Steve Giles brings Multi-Site Operations Leadership to Operational Excellence Awards 2026 Judging Panel
By Jed Nykolle Harme
May 20, 2026
Steve Giles, Head of Operations at Aurivo Consumer Foods, has been appointed to the judging panel for the Operational Excellence Awards 2026, bringing extensive multi-site operational leadership and cross-sector experience to the evaluation process.
In his current role, Giles holds responsibility for multi-site operations across Aurivo Consumer Foods, overseeing all aspects of operations including production, supply chain management, quality control, and distribution. His remit ensures seamless processes and efficient delivery of products to market, balancing operational discipline with commercial responsiveness across geographically dispersed manufacturing sites.
Prior to his current role, Giles held key leadership positions within the consumer foods sector and aeronautical industries, where he successfully led large-scale initiatives and implemented best practices to achieve operational excellence. This cross-sector experience provides him with comparative insight into operational frameworks across industries with distinct characteristics: the high-volume, fast-moving nature of consumer foods and the precision, compliance-driven requirements of aeronautical manufacturing.
Giles is recognised for his ability to optimise operational workflows, enhance productivity, and drive cost-effective solutions that meet consumer demands and exceed industry standards.
His multi-site operational responsibility provides particular insight into the challenges of scaling excellence across locations, standardising processes while accommodating site-specific constraints, and maintaining consistent performance standards across distributed operations. This experience ensures his judging criteria reflect the realities of implementing operational excellence beyond single-site environments.
Giles' judging criteria will emphasise measurable improvements in operational performance, evidence of best practice implementation, supply chain efficiency, quality control rigour, and the ability to deliver cost-effective solutions that align with market demands.
As part of the independent judging panel, Giles will assess submissions across multiple categories, ensuring entries demonstrate measurable impact, scalability, and sustainable performance improvement. His evaluation approach prioritises evidence of operational workflow optimisation, productivity enhancement, and the alignment of operational excellence initiatives with commercial objectives and customer requirements.
Winners will be announced at the Operational Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony on 27 May at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, where Ireland's operational excellence community will gather to celebrate achievement across more than 20 sectors.
For the complete judging panel, category criteria, and past winners, visit the Operational Excellence Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and insights.
