2026 Judges

Emma is the Managing Director of Vistage UK & Ireland, bringing more than 25 years of senior leadership experience spanning CEO, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer roles across global organisations and private equity backed businesses. A strategic leader with a hands-on approach, she has built a reputation for helping businesses unlock value by combining market insight, customer understanding and disciplined commercial execution.

Throughout her career, Emma has shaped growth strategy and led transformation for leading organisations including ManpowerGroup, Goodwin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte and PwC, as well as PE run businesses navigating rapid change. She has repositioned brands, entered new markets, launched new products and services and built the commercial capability that turns strategy into measurable results.

Since 2022, Emma has also worked directly with SMEs as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer through Chief Outsiders, partnering with owner-led and mid-sized businesses to accelerate growth, sharpen market positioning and build the foundations needed to scale.

Now at Vistage, Emma is focused on growing the organisation's impact across the UK & Ireland, helping CEOs and business leaders make better decisions, build stronger organisations and create lasting value for their businesses, people and communities.

Sarah Ellis is the co-founder of Amazing If, a company with a mission to make careers better for everyone.

Prior to Amazing If Sarah’s career included leadership roles at Barclays and Sainsbury’s before becoming Managing Director at creative agency Gravity Road. Sarah is an alumnus of Harvard, London, and Warwick Business Schools.

Alongside Amazing If she holds a number of non-executive positions supporting organisations who have a focus on making work better. Sarah lives in the UK with her partner and bug loving 8-year old.

You can follow her on LinkedIn and find free career development tools at www.amazingif.com.

Lou Ellis-Frankland is the Owner & Chief Executive Officer of Mansfield Pollard, a 159-year-old British manufacturing business specialising in air handling and data centre cooling solutions. Since joining the company in 2017 and leading a management buyout in 2020, she has transformed the business from a loss-making manufacturer into a high-growth, award-winning organisation, increasing turnover from £10.3m to £28m and positioning the company towards a £75m target.

Under Lou’s leadership, Mansfield Pollard has become recognised for operational excellence, sustainability and workplace culture, achieving carbon neutral status for five consecutive years, delivering major infrastructure projects across the UK data centre sector, and earning national recognition including UK Employer of the Year and Yorkshire Business of the Year.

A strong advocate for inclusive leadership, apprenticeships and regional manufacturing growth, Lou is also a Justice of the Peace and an active mentor supporting young people, women in manufacturing, and Yorkshire SMEs.

Olivia Parrish is Chief People Officer at Gerald Edelman, where she leads the firm's people strategy, culture and talent agenda. With more than 20 years' experience in HR and leadership, she has helped organisations build high-performing cultures, develop leaders and create exceptional employee experiences. Passionate about the role people play in business success, Olivia is delighted to be judging the Employer of the Year category and celebrating organisations that put their people first.

Lauren Grady is an experienced Senior Transformation leader who helps organisations unlock value through artificial intelligence, automation, and continuous improvement. Her work focuses on combining technology, process and human‑centred design to drive lasting operational and cultural impact.

Michelle Alexis is Diversity and Inclusion Lead for BBC Business, Operations and Change where she works with Senior Leaders across the UK to ensure DIB strategy is being delivered. Michelle delivers ‘Inclusive Leadership’ courses and other offerings Pan BBC and delivers on high level projects and change initiatives which have impact across the BBC. In her spare time, Michelle is EDI Associate for Arts Council of Wales, Board Director of Black Welsh Music Awards, and Board Member of a youth organisation Sound Progression. She has previously chaired the Womens Equality Network of Wales, EDI Director for Basketball Wales and changed policy working in a consultancy capacity (Alexis Consulting Ltd) for the Welsh Government on their Anti-Racist Action Plan. She has nearly two decades of experience in Higher Education Leadership.

Alex Cook is a Vistage Chair, SME coach and facilitator who works with CEOs, founders and business leaders across the Midlands.

He is passionate about creating environments where people feel able to be themselves and contribute at their best. Throughout his career, Alex has championed inclusion in a variety of ways, from implementing more inclusive hiring practices at places he has worked, to delivering customer experience consultancy projects aimed at engaging underrepresented groups, and chairing Skyscanner’s Positive Impact CSR working group during his time there.

Today, he brings that same philosophy to the peer advisory groups he leads through Vistage, where diverse perspectives, openness and trust help SME leaders make better decisions and achieve better results.

Peter Boucher began his career in sales and marketing, working across global brands including GlaxoSmithKline, Kraft, and Unilever, before moving into senior leadership roles in the technology sector for Vodafone. This led to him becoming CEO of Excalibur Communications, the Swindon-based telecoms and IT company serving over 4,000 SMEs, he led a management buyout in 2018 and built a people-first culture that earned the firm three Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For awards. Following Excalibur's acquisition by Onecom in 2024, Peter now works through March and Hare, advising ambitious business leaders, and serves as a Vistage Chair across the south of England.

Lucy is founder of purpose-led consultancy Magnificent Roots. She helps organisations to align profit, purpose and meaningful work. She previously led the Purpose strategy for Deloitte UK, and created a framework to measure and embed purpose in business, before founding her own consulting business. She has worked with major UK businesses including banks, pension providers, and charities.

Lucy is writing a book celebrating purpose-led business and meaningful work, told through real life stories. She is a renowned public speaker and Charity Trustee.

Ben West is one of the most influential mental health campaigners in the world. His work started after the sudden loss of his younger brother to suicide in 2018 and has now reached millions in classrooms, boardrooms and governments around the world. Ben is most recognised for founding Reasons to Stay, a suicide prevention website which has sent over 3 million anonymous letters from strangers to people thinking about suicide, giving so many a reason to stay in their darkest moment.

Viviane Paxinos is a transformative CEO and board director with a proven track record of driving growth and delivering successful business turnarounds across global markets. As former CEO of AllBright and Everywoman, she has demonstrated exceptional ability to reimagine business models, drive digital transformation, and build high-performing global teams. Her expertise lies at the intersection of consumer, tech and community.

Awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London and recognised as one of the Most Influential Women in Business by Start Up Magazine, Viviane is a passionate advocate for diverse and inclusive leadership and a sought-after keynote speaker who champions thriving workplace cultures. With a post-graduate degree from London Business School, she combines empathetic leadership with decisive execution to deliver extraordinary results.

Varun Bhanot is the Co-founder & CEO of MAGIC AI - the World's First AI Personal Trainer that helps people get personally trained by the world’s best athletes using a sleek wall mirror.

MAGIC AI is the fastest growing consumer company in the UK for 2025. Awarded in Time Magazine's World's Best Inventions 2024 and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, MAGIC AI has secured over $7.5 million in venture capital funding to date. MAGIC AI is the The Sunday Times #1 fastest growing AI hardware company on the Tech 100 for 2026: the fastest growing private tech companies in the UK.

Varun graduated from the LSE and the University of Cambridge.

Jo Tutchener-Sharp OBE, founder and CEO of Scamp & Dude has a long history in the world of fashion and beauty. Prior to founding Scamp & Dude, Jo was founder and CEO of BeautySeen PR directing PR campaigns for high profile brands such as Tom Ford, Matthew Williamson, Dolce & Gabbana, Vogue, Estee Lauder, and Topshop. Jo also founded The BRITs Spa, a spa
backstage at The BRIT Awards to pamper the artists, which she ran for 16 years alongside her other businesses.

In October 2015 Jo’s life took a difficult turn when she suffered a brain hemorrhage. She had to leave her children for a lengthy stay in hospital to undergo life threatening brain surgery, and it was this moment, which made Jo feel determined to create a philanthropic business to help those having a really hard time, and Scamp & Dude was born.

Famous for its superpower infused leopard and lightning bolt print and vibrant designs, Scamp & Dude is a British B CorpTM Certified, purpose led clothing brand, transforming the world of fashion into a force for good.

Giving back is in Scamp & Dude’s DNA, from her hospital bed, Jo designed a snuggly superhero to watch over her children while they were apart. This inspired Jo to create the brand’s first charity initiative: Superhero Sleep Buddies - to bring comfort to children separated from loved ones. For every Superhero Sleep Buddy sold, another is donated to a child who has lost a parent or is seriously ill themselves. To date, over 10,000 have been donated to children going through difficult times.

In 2023, Jo launched the brand’s Super Scarf Mission, where for everySuper Scarf sold, another is donated to women starting chemotherapy. So far, over 82,000 Super Scarves have now been donated through 350+ hospital partners, giving women a superpower-infused hug when its needed most. Celebrities including Davina McCall, Sara Davies MBE, Sabrina Elba, Rachel
Stevens, Giovanna Fletcher, Ellie Simmonds and Lauren Laverne have supported the mission by co- designing a Super Scarf with Jo, helping to reach even more women. Scamp & Dude has donated £4 million in cash and products to support people facing tough times.

Scamp & Dude has 3 stores in the UK, Marlow, Battersea Power Station and Brighton. In 2024 Jo was included in the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders, in conjunction with The Times, winning the individual Purpose Award, with The Times kindly describing Scamp & Dude as “bringing compassion to fashion”. In 2025, Jo was invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate community-based initiatives raising awareness about cancer and supporting those living with cancer and rounded off the year winning Female Founder of the Year, in addition to the brand being highly commended in the Purpose Before Profit Award,
at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. Most recently Jo was awarded an OBE in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours, for services to fashion and charity.

Jo has spoken on panels for brands including Instagram, Facebook, Marie Claire, Red Magazine and Soho House and has been interviewed by the BBC, The Times, Glamour, Forbes, The Independent and Red magazine. In October 2024 Jo delivered her first TED Talk for TEDxWomen 2024 entitled, A story of facing death and becoming a force for good.

Nathalie Krekis is a Portfolio Director at Cazenove Capital, where she works closely with entrepreneurs and business owners to help them build, grow and realise long‑term value. With over 13 years’ experience investing on behalf of private clients and charities, she brings a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges founders face at every stage of their journey. A passionate advocate for female entrepreneurship, Nathalie proudly supports Cazenove Capital’s sponsorship of the Female Founder of the Year Award, championing women who combine commercial success with meaningful, lasting impact.

Tom Bohills is an experienced technology lawyer with deep expertise in helping startups navigate the legal challenges of rapid growth. He qualified at White & Case before leading legal functions at two multi-award-winning UK fintechs, giving him a unique perspective from both private practice and in-house.

In 2019, he founded Founders Law to disrupt the traditional legal model and make top-tier legal support more accessible to early-stage and scaling companies. Today, Founders Law provides agile, embedded legal services across all sectors covering everything from IP protection and contracts to data privacy and fundraising. Tom is passionate about empowering founders with the legal confidence they need to scale fast and smart.

Sophie Milliken MBE is the founder and CEO of Moja Group, where she helps entrepreneurs and executives raise their profiles and become recognised authorities in their industries.

A multi award-winning businesswoman, proud mum, and passionate advocate for the North East, Sophie is the co-founder of City Ladies Networking, hosting events in Newcastle, London and Paris. She also chairs Smart Works North East, where she has doubled the number of unemployed women supported with interview coaching and clothing, and is a Founding Ambassador for Every Child Needs a Mentor.

Sophie serves on the North East Combined Authority Business and Economy Board and is a Non-Executive Director at the North East Business and Innovation Centre. She hosts the hit podcast Beyond the Bio, and her third book, From Unknown to
Unforgettable is out now. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to business and education.

Alex is a senior leader with over 20 years’ experience working across both the public and private sectors, where she’s built a reputation for bringing people together and turning ideas into action. She currently leads the SME Strategy at the City of London Corporation, where she focuses on supporting business growth, strengthening partnerships, and helping shape a thriving business ecosystem in the City.

Throughout her career, Alex has been passionate about creating meaningful connections, whether that is with business leaders, policymakers, or entrepreneurs - and turning those relationships into real, positive outcomes. She is known for her collaborative style and her ability to navigate complex environments while keeping people at the heart of what she does.

Alongside her strategic role, Alex is a strong advocate for women in business and inclusive economic growth and plays an active part in the City’s Business and Investment Unit.

Jess Tarrant is Content Director at Yoto, one of Britain's fastest-growing tech businesses, which has successfully scaled from a UK startup to a global brand - now reaching families across North America, Europe, Australia and beyond with its award-winning Yoto Player. Jess leads the international content strategy at the heart of that expansion, heading a global team responsible for licensing and producing the content that goes onto Yoto's NFC-enabled audio cards. Her work curating a library of classic authors, contemporary music, big-brand licences and innovative educational experiences has been central to Yoto's ability to enter and grow in new markets.

Prior to joining Yoto in 2019, Jess was Editorial Director at Hachette Children's Group, working across author-led fiction, IP creation and audio programming. She began her publishing career in 2008 at Puffin Books, part of Penguin Random House.

As director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade (CIOE&IT) since January 2020, Marco Forgione MCIEx has become a leading authority and commentator on global trade, empowering businesses to grow internationally through educational programmes and digital trade
solutions.

He plays a pivotal role as an intermediary between governments and businesses, both domestically and internationally. He serves on National Strategy Project and he is a member of the Economic Security and Resilient Growth Business Group, formerly known as the Critical Imports Council, established by the previous UK administration. Additionally, he served on the multilateral B20
Taskforce for Trade and Investment. He is a visiting professor at Aston University and regularly comments on trade and supply chain matters in the international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg, among others.

Under his leadership, CIOE&IT has grown from a team of 12 to now over 170 trade and customs experts, seeing membership grow from 2,000 to 7,000, culminating in IOE&IT being awarded a Royal Charter in 2024. The charity has become a trusted partner to the UK government in the delivery of trade facilitation solutions such as the Trader Support Service (TSS). This digital portal has enabled the. continuation of goods movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Forgione is also a passionate advocate for trade as a force for good in the world, regularly commenting in the media that it is a driver of economic prosperity and that it can serve to bring communities closer together. He has led IOE&IT into partnerships with the World Trade Organization and International Trade Centre that have built trade capacity among MSMEs and female entrepreneurs. He is also one of the founding members of the TWIN Foundation – a global collaboration to develop a new digital
infrastructure for trade – alongside the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the IOTA Foundation, TradeMark Africa and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. Moreover, under Marco’s leadership, the Chartered Institute supported the creation and launch of the Women in Trade Hub UK (WiTH UK), alongside Warwick University.

Marco’s achievements as a leading advocate of trade as a force for social good has have been recognised by his inclusion in the 2025 Power Purpose List.

Before CIOE&IT, Marco led trade bodies in the arts, antiques and creative sectors, navigating the British Antiques Dealers’ Association through digital transformation between 2015 and 2020, and leading creative bodies EVCOM and the International Visual Communication Association between 2008 and 2015. He also previously had director level roles at Canterbury College and the Landscape Institute.

Dr Nik Kotecha is an internationally renowned businessman, scientist, influencer and serial entrepreneur. He founded and led the inspirational growth of leading Midlands-based developer and manufacturer of generic medicines, Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and is Founder and Chairman of RandalSun Capital.

His current global business portfolio is wide ranging and includes investments from start-ups to patient capital, with retained interests in health, life sciences and high innovation, IP rich businesses.

Shehzad Chaudhary is a senior UK government leader and internationally experienced voice on economic growth, investment, and transformation. With over 25 years of experience, he is known for shaping compelling narratives that connect policy, business, and place - translating complex challenges into clear, actionable opportunities.

Shehzad’s work sits at the intersection of strategy, delivery, and influence. He has played a central role in promoting the UK as a global hub for trade and investment, supporting businesses to scale internationally while positioning regions to attract inward investment and drive sustainable growth. His leadership has contributed to significant economic outcomes, including multi-billion-pound export growth and large-scale job creation across the UK.

He is an experienced chair and facilitator of high-level forums, known for drawing together diverse perspectives and turning discussion into action. Shehzad is particularly passionate about how places and organisations tell their story. He has worked extensively on shaping regional growth narratives, ensuring that local strengths are articulated in ways that resonate with global investors and stakeholders. His approach combines strategic insight with practical delivery, ensuring that vision is both credible and achievable.

Shehzad offers a unique perspective on leadership, growth, and transformation—grounded in real-world experience and delivered with authenticity and impact. He is widely regarded as a trusted and influential voice, capable of inspiring confidence, simplifying complexity, and driving meaningful change.

A Californian based in Europe for three decades, Allyson is an international business expert advisor, author, speaker, broadcaster and Non-Executive Director. She is the Founder and CEO of International Marketing Partners, having advised over 290 businesses across 27 countries and 23 sectors helping organisations successfully internationalise after starting her career with PwC, PA Consulting Group and Hay Management Consultants.

Besides appearing on several seasons of BBC’s The Apprentice, Allyson is a regular and frequent broadcaster/commentator for BBC News, Deutsche Welle, France 24, FT, Sky News and many other global media outlets.

She is also author of both editions of the best-selling book Working with Americans, the first-ever manual on the US business culture.

Paul Troy is a senior UK marketing executive with more than two decades of experience in consumer marketing, financial services, fintech and digital growth. He currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer working directly with the CEO/Founder Babek Ismayil at OneDome.com a property platform to fintech and one of the fastest growing companies in the UK.

Prior to OneDome, Troy has built his reputation through senior leadership roles at Barclays, O2, MoneySuperMarket and Confused.com. He is particularly well known for developing the highly successful “You’re so MoneySuperMarket” campaign which made the brand famous. And he is credited with establishing the Price comparison market as the “new normal" for consumers.

Most recently, Troy has launched “The New Way” TV campaign to establish OneDome as a champion for Homebuyers. He is recognised as a Campaign Power 100 marketer and has won several awards for producing highly effective TV campaigns.

In addition he advises many CEO/Founders including Graze and uFurnish.com and has supported them with marketing strategy and bringing their first TV campaign to market.

On a personal level, Paul majored in marketing in his degree, has lived in RIchmond for two decades with his wife and two daughters who are at University in St. Andrews and Edinburgh. He has had an article published in The Spectator.

Martin was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. After spending two years as a photo journalist for United Newspapers Martin left to set up his own business as owner-publisher of BMX News, a business which he then sold to IPC Magazines in 1985. He stayed with IPC as a Publisher in their Youth Group for a further two years before leaving to set up another business Lancastrian Holdings Limited. It was under the umbrella of Lancastrian Holdings that Megafone UK and Megafone Canada were born. Turnover of these companies grew from £300,000 in the first year of trading to over £10m at which point Martin sold the business to Scottish Power plc.

Martin remained with Scottish Telecom, a subsidiary of Scottish Power plc where he became Managing Director of The Information Service Limited, an interactive premium rate telephone business. He was responsible for pulling together five recently acquired premium rate telephony businesses into one coherent company. During the year turnover increased from £33m to £39m and profitability from £4m to £10m. He reduced the number of offices from five to two and streamlined the technical infrastructure from four different operating systems into one state of the art system. The brands under his control were ClubCall, WeatherCall, CityCall, he also ran all the interactive radio services for Emap Radio, and Scottish Radio, as well as the interactive telephone services for a number of newspapers including The Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Record. In addition he inserted over 300m premium rate scratch cards in a variety of media each year.

In 1999 he became Director of Internet and Interactive and took over responsibility for Demon Internet, he was also involved in the analyst presentations prior to Scottish Telecom’s re-brand as Thus and subsequent flotation. Martin was responsible for 1100 staff and a turnover of £120m. In June 2000 he was made Business Development Director, responsible for Mergers and Acquisitions across the entire Thus plc portfolio.

In July 2000 Martin took the decision to leave Thus and set up a new company specialising in the delivery of content to mobile phone owners in the 16 – 26 age group. Monstermob Limited generated a staggering £19.5m turnover in its first year of trading. In November 2003, Monstermob floated on the Alternative Investment Market at a valuation of £32.1m. Monstermob plc grew rapidly employing over 1,000 staff in 10 countries within three years of its flotaiton. Monstermob plc was sold to Zed Worldwide in 2006 in a deal worth over £100m.

In 2004 Martin along with his partner, set up CityBlock – a student accommodation business. The company was listed on AIM in 2005. The business built over 2,000 student accommodation bedrooms predominantly in town centre locations. The CityBlock concept of micro en-suite bedrooms and large shared communal spaces is now common place across the student accommodation market. The business built and lets over 500 bedrooms prior to being sold to the management team in 2007.

In December 2006 Martin founded and listed NetplayTV plc. a company specialising in the delivery of interactive gaming via both Internet and TV in a converged solution. The company pioneers broadcasting contracts with many of UK’s leading broadcasters, including STV, Virgin Media Television, ITV and Channel Five. The business was sold to a Swedish gaming company Betson for £27m.

Following the sale of NetPlay TV plc Martin founded a small digital publishing company, Digitalbox. This company developed a new digital platform for publishers, ContentClick. allowing them to run adverts on their digital websites through an automated online auction platform, this business grew rapidly and was sold to a US Company, RevContent for $5m in early 2017. Digitalbox continued and the company launched, and acquired a number of online magazines, including Entertainment Daily, The Daily Mash, The Tab, The Poke, and TV Guide, following a period of rapid growth, the company listed on the AIM market in February 2019. In 2018 Martin appointed a CEO to run the business, allowing him time to launch new businesses, Immotion. Martin remained as a Non-Executive Director until early 2023.

Immotion was formed during his time at Digitalbox with partner, David Marks. Immotion is an immersive virtual reality business offering solutions to aquariums and zoos via the company’s proprietary VR Cinemas. Following a period of explosive growth where the company placed its VR Cinemas into a variety of locations from Sydney to Las Vegas, London to Lisbon it listed on the AIM market in July 2018. Following a turbulent time during the covid pandemic the team managed to restore revenues and profits in 2022 going on to sell the business for $25m in February 2023.

Martin is currently Executive Chairman of Huddled Group plc a listed entity he formed. Huddled is an e-commerce businesses, focused on selling surplus stock, thus delivering a circular economy by preventing goods from going to waste by offering them directly to consumers at discounted prices.

Martin is currently a Non Executive Director at OPG Power plc, an AIM listed business. He has also held several Non-Executive Director positions, including Cupid plc, where he was a founding director, and Legend plc, and Digitalbox plc.

Martin is also the founding partner of M Capital Investment Partners LLP, his family investment and advisory company.

Deirdre McGettrick is the founder of the UK's #1 furniture finder and discovery platform ufurnish.com. Bringing together 2m+ products from 100+ furniture retailers all on one website. ufurnish.com saves time, money and eliminates the fear of missing out on undiscovered items. Clicking out, the consumer buys directly from the retailer.

Costas Demetriou is Chief Executive Officer of Wifinity, a leading UK provider of managed connectivity and digital infrastructure for complex, multi‑tenant environments.

Since becoming CEO in 2021 following a management buyout backed by private equity investors, he has led the transformation of Wifinity into one of the UK’s foremost independent connectivity providers, delivering mission‑critical services across defence, leisure, multi‑dwelling residential, corporate and offshore environments. Under his leadership, the business has expanded its capabilities, scaled its network infrastructure, and strengthened its position in specialist markets where traditional telecom models are less effective.

In 2026, Costas was appointed Chairman of Livebusiness Group, where he brings his experience in scaling and commercial transformation to support the growth of the business.

His appointment reflects a proven track record of leading organisations through periods of rapid expansion, including driving revenue growth and evolving businesses from early‑stage profitability to scaled performance, typically moving from ~£1m EBITDA to £10m+ platforms.

Prior to Wifinity, Costas built his career in finance and transactions, holding roles at KPMG and Capita, where he specialised in due diligence, corporate development and business transformation. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a degree from University College London.

Costas is known for combining strong financial discipline with a pragmatic, execution‑focused leadership style. He has led Wifinity’s evolution from a founder‑led business into a scaled infrastructure platform, backed by long‑term capital and focused on delivering reliable, high‑performance connectivity in mission‑critical environments.

Mahmood heads up mid-market audit at Blick Rothenberg, the London based Tax, Accounting and Business Advisory firm. As well as heading up the fast-growing mid-market division, Mahmood looks after a varied and exciting portfolio of clients in this space, enjoying the varied nature of his role as he supports clients’ growth plans with highly personalised service. Mahmood spent the first 20 years of his accountancy career at Grant Thornton in the South East and has spent the last 5 years helping to grow Blick Rothenberg’s audit and accounting business.

Rodney Appiah (Kauffman Fellow, Class 29) is the Founder and Managing Partner of Cornerstone VC, a $25m early stage fund focused on a “people before anything else” investment strategy. The firm is based in the UK and is focused on identifying outlier founders from diverse backgrounds seeking to transform the way we Live ("People + Planet"), Work ("Fintech + AI") and Play ("New Consumer"). Cornerstone VC invests in high growth startups is backed by institutional LPs including the Business Growth Fund, Hg Capital, Atomico and Apax Foundation. Prior to founding Cornerstone VC, Rodney held senior roles at growth equity funds BGF and Foresight Group and was a former investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Rodney also serves as an NED for the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), the largest UK trade body for angel and early stage investing and is a committee member of Innovate UK (Innovation Loans).

Jez is the head of Audit and Assurance at Blick Rothenberg with a focus on dynamic mid market businesses – providing a sounding board and helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with fast growth and entering new markets.

Jez has spent his career working with fast growing businesses, primarily in the tech and manufacturing sectors, providing assurance, accounting and governance advice to owners and stakeholders. He has held a number of leadership and board roles and have recently joined Blick Rothenberg to help continue our journey to become the advisor of choice to mid-market businesses in London.

Liza Tullidge is a serial entrepreneur, seasoned Non-Executive Director, and strategic advisor with a track record of building, scaling, and exiting ventures across industries and geographies. Having founded her first business at 19, Liza has since launched multiple ventures and now serves as Founder and CEO of Netā, a boardroom-focused platform equipping directors with the tools, insights, and network to integrate sustainability, technology, and risk into corporate strategy.

An active investor and board member, Liza works at the intersection of innovation, governance, and impact. Her career has been defined by identifying early-stage opportunity in emerging sectors and translating bold ideas into resilient, purpose-driven growth. She serves as a strategic advisor to companies innovative organisations, helps boards to lead and thrive in a volatile, fast-changing world, and empowers dynamic, forward-thinking leadership teams.

Liza is also the host of the OnBoard and Humaning podcasts, where she explores the intersection of leadership, impact, and what it means to thrive in a fast-changing world. An avid outdoorswoman, she is equally at home in the boardroom or on remote adventures—from mountaineering in Pakistan to conservation work across Africa.

Michael Magnay is a Portfolio Director at Cazenove Capital, where he leads the firm’s Business Owners’ and Entrepreneurs’ division from its London office. He works closely with entrepreneurs and business leaders across a wide range of structures, helping them build, scale and protect long‑term value. With extensive experience managing private client, charity and trust portfolios, Michael brings a deep understanding of the commercial realities of sustained growth. As judge for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, he is passionate about recognising visionary leaders who combine strong performance with resilience, innovation and long‑term ambition.

A proud Northerner, Hamish is passionate about the growth of the North West region. Using 30 years of experience from a successful career in business, Hamish focuses on growing people, who grow companies, that grow opportunities for the benefit of our children.

Hamish has operated at board level since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1993, initially working for a company that was a member of Vistage. He has extensive experience within high-growth, award-winning, entrepreneurial, and VC-backed companies, spanning multiple sectors, including automotive supply chain, house building and leisure. Having helped many rapidly growing companies, one stand-out success was helping a company grow from a turnover of £45m and an operating profit of £4.5m, to a turnover of £191m and operating profits of £37.5m.

As a Vistage member, Hamish valued its approach and member development. In 2014, Hamish became a Vistage chair and now runs private advisory groups for CEOs and Key Executives in the North West region. These groups provide support, challenge, and growth for CEOs, MDs, and business owners from a wide range of non-competing industries.

In addition to his Vistage members, Hamish works closely with growing businesses as a Non-Executive Director, provides angel investment and coaches key decision makers on a one-to-one basis.

As a passionate and accredited speaker, Hamish gives talks on business finance for private events, business meetings and Vistage groups across the country.

David spent circa 20 years building Harvey Nash plc into a £500m turnover global professional services organisation. David's roles have encompassed Managing Director, Chief Executive, Executive Deputy Chairman and most recently Non-Executive Deputy Chairman. As a highly effective senior international business leader, his past successes have included growing Harvey Nash significantly in terms of size, revenue and profits as well as expanding a previously UK-centric business into a global organisation covering Europe, Asia-Pacific and the USA.

David has a proven track record in creating growth, both organically and via strategic acquisitions. He has also taken a private business through to a successful flotation on the London Stock Exchange. He currently advises entrepreneurs and owners of SME companies and is currently Non-Executive Chairman and Board Advisor to 5 businesses.

Andrew Hulbert built a business from his bedroom into one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies. In nine years, he scaled it to 500+ people and £50m turnover, secured 40+ awards, delivered £0.25bn in contracted services, and generated £80m+ ($100m) in exit value. Along the way, he led 150 ESG initiatives, embedding sustainability and social impact into the company’s growth story. Andrew retired at 37 and today inspires others by telling his real story of building something from nothing.

James Akin-Smith is a business coach and strategic advisor to CEOs and senior leaders. With more than a decade of experience coaching over 100 business leaders, he is known for helping executives cut through complexity, regain control, and lead with greater clarity and confidence.

Having built, scaled, and sold businesses himself, James brings practical, experience-led insight rather than theory. His work focuses on leadership, strategic decision-making, business growth, and creating organisations that are both commercially strong and sustainable long term.

James is recognised for his direct, thoughtful approach and his ability to challenge assumptions, uncover blind spots, and help leaders make better decisions under pressure. As a judge, he brings commercial perspective, strategic depth, and a strong understanding of what sustainable leadership and business excellence truly look like.

Victoria is an experienced business leader with over 20 years in CEO and board-level roles, leading organisations through growth, transformation, and ownership change. Her career spans telecoms, executive search, and leadership advisory, with a strong focus on scaling businesses and fostering inclusive cultures.

As a Vistage Chair, Victoria leads CEO peer advisory groups, helping senior leaders gain clarity, challenge, and accountability through peer collaboration. Having benefitted from Vistage herself, she is passionate about supporting others with trusted guidance and diverse perspectives.

Victoria is also a dedicated advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), particularly for women in leadership. She has hosted events on board diversity and ‘Women in the Chair’, and under her leadership, her organisation was recognised by the UK Department for Business for its impact on board-level diversity. Victoria works closely with SME leaders on strategy, succession planning, team effectiveness, and leadership development, with a focus on creating environments where diversity drives success.

Outside of work, Victoria is a proud mother of three grown sons and a grandma to one. She enjoys running, swimming, and cycling, believing physical and mental wellbeing are essential for resilient, high-performing leadership.

Ele Theochari is an award-winning Corporate Tax Partner who has been an R&D tax relief specialist for the last decade. Ele joined Blick Rothenberg in 2023, having previously worked in the Big 4, top 10 firms, and specialist boutiques. Ele is an Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) Council Member and sits on the Professional Standards Committee Steering Group. Ele is the Deputy President of the ATT and will become President in July 2027. Ele has featured on expert panels for the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Centre for the Analysis of Taxation, and regularly contributes to HMRC policy, consultations, and news publications.

Liberti Group gives ambitious organisations the freedom and flexibility to scale smarter with the right fractional experts – from finance, marketing, people & sales – at the right time for the most impactful business transformation.

Alex is Director of Liberti Club, which brings together a growing community of founders and CEOs to connect with fractional leaders and business service partners in the Liberti ecosystem to support their growth. Find out more at https://thelibertigroup.com/liberti-club/

Sid Baveja is a distinguished technology executive and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience architecting high-growth marketplaces and global digital platforms. As Vice President at Too Good To Go, Sid leads an expansive international business unit, overseeing the comprehensive P&L and strategic trajectory for the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland.

A pioneer in the luxury wellness sector, Sid founded Humanery.com, a first-of-its-kind e-commerce marketplace that redefined men’s self-care. His career is defined by a sophisticated blend of entrepreneurial flair and corporate leadership, including a tenure as Senior Director at Just Eat Takeaway.com, where he delivered over GBP 100 million in annual turnover through cutting-edge product transformations.

Previously, as Director of International Expansion at viagogo / StubHub, Sid scaled operations across 25+ markets, including the USA, Japan, and Brazil. Having begun his career at Goldman Sachs, he brings a rigorous analytical foundation to global business. An alumnus of Middlebury College, USA, Sid also holds a Business Bridge Program certification from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, USA.

Sara Llewellyn is founder and CEO of Mighty Eve Ltd, who design and sell the next generation of period products. That is, she’s driven with purpose to empower menstruating women by providing products that are better for the body and planet, in thoughtfully designing unique period-wear that are are healthier, more comfortable, convenient, reliable, affordable and sustainable than existing products on the market.

Recent winner of three industry awards already in 2025 including The Lord Lieutenant’s Entrepreneurs Challenge in Hertfordshire, LiveWire Women's Health Product Retailer of the Year & AI Global Media Sustainable Female Health Products CEO of the Year, Sara is passionate about leading change with this trailblazing company who are working to make a tremendous impact on the wellbeing of people and planet.

Sara’s vision is of a future where confidence replaces stigma and comfort replaces compromise, where people are free to choose period-wear that is better for their bodies, works in their lives and leaves them feeling mighty. She’s been working tirelessly in recent years to help people transition from the idea that periods require toxic disposable products to manage ‘icky blood’ to using innovatively designed, convenient period-wear during their period which is simply the clothing that fulfils the function of managing our body’s healthy needs.

Mighty Eve is working to offer a more natural, comfortable and reliable alternative to disposable period products with period-wear is better for your body, better for your peace of mind, ease of use, and simply works better, so that you can feel Mighty Even on your period.

Rachel Kyte was appointed UK Special Representative for Climate on 21 October 2024.

She is Professor of Practice in Climate Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford and dean emerita of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Rachel was previously Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All.

She has also served as World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, as well as Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank, and for Business Advisory Services at the International Finance Corporation.

Rachel has held non-executive director, trustee and board member roles with a number of private and public financial institutions, as well as non-profit organisations, focused on climate and development.

Dr Katerina Garyfalou is Chief Operating Officer of Clean Planet Technologies and Clean Planet Foundation. With more than 20 years of experience across oil and gas, green fuels, and environmental innovation, she works at the intersection of technology, policy, and commercial strategy to accelerate circular fuel solutions, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Katerina holds a PhD in Geology and an Executive MBA from London Business School and is passionate about advancing practical, scalable solutions for the energy transition and environmental sustainability.

Dax Lovegrove advises business on ESG strategy and implementation.

He has worked in corporate sustainability at board level for 23 years across NGO and business sectors advising different kinds of companies on their sustainability and innovation strategies. He has been highly active as CSO and advisor – advancing and implementing ESG strategies in home improvement, food and beverages, fashion, FMCG, retail, technology, energy and other sectors.

He is a Trustee at Earthwatch and on the steering committee for the British Fashion Council’s circular program. Dax’ Masters is in Sustainable Development, he works with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership program and he is trained in leadership at the Ashridge Business School.

Phil Anderton was the founder of the award-winning ADHD clinic ADHD 360. With an acknowledged expertise emerging from 20+ years of working in the field of neurodiversity, Phil took ‘360 from startup to exit in 7 years. Changing the lives of over 63,000 patients and their families, 360 remains Phil’s career defining success. A former senior police officer, a qualified pilot and now consulting to both the ADHD and aviation communities, Phil, proudly is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Medicine and the Institute of Leadership and Management. Phil was the 2025 recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year and Small/Medium sized business of the year in the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards.

Declan Curry is a journalist and broadcaster, and has been reporting on business, the economy and politics for more than 30 years.

He appears frequently as a business commentator on LBC News, and occasionally on Classic FM and other Global radio stations.
He was a presenter, producer and reporter for a range of programmes on BBC radio and television in the UK and globally. For almost a decade he was the business presenter for the breakfast television programme on its flagship network, BBC One.

He has been published in newspapers and magazines in the UK, Europe and the United States. He has won several awards for his broadcasting, and is an honorary doctor of Middlesex University.

Heather’s career spans over 40 years across Financial, Professional & Technology Services, with a specific focus on international trade, entrepreneurship and corporate banking. Heather is a business thought leader and an innovator with a notable track record of building high performing diverse teams.

She has acted in an advisory capacity to FTSE CEOs across a multitude of industries and sectors. She is a highly respected and sought after public speaker, having addressed C-Suite leaders, senates, royalty, and global business audiences worldwide.
Heather has won many accolades, including being listed on the Black Powerlist, as one of the 100 most influential black people in the UK. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), whose purpose is to open channels of opportunity for black executives to positively impact business and communities, and the CFO's Diversity Forum for Business in the Community (FTSE100).

Heather is also Patron of Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF) and in June 2024 she became a Fellow of the Chartered Banker Institute.

In 2017 Heather was awarded an OBE for her services to Banking and Financial Services. In 2022 she was inaugurated as the Chancellor of the University of York.

Heather has acted as a Senior Advisor to a number of financial services, as well as a Trustee on the Board of Enfield Enterprise and until recently (following a 7-year tenure) was a Trustee on the Board for the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). She now sits on the committee for Companions and has recently been elected to join the Everyone Economy Committee.

Amanda Dorel (ACIB) is Regional Director for the South Region, SME Banking at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
She has spent 38 years with the Group, including 28 years in Business and Commercial Banking across senior relationship and leadership roles. Amanda has been a Regional Director for the past eight years, previously covering the Midlands and South Wales, and now leads the South of England.

She oversees a locally based team from Kent to Cornwall, supporting businesses with £3m–£25m turnover to achieve their ambitions. Amanda is also Co-Head of Inclusion and Diversity for the division, championing an inclusive and supportive workplace.

As Chief Operating Officer of WRS, I oversee all aspects of the company's operations, driving performance, growth, and strategic development across the business. Over the past 12 years, I have played a key role in transforming WRS, helping to significantly increase both revenue and staffing levels while supporting the company's evolution into a leading provider serving clients across the UK, Europe, and beyond with High end POS solutions.

Having spent the majority of my career with WRS, I have been instrumental in growing the business from its family high-endrun roots into a trusted partner for major corporate brands. With an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for developing people, I am committed to building high performing teams and creating an environment where individuals and businesses can thrive.

Working closely alongside David, my father, and my brother Chris, I have helped ensure that WRS continues to deliver industry leading solutions backed by exceptional service. This commitment to excellence has been recognised through numerous award nominations and wins over the years, including success at the Lloyds Business Awards.

Beyond business, I am passionate about giving back to the community. Over the last two years, I have completed two marathons and raised more than £20,000 for charitable causes, reflecting my belief in supporting those who need it most.

As a judge for the 2026 Lloyds Awards, I look forward to recognising and celebrating organisations that demonstrate innovation, excellence, and a commitment to growth within a family business.

Helen Tonks MBE is the co-founder of Hydraulics Online, which she has grown from a kitchen-table start-up into a multi-award-winning global brand serving customers in 130 countries: the only UK Export Champion in the fluid power industry recognised by the Department for Business and Trade. Drawing on a background in blue-chip financial services and strategic change management, Helen brings both corporate rigour and entrepreneurial instinct to everything she does; always pragmatic, she is the first to roll her sleeves up and make things happen.

A passionate champion of SMEs, micro-businesses and start-ups, Helen believes deeply in the power of purpose and vision to drive sustainable business growth. She has a particular affinity for family businesses, understanding first-hand the unique dynamics, resilience, values, and ambition that define them.

Helen advocates for fellow business owners through mentoring, public speaking, and ambassadorial roles, and is widely regarded as both a trusted advisor and a role model for many. Recognised on the Northern Power Women Power List and the Northern Leaders List, she has been shortlisted three times for Mentor of the Year at the Northern Power Women Awards, recognition she never takes for granted. She is also an active contributor to education across the North, providing careers support to schools and creating business engagement opportunities for high schools and universities alike.

Helen's biggest career milestone and 'pinch me' moment came in June 2024 when she was awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List for Services to Business and to Exports - achieved alongside juggling the work-life balance with being mum to seven in a blended family: glorious chaos and the ultimate example of teamwork that she wouldn't change for the world.

“What I find most rewarding in my work is helping businesses thrive, not just on paper, but in a way that supports the people behind them. For me, being an accountant is about far more than compliance; it’s about understanding each client’s story, their ambitions, and the decisions that shape their future.”

Daniel has over 17 years’ experience supporting owner‑managed businesses across a wide range of sectors. This depth of experience gives Daniel a valuable perspective when working with family businesses. Family enterprises are often built on years, sometimes generations, of hard work, shared values, and trusted relationships, and understanding this personal dimension is critical to their long‑term success.

Daniel builds close, trusted relationships with clients, allowing for a deep understanding not only of the numbers, but also of the dynamics, challenges, and long‑term vision that make every family business unique. By taking the time to truly get to know each business, Daniel is able to provide practical, tailored advice, whether that concerns growth, improving efficiency, or helping owners plan confidently for the future.

Working with a broad portfolio of small and medium‑sized businesses and individuals, means Daniel has a breadth of experience to be able to deliver pragmatic and strategic advice, always focused on giving business owners the clarity and confidence they need to focus on what matters most: sustaining and evolving their business for the next generation.

As a judge for The Gerald Edelman Family Business Award, Daniel is particularly interested in businesses that successfully balance tradition with innovation, demonstrate resilience, live by strong values, and show a clear, well‑thought‑out vision for the future.

Adam Walsh is a growth-driven CEO and business transformation specialist, currently leading John Good Group, a sixth-generation family business with operations in shipping, warehousing, haulage, travel and property. Away from his main role, he is also the co-founder of Driving Down Ltd, a specialist fuel purchasing consultancy.

He has lived both sides of the founder–family business equation: starting and scaling a business from scratch, while reshaping several established family businesses to be sharper, leaner and positioned for long-term value creation.

At John Good Group, Adam is leading a numbers-first transformation of a long-established family company, simplifying and refocusing the portfolio, exiting activities that no longer earn their keep, backing those with a clear right to win, and embedding data, technology and AI into how the Group operates. The Group’s People, Planet, Performance focus acts as a filter for strategy and investment decisions rather than a marketing line, supported by meaningful community and philanthropic initiatives.

His track record spans building a challenger brand as a co-founder, and driving growth and change in more mature, family and founder-led organisations. That blend of entrepreneurial instinct and disciplined, board-level leadership has been recognised nationally, including being shortlisted in the Growth category at the 2025 IoD England Director of the Year Awards.

As a judge for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, Adam is looking for businesses that can back up the story: clear strategy, visible ownership and stewardship from the family, leadership teams willing to make hard calls, and performance that stands up to scrutiny rather than relying on buzzwords.

Franck Arnold has over thirty five years in the hospitality industry and brings a wealth of experience from working for well-known luxury brands and independent hotels in North America and Europe. He joined The Savoy in September 2020 with a clear vision to navigate the hotel through the global pandemic, remaining true to its heritage as the home of luxurious innovation in the UK.
Franck began his journey into hospitality attending the Hotel School of Strasbourg (France), earning a diploma in culinary arts followed by a Restaurant and Hotel Management degree, followed by a Masters in Hotel Administration from IMHI Cornell-ESSEC (Paris) and his M.B.A from Henley Management College (UK).

Franck’s entrance to the industry began with InterContinental Hotel’s Corporate Management Training Program. His roles included Assistant Restaurant Manager, Rooms Division Manager Trainee, Assistant Director of Food and Beverage and Executive Assistant Manager. During his thirteen years with IHG, these leadership positions had Franck moving from Paris, to London, to Athens, to Brussels and on to Madrid, all prior to moving to North America where he served as Hotel Manager at the Barclay Intercontinental in New York. Franck then on went to join The Four Seasons Chicago as Hotel Manager before taking the role of Managing Director of the exquisite Jefferson hotel in Washington, DC. He then moved his family back across the Atlantic to Edinburgh Scotland where he was General Manager of The Balmoral, a five-star iconic Rocco Forte Hotel for five years. During his time at The Balmoral Franck became a Master Innholder and was given the Freedom of The City of London.

In 2016, Franck took on the role of General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, where he was awarded the Forbes Five-Star every year from 2016, and received the humanitarian award from the Hotel Association of Canada in 2018.

Since 2020, the Savoy has retained its Forbes 5 stars, was listed in the 50 Best hotels in the world list, and was awarded 3 Michelin Keys in 2024. He was instrumental in extending the restaurant partnership at The Savoy with Gordon Ramsay (Savoy Grill, River Restaurant) where 1890 (named after Auguste Escoffier’s starting year at The Savoy) earned its first Michelin star in 2024. 2026 saw the re-opening of Simpson’s in the Strand in association with legendary restaurateur Jeremy King.
Franck was named Hotelier of Year by Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2024 and won The Hotel Magazine’s Hotelier of the Year 2025. He was also awarded The Caterer’s prestigious title of Hotelier of the Year, 2025.

When he is not working, Franck is an avid runner, cyclist, squash and golf player. He still enjoys cooking for his family and friends. He lives in the UK with his wife Salima, daughter Céleste and two sons Arthur and César, together with mini Schnauzer Jules.

Rob is the editor and founder of travel loyalty website headforpoints.com, which launched in 2012 and had 30 million page views in 2025. He is regarded as one of the UK's leading experts on travel and credit card loyalty, speaking regularly at industry events, appearing regularly in the media and consulting on travel and financial loyalty programme structures. He won the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 2025 European Loyalty Awards. Prior to HfP he was a Partner at a major UK private equity fund.

Serving as Head Judge for the Customer Loyalty Award at this year's British Business Excellence Awards—alongside an exceptional panel of judges—reinforced what truly drives competitive advantage.

Authenticity isn't negotiable. The winning organisations didn't just state their mission—they lived it. Every decision, every interaction, every moment of truth reflected purpose in action.

Strategic leadership drives growth. The standout entries treated loyalty as a growth engine, not a soft metric. Leaders owned retention and advocacy as deliberate strategies—measuring what matters, investing in relationships at scale, and building cultures where empowered teams deliver when it counts.

Customer-centricity in the AI era. The best understand that the customer is king—but the employee is queen. As AI handles routine interactions, they've equipped their people to own the emotionally complex, high-stakes moments where loyalty is won or lost—and businesses thrive.

Simon Walsh is a business growth strategist, entrepreneur, and advisor with more than two decades of experience helping organisations accelerate performance, drive innovation, and deliver transformational growth. Throughout his career, he has been at the centre of a variety of businesses from start-up & scale-up through to Global Brands such as Orange and Samsung where he held senior leadership roles leading commercial and customer-focused initiatives across highly competitive markets.

Simon is also recognised for his award-winning work as an Executive Coach and CEO Peer Group Chair with Vistage International, where he has helped business leaders and leadership teams achieve significant improvements in growth, culture, and strategic execution. His work has been recognised for its impact on business performance, leadership development, and organisational transformation.

Combining experience across multinational corporations, high-growth businesses, and executive leadership advisory, he brings a balanced and commercially grounded perspective.

Simon has a proven track-record for scaling-up businesses, from big corporates including O2 Business, through to the portfolio of ventures he helped co-found as a serial entrepreneur, including One Water, Yoti.com, and Zopa.com. His venture portfolio has raised more than half a billion pounds in capital finance.

Simon served as Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) for the UK Government for three and a half years and now works across a portfolio of interests including being the EiR for the National Physical Laboratory and also the Institute for Cancer Research, and he is a Non-Exec Director of Mercia’s VCT and an NHS Health Trust.

Fergus’s pioneering work in AI is built on over a decade of experience in tackling digital disruption. His focus on responsible innovation was honed during eight years at the Associated Press, where as their first International Social Media and UGC Editor, he developed industry-leading strategies for verification and digital newsgathering. Recognising the power of collaboration to combat misinformation, he co-founded the award-winning “Verificado” project and the Pop-Up Newsroom framework. As co-founder of Fathm, a news lab and consultancy, and the non-profit Syli, he continues to drive sustainable change, address misinformation, and fuel innovation on critical issues, including the climate crisis. Fergus is also a 2019 Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow and a John Schofield Trust Senior Fellow a10238nd trustee.

I started Beluga to tackle the global loneliness crisis and create technology that helps rebuild community, purpose, and belonging. Our app blends AI, gamification, and real-world connection so no one feels left behind. Born through personal experience, whilst on long term sickness, her app ensures no one feels left in the lurch. We also partner with businesses to support their employees’ wellbeing , reducing burnout and absenteeism and disengagement by making sure people feel truly seen and supported.

Julie Devonshire is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College London supporting students, alumni and staff to learn entrepreneurial skills, develop entrepreneurial mindsets and, perhaps, create start-up and spinouts of their own.
King’s College London engages an audience of +30,000 in entrepreneurship annually, helping to start and scale about 40 ventures each year in health, technology, creative industries and many other areas. Julie leads accelerators at King’s for start-ups and spinout along with the King’s Investor Network.

Before joining King’s Julie was the Director of Ventures at UnLtd supporting exceptional, early stage social entrepreneurs across the country to scale and to raise investment. Julie and her team delivered support in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund, the Cabinet Office, Santander, Coutts and many others.

Julie is an award-winning social entrepreneur and business-scaling expert; she scaled One Water, a range of bottled mineral water donating 100% of its profits to build water pumps in Africa. During Julie’s time with One Water, the business grew from £0 profits to £8.2m, donated to build hundreds of water pumps across sub-Saharan Africa.

Julie is an ACCA fellow who is passionate about early-stage entrepreneurs. In 2016 Julie was awarded an OBE, in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List, for her service to entrepreneurship.

Sabby Gill is a globally recognised business leader and thought leader in accountancy, financial technology, and SaaS innovation, with a track record of transforming organisations and shaping the future of digital finance.

As CEO of Dext, a market-leading SaaS platform serving over one million users worldwide, Sabby champions the power of AI and automation to revolutionise accounting and financial workflows for SMEs, accountants, and bookkeepers. His vision empowers businesses to reclaim time, streamline operations, and focus on growth.

Previously, Sabby led as Managing Director of Sage UK&I, and influenced UK government policy on AI, SME growth, and digital adoption. He also steered Thomas International through digital transformation and held senior executive roles at HP Software, IGT, Oracle, and CA Technologies, managing multi-billion-dollar businesses and global teams across EMEA, APAC, and Latin America.

A respected Chairman and Board Member, Sabby advises on governance, digital transformation, and market expansion, and also served as a member of the UK Digital Economy Council and spent 5 years as the Chair of the Digital Leaders Advisory Board.

Widely regarded as a forward-thinking voice in AI, SaaS, fintech, and accountancy, Sabby continues to inspire through his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to driving innovation that shapes industries and empowers people worldwide.

Emma-Jane Hendry is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in the global media and entertainment industry, delivering strategic partnerships, digital innovation, and inclusive growth across leading organisations including the BBC, Microsoft, 20th Century Fox, and Rakuten TV.

In her current role as Director of Business Development at BBC Studios, Emma-Jane is a leader for global news distribution and streaming partnerships, driving commercial success and expanding the BBC’s international footprint. She has also played a key role in shaping the BBC’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy, leading initiatives that support underrepresented talent and foster inclusive workplace culture.

Emma-Jane is deeply committed to charitable and social impact work. She serves as Board Member for Partnerships & Philanthropy at UN Women UK, where she supports initiatives that advance gender equality and empower women and girls globally. She is also a Trustee and Director on the Board of Frensham Heights Educational Trust, championing progressive education and youth development. Additionally, she chairs Women@theBBC, the organisation’s largest staff network, advocating for gender equity and inclusive leadership.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the National Society of Psychologists, Emma-Jane is widely respected for her strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and unwavering dedication to purpose-driven innovation and community engagement.

Steve is a Board Director of Tensei and oversees General and Commercial Management. With a background in business strategy, he has over 40 years in industry working with some of the world’s largest brands and some of the most interesting start-ups. He owns the Global Executive Headhunt business 360xec. He is Chairman at Hubly (preventing online abuse) and a Board Director at DNApal.me (Personalised Health). Steve was also Chairman of IOTG – now Silver Bullet Data Services Group Plc. He led a PLC Group flotation onto AIM in 2008 whilst purchasing one of the most regarded Publishing recruiters, and was Chairman of the REC Recruitment Trade body for Marketing, Media and Creative; the MMC. In his Advertising agency years, Steve was a member of the founding team that launched what became the largest media agency in the world; Zenith Media and was Head of Strategy on the UK Board serving clients that included B.A. Land Rover, BT, News International, Mars and Mondelez. His full-service agency days were at Saatchi & Saatchi and at FCB prior to this.

A communications expert with deep experience of broadcast, Naomi heads up Studio, SEC Newgate’s home for creative content. She has more than a decade of experience working as a TV journalist at Bloomberg, Sky News and CNBC.

Before TV news, Naomi was a corporate access originator for Goldman Sachs bringing together institutional investors and corporate clients in the FTSE 100.

She is an advocate for social justice, access and equality through her podcast Show Me The Way, which profiles women making a difference to the lives of others; as a judge for the Veuve Clicquot BOLD awards; an ambassador for Asia Women of Achievement Awards and a founding advisor for OK Mentor.

Naomi started her professional life as an actress in the West End, on TV and Radio and is this year judging the Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year category. 

Professor Paul Morrison is a multi-award-winning, globally recognised leader in technology. He currently serves as the UK & Ireland Education, Non-Profit, and Charities Lead for Zoom, driving strategic innovation and digital transformation across the public and third sectors.

Renowned for his work at the intersection of education, technology, and community development, Professor Paul is an Ambassador for The Open University and a Global Ambassador for Elevate Africa—a non-profit founded by His Royal Majesty, The 21st Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Consort Olori Atuwatse III. In 2024, Professor Paul received the Global Ambassador Award from HM Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR in recognition of his exceptional contributions.

He also serves as a judge for several national awards, reflecting his commitment to equity, inclusion, and innovation. As Chair of the Professional Advisory Board and Professor at the University of the West of Scotland, he helps shape the next generation of leaders and educators.
Beyond his professional roles, Professor Paul is passionate about mentoring and leadership development. He actively supports emerging leaders through various programmes, including mentoring the special adviser to a former Prime Minister. He is also the founder of iDare2Inspire, a programme dedicated to raising aspirations and empowering young professionals.

Professor Paul’s work continues to inspire individuals and institutions globally, positioning him as a respected voice in education, leadership, and community advancement.

Miles Nolan started his career as a financial journalist, working for the Financial Times publication the Investors Chronicle as a staff writer before moving to the position of Smaller Companies Editor.

He later moved on to be the Editor of Growth Company Investor.

He has worked as an analyst and fund manager and has held the role of Head of Communications for a wealth manager. He is FCA regulated and works as a Partner/Director at Sterling Investment Management – a fund management company focused on growth companies.

In addition he works as a Board Adviser at a private clinical trials recruitment business and also runs a private property company which focuses on both commercial and residential property.

Donna O’Toole is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author of WIN! and founder of August Recognition, a top global awards agency within the Dent Global group. Named one of the world’s Top 25 Customer Experience Influencers and an international awards judge, Donna has helped hundreds of businesses - from start-ups to FTSE 100s - to raise their profile through prestigious awards like The King’s Awards for Enterprise. Now, with co-founder Daniel Priestley, she’s pioneering a new AI venture to revolutionise the way people find, enter, and win awards, making the process safer, simpler, and smarter than ever - AwardsApp.

Abdul R Shiil is the Co-founder and Director of Sahan Cares CIC, a multi-award-winning social enterprise delivering home care and supported living services whilst creating employment pathways for refugees and migrants. Under his leadership, Sahan Cares has become a nationally recognised organisation known for combining commercial sustainability with long-term social impact.

Over the past decade, Abdul has led initiatives that have created hundreds of employment opportunities for individuals from refugee backgrounds, whilst delivering high-quality care services to elderly and vulnerable communities. His work has been recognised through multiple national business and social impact awards for innovation, leadership, and purpose-driven growth, and he has spoken internationally on inclusive growth, workforce innovation, and social impact.

Alongside his executive role, Abdul serves as a Trustee at ActionAid UK, where he contributes to governance and strategic oversight within one of the UK's leading international charities. He is also currently undertaking doctoral research exploring how older adults engage with digital health.

Abdul is passionate about workforce innovation, inclusive growth, and building organisations that demonstrate how purpose and profitability can successfully coexist through strong leadership, operational excellence, and long-term thinking.

It was a privilege to serve as a judge for the Technology Business of the Year Award 2025. The exceptional standard of innovation, strategic vision, and leadership demonstrated by the finalists was truly inspiring. Each business showcased not only incredible technology but also a deep passion for driving positive change and shaping the future of the UK’s tech sector. The experience was a powerful reminder of the remarkable talent and entrepreneurial spirit leading the way in British business today. Looking forward to meeting the 2026 finalists!

A nationally recognised culture and organisational performance leader with 15+ years championing equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging across public, private and voluntary sectors.

Annisha designs enterprise-wide strategies that turn inclusion into measurable performance. She has led organisation defining shifts, including achieving gender parity in senior leadership at the BBC, delivering record workforce data engagement and transparency at Ofcom, and setting new cross-industry standards for accessibility, representation and accountability.

A trusted adviser to boards and regulators, Annisha embeds equity into policy, leadership and regulation, aligning culture with strategy, risk and outcomes. Her work spans governance frameworks, inclusive leadership capability, data-led decision-making and supplier standards, consistently improving trust, talent pipelines and audience impact.

An Honorary Fellow at the Institute for Equity, BRIT School Trustee and sought-after keynote speaker, Annisha is shaping the future of inclusive leadership, building an enduring legacy through people, policy and purpose.

Andrew Webb is the founder of Connectopia, a consultancy that supports emerging technology in the early stages of expansion into the UK market. 

Nick is a partner at leading tax, accounting, and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. Nick has spent his career working with mid-market businesses and their owners.

At Blick Rothenberg, his focus is on empowering technology-driven businesses to navigate global markets and compliance landscapes, enabling companies to establish a robust presence in the UK and beyond, fostering growth through informed decisions and proactive advice.

His role as a chartered accountant and advisor extends to delivering keynotes on value-building and fundraising in the tech space, leveraging a wealth of knowledge gained from hands-on experience. At the core, his mission is to mentor and propel entrepreneurs towards sustainable success, capitalizing on opportunities in an ever-evolving digital economy.

Xavier White has dedicated the past 15 years to advocating for minorities, beginning with founding an award-winning LGBTQ+ rights in education charity at 17. Currently Head of EMEA Social Purpose at Verizon Business, he leads pioneering campaigns and impact initiatives, such as those with Unloc, empowering over 100,000 young people with entrepreneurial and leadership skills. He co-founded the ChangeMaker Alliance, a cross-business alliance including Burberry, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper Networks, and GRP Solutions, with the goal of improving prospects for young people. Outside of work, Xavier is an activist, and artist, and sits on the advisory boards of DIAL Global, BITC, and Unloc.

Saira is CEO at SF Recruitment, a specialist recruitment firm headquartered in the Midlands. Saira joined in 2018 having previously been UK CEO and CFO at Ignata where she played a key role in building the group to over £40m of Turnover today. Her knowledge of recruitment and talent solutions was honed during six years spent in Deloitte’s M&A strategy team, where she was involved in a number of high-profile deals in the recruitment sector.

Saira is passionate about employee engagement and since joining SF has introduced a new people-centric business model which has delivered an increase of over 60% in individual employee performance and reward.

Outside of the boardroom, Saira is also a dedicated adventurer, she previously climbed half of Mount Everest and loves to travel the world to pursue her love of open-water diving.

Carmina is recognised internally and externally for STEM, people development, and as a Technology leader with a passion for I&D. Prior to joining Salesforce, she spent 8 years at Accenture and 19 years at IBM leading and growing sales teams in Technology, Cyber Security and Consulting services in Financial services and Cross Industry.

Computer Weekly has named her on the top 50 most influential women in IT for the last 4 years, in addition she was a Finalist in the "Women in IT awards”.

At Salesforce, Carmina leads the UKI Regulated Industry team. Carmina is responsible for setting the direction of the Salesforce go-to-market strategy, to drive market growth, and customer success. Serve as a trusted advisor to C Suite leaders aligning Salesforce innovation with business and regulatory priorities.