenge, organised by Smarter Travel Workplaces in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation, ran from September 11th to October 8th. Over 300 staff organised into 60 teams participated in this fun challenge, representing all business units in locations across the country. The best placed ESB Team, the Walkie Talkies, finished well up the overall leader board too. ESB staff walked over 37.5 million steps during the challenge, covering a total distance in excess of 30,000 kilometres and raising over €1,500 for ElectricAid's Syria Appeal along Presenting the award to Des Hickey and Daire Tyrell are Briay Gray and Patrick Custy of Corporate Sustainability. the way. According to Patrick Custy, ESB's Challenge Coordinator, the total distance covered by staff is equivalent to six trips from Donegal to Damascus. n ElectricAid, ESB and EirGrid's staff fund has made its first round of funding from the Special Appeal it is running for both the Philippines and Syria. In less than a week, €70,000 has been raised through the generosity of hundreds of staff and retirees, supported by €20,000 in matching funding from ESB. A cheque for €15,000 was presented by Deirdre Arthur of ElectricAid to Ronan Ryan of the Red Cross, for relief work on the ground in the Philippines. Also present was Pat Naughton, Director Group People and Sustainability, ESB and Mark Christopher Congdon, Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Philippines in Ireland. Work location Signature Please deduct once-off from my salary/pension and pay to ElectricAid: €5:  €10:  €20:  €50:  Other Amount: I would like my contribution to go to   PHILIPPINES  BOTH SYRIA The amount deducted to be paid to ElectricAid - Special Appeal payroll code 5211. I understand that my contribution will be used for humanitarian relief in the Philippines (and possibly other countries affected by Typhoon Haiyan) and Syria (and for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries). http://www.esb.ie/em http://www.viddyad.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - December 2013/January 2014

EM - December 2013/January 2014
Contents
News
Innovation
Generation & Wholesale Markets
BSC & Electric Ireland
ESB Networks Ltd
Health & Habitat

EM - December 2013/January 2014