The awards are judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders and experts, the judging is a rigorous two-stage process including pre-scoring to determine shortlists and a judging meeting where entries are discussed and evaluated in detail to decide the winning entries.
From a transparency perspective, we may video aspects of the judging session to show on the evening and give entrants an insight into why a winning entry was chosen.
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Judges
Chris Barnicott | Chief Technology Officer | SSE plc
Chris is currently the Chief Technology Officer for SSE and has over 25 years of experience with technology strategy and solutions for consumers, business and industry. Chris’ career has spanned the beginnings of cable TV, internet and communications in the UK with Virgin Media and the digital evolution of the energy industry with Centrica and SSE.
Shaad Cajee | Head of Marketing | ReiThera
Shaad is an agile and entrepreneurial life sciences professional with marketing and sales experiences across the pharmaceutical, med tech and biotechnology sectors. As the world accelerates into the new frontier of biotechnology, his mission is to enable patients access worldwide to the right medications at the right time, through the development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical products. Shaad is the host of Inside Revelations with ReiThera, where his guests from across the industry discuss the changing biotechnology landscape so that we are better prepared for the future ahead. Outside of work, Shaad enjoys spending time with his wife and son exploring different parts of Italy, practising yoga on the beach, and learning to cook Italian dishes with the best chef, his mother-in-law!
Gerardo Casas | Head of Ecommerce | TOYS R US IBERIA SA
Computer Engineer with 20 years of experience in technological consulting and business in various sectors (Banking, Large Distribution, Franchises or Tech). In 2006, he launched the first Gourmet Food and Wine Marketplace in Spain, integrating 140 suppliers and 60 dropshippers into sector compliance. Mentor and Tutor in specialized Masters at the University of Malaga, EAE, Camilo Jose Cela, Windup or Cibus. Strategy consultant in leading companies in their sector such as FxStreet, Bulevip, Hispatec or Beclimb. As Marketplace Manager at Iskay Pet, he coordinated the launch of one of the first 3 Marketplaces in the country with Mirakl. Gerardo is currently Head of Ecommerce for ToysRus Spain & Portugal.
Jason Chen | CEO & Executive Director | Venture Scope
Jason Chen is the Founder and CEO of VentureScope and CEO and Executive Director of MACH37. He is a business strategist, entrepreneur, and early stage venture investor with more than 19 years of experience leading business planning and consulting engagements for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and multi-national organizations in both the private and public sector. Jason is a former Techstar’s Entrepreneur-In-Residence and was the Director of their Startup Next Cybersecurity DC pre-accelerator program, which was designed to provide cyber startups with expertise and mentorship. In addition to founding VentureScope, Jason co-founded HackEd, a cybersecurity hands-on-keyboard cybersecurity training company, and WeatherAlpha, a weather data analytics company. Jason holds a MA from Harvard University, and a BA from the University of Virginia. He is also certified in InnoCentive’s Problem Deconstruction and Challenge-Driven Innovation methodologies.
Parth Chopra | Senior Product Manager | ADP
Parth works for ADP, the world's largest payroll and human capital management company. He’s a Sr. Product Manager with RUN – used by ~1 million small businesses in the US. He has built and integrated a revolutionary salary benchmarking product using ~30 million actual employee payrolls, created 5+ compliance related products - including HR/employee and ACA compliance, integrated an applicant tracking system with 2-way data integration capabilities, worked on ADP’s LMS (learning management system) and overhauled RUN’s content management system. Before ADP, Parth was a consultant with Bain & Company and an investment banker with Nomura. He is also a two-time entrepreneur and musician with a Master’s degree in liberal arts and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Ellie England | Sales Director | Microsoft
Passionate about digital, women in technology and building high performing, resilient and happy teams, Ellie began her career in sales working in an inner city secondary school 'selling' the importance of modern languages to disaffected teenagers. She got into the world of digital advertising working for Google for 6 years, before eventually relocating to Manchester and joining Microsoft. As a Commercial Director for Microsoft Advertising, for the past 6.5 years. Ellie has been spearheading the continued investment in the North of the UK and beyond, leading a growing team of talented media sales consultants and juggling life as a proud mother of two children, 5 and 2.
Richard Gregory | Co-founder | AgencyNXD
Richard is co-founder of AgencyNXD as well as an advisor and NXD to multiple tech firms and agencies, including Adzooma, Fluid Digitial and Ruler Analytics. Heralding from “Silicon Ramsbottom” he is an ardent supporter of the digital and tech industry in the North of England. Previously, Richard was the managing director of digital agency Latitude, director of Tech North and co-founder of SAScon.
Steve Hilton | CEO | Liberty Apps
Founder of an agency started in 2008 to produce life changing smart phone applications. We've grown organically to create apps for big names including Warburtons, Microsoft & IBM. Recently spoke at TedX and International Business Festival Invited by the British Computer Society to deliver talks around the UK Presented technology talks at 20+ events regarding Culture, Chatbots & Mobile Apps Recent personal recognition includes: * Winner of the NHS Hackday * Winner of the Homeless Hack * Winner of Hacking the Future of Energy * Most notable app at the Public Health England HackX Lives to improve lives across the globe using smart phone technologies.
Phil Hobden | Head of Digital Sales | Wolters Kluwer
With a background over 15 years in financial services & the Fintech accountancy sectors, Phil has worked for some of the largest and most innovative businesses in these industries, including Intuit, Natwest Banking Group, HSBC and now Wolters Kluwer. Phil is a contributor for Elite Business Magazine online, a serial podcast host, judge for UK Business Tech awards 2021/22 & the Global Tech awards 2022 , a public speaker (having spoken at Elite Business Live x3, Accountex x3, QuickBooks Get Connected and more) and guested on numerous industry podcasts and webinars including with industry bodies such as the ACCA. During his previous role at funding platform Capitalise as their Head of Customer Education he worked with over 1500 accountants, from Top 25 through to leading niche and boutique firms across the UK and South Africa, to help them implement funding as a service within their firms.
John Jones | Corporate Partner | Beever And Struthers | @BandSCorporate
John leads Beever and Struthers' Corporate Team, having been made a Partner in 1999. Beever and Struthers is an award-winning firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors in Manchester, Blackburn and London, and currently rank in the Top 50 firms nationally and Top 10 firms in the North West. John is a local council member of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and has been co-opted to the Partnership Steering Group of the Business Growth Hub. He was Chairman of Pro-Manchester from 2014 - 2015.
Alan K'necht | Public Speaker & Principle | K'nechtology Inc | @aknecht
Alan K'necht started his involvement with the digital world back in 1996 building websites and participating in the precursors to what would evolve into Social Media. For over 25 plus years he’s provided consulting services ranging from web development, analytics, search marketing/SEO and social media marketing to fortune 500 companies, government departments, military and small & medium size businesses. Through analytics, Alan has always helped clients measure and maximize their Return on Investment (ROI) for their digital marketing initiatives. At present he operates his consulting company K'nechtology Inc.
Lada Kalashnikova | Head of SEO | COPYBET EU LTD
Lada has worked in digital marketing since 2003. She specializes in all aspects of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), with a focus on technical SEO, multilingual search and mobile optimization. Her clients have included Starco, Action-MCFR, and Artec 3D. Lada worked as a Global Head of SEO in Acronis, then she was a Head of SEO at SEMRush. Lada now works as the Head of SEO/ASO in CopyBet EU Ltd, the first social betting platform founded in 2015. CopyBet is a fast-growing tech company, focused on providing the best experience for their customers while following the principles of Transparency and Fair Trade. Lada enjoys lifetime studying; most recently on topics around data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. Her favorite tools are Excel, GWT, GA, Yandex Metrica and brains. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, yoga, and Japanese Art. Definitely a cat person.
Steve Kuncewicz | Partner & Head Of Creative, Digital & Marketing | Glaisyers ETL | @stevekuncewicz
Steve is a Partner and Head of Creative, Digital and Marketing at Glaisyers ETL in Manchester. He specialises in intellectual property, media social media and privacy law and is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in the Legal 500, and was a oo-founder pf the Bulletproof Agency Network. He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve is also the Manchester Publicity Association’s Honorary Solicitor.
Jude Liemburg | Director of Marketing | GOARC
Bringing over 15 years of experience as a marketing professional in the high-tech industry, working with companies to create and strengthen their market position internationally. Extensive global marketing experience in the B2B industry, development, establishment and on-going marketing activities of both start-up companies and large corporations. Highly experienced at marketing strategies and initiatives that are aimed to facilitate the company's business goals, while contributing to the company product's distribution, sales, revenue and the perception of its brand.
Trond Lyngbø | Senior SEO Consultant
Trond Lyngbø is the founder of Search Planet and a senior SEO Consultant. He has over two decades of experience in SEO, e-commerce, content strategy and digital analysis. His clients include multinational Fortune 500 corporations and major Norwegian companies. Trond has helped grow businesses through more effective search marketing and SEO strategies. He is most passionate about working with e-commerce companies and web shops to develop and expand their omni-channel marketing initiatives.
Amit Masram | HR Technology and Scale-up Expert
Amit is a multi-award-winning global HR Leader with over 15 years of experience in regional and international roles across Europe, North America, and Asia. He worked in SaaS-based technology and high-growth organizations in multiple countries in Digital HR Transformation, Strategic Business Partnering, OD, and Change roles. He has demonstrated success and expertise in accelerating the scale-up of tech companies leveraging digital HR, process automation, and AI-led HR Technologies. He is passionate about leveraging technology to create exceptional digital employee experience and advocates investing in developing a future digital workplace. He is a mentor to tech start-ups incubators and is involved with several, not for profits focused on building digital skills for children and youth. He has lived and worked in the UK, USA, Canada, India, Singapore, and Malaysia and enjoys deep connections in the global technology communities. Amit is a regular speaker in global HR tech summits and international marquee conferences.
Rejoice Ojiaku | SEO Specialist & Content Strategist | Feedia LTD
Rejoice Ojiaku is an SEO Specialist & Content Strategist, as well as the Co-Founder of B-DigitalUK – a platform for showcasing and empowering black talent in the UK digital marketing scene. Her expertise lies in SEO, Diversity and inclusion, all bolstered by strong personal branding both online and offline.
Tiago Perdigao | CEO | Fractal Mind
Tiago is an experienced Manager with +25 years of experience in the areas of marketing, sales and retail, having worked in companies such as adidas, Jeronimo Martins, Sonae and FNAC. He has worked for adidas in several Marketing roles in Europe and the MENA, where he received many media, activation and retail awards. He also as been part of several jury panels in marketing awards events on the region. Always pioneering in the use of new technologies to the business world, he took on gamification as his latest challenge in 2017, currently leading Gamification startups in both Portugal and the UK. He achieved is Bachelors in Management in Portugal, followed by an MBA with Marketing focus in the UK. More recently he concluded a Post-Graduation Diploma in Retail Management and another in Arts Markets and Collections. He is also a long time Member of the CIM (MCIM) and (believe it or not!) a Chartered Accountant.
Pankaj Pilaniwala | Product Manager | Google
Pankaj Pilaniwala is an insightful Product leader who has extensive experience in creating impactful products that can grow businesses and change lives. He's led and built products in Edtech, Fintech, and other customer-facing technologies - including running a startup that gamified learning experience. He understands how to create data-driven products that give customers what they need. He brings together expertise in tech, and people management skills when it comes to creating an aesthetically pleasing tech ecosystem. His product acumen makes him an inspirational leader. He is an expert in his field. He is a true innovator who constantly explores new technologies to create new solutions to provide customers with the best possible experiences and has a proven track record of delivering delightful product experiences.
Erin Portsmouth | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT | NHS GREATER MANCHESTER INTEGRATED CARE
Erin is a Chartered public relations practitioner who worked for ten years in private sector marketing and communications consultancies, and for the past thirteen years has worked in the National Health Service. She is currently Associate Director of Strategy, Planning and Development for the Oldham team within NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, where she oversees a strategic portfolio that also includes communications, engagement, public affairs, equality and diversity, organisational development and governance. She has a Masters degree in public relations, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and served on the CIPR North West Group Committee as a volunteer for ten years, also holding a three year term as Chair. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees of homelessness charity Emmaus Salford in 2017, and is a Non-Executive Director of Oldham Community Leisure.
Sophia Story | Chief Change Maker | 3 Sided Cube
Puff Story is Co-Founder of 3 Sided Cube Inc, responsible for the client relationships and impact of projects. Named as one of the top 100 most influential business developers in the UK, Puff is known for her contagious laughter, love of neon colours and an unrelenting passion to help organisations such as the American Red Cross, World Resources Institute and numerous UN agencies to make a real difference. Puff has vast amounts of practical experience in a variety of industries but has a love for using tech for good in the NGO, charity and third sector.