The EN Awards are judged by a panel of experts residing from the largest players within the global exhibitions industry. Each judge listed below has been recruited to bring a different set of expertise to our team, bringing years of collective experience with them to help us crown the best in the business!
Ian Solomon
Operations Director at Hyve Group
About You
Ian is the Operations Director at Hyve Group and has been delivering their largest UK events for the last twenty years. More recently, he has expanded his experience to include international events in Europe, the Middle East, and the US.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
There is so much great work, innovation, and excellence carried out in our Industry - it is always brilliant to be able to recognise some of it!
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
It's always good to see a submission that answers the entry criteria! Apart from that, fresh thinking, innovation, a great understanding of the challenges involved, and, most of all, energy and pride!
Carlo Zoccali
Chief Commercial Officer at Fully Charged Show
About You
As a forward-thinking Chief Commercial Officer, I'm committed to leading Fully Charged Show in the electrifying journey toward a sustainable future. My career in the events industry has given me the privilege of working with some of the biggest names in the business, and I've now brought that experience to the world of clean energy and sustainability.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Staff Recognition for their hard work.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
The success and wins shared with how individuals and team have come together to outperform KPI while considering new and exciting ways to engage with audiences. Also a focus on sustainability impact the show has.
Anna Golden
Commercial Director at Olympia London
About You
Anna Golden is Commercial Director of London's leading venue, Olympia London, and is responsible for the Sales, Marketing and Communications across the business. With over 25 years of industry experience within the events, meetings and hospitality sector Anna joined Olympia London in 2002, after previously working for Forte & Meridien Hotels.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Winning an award judged by your industry peers and colleagues is such an honour, incredibly humbling and a massive recognition of your success, achievements and business.
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
It's always exciting to hear about innovative ways of doing things, inspiring initiatives, and a great vision that is then well executed. It's important to demonstrate quantitative as well as qualitative results and ambition and future planning. I always like to see culture, personality and brand identity in the submissions.
Jonathan Kinchin
Group Head of Sales at Nineteen Group
About You
At Nineteen, Jonathan is responsible for the overall revenue across the group’s core exhibition brands. He has overseen the sales team growing from 2 to over 30 people, through a mixture of recruitment and acquisitions. Jonathan is responsible for training, development, and has overseen the business’s revenue increasing tenfold since the business was set up in November 2018.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
To be recognised for the outstanding results that you have achieved.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
I enjoy seeing entries that display commercial acumen; entries that display a person who cares about their role, how they have shown themselves to think more commercially, and how that impacts their overall business.
Naomi Barton
Portfolio Director, iGB Events at Clarion Events
About You
I have worked in the events industry for 25 years, and currently run a portfolio of events focused on the igaming and affiliate marketing sectors for Clarion Gaming. I've lived and worked in the US and the Middle East, have 3 children, and I’m passionate about them, and our industry!
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Our industry is all about relationships, networking, and building trust-based partnerships - and anyone that works in events is going to be incredibly resilient, customer-focused, and hardworking. This absolutely needs to be recognised and celebrated!
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
I'm really excited to see examples of creative thinking, 'digging in' and working to solve problems, customer centricity, and turnaround projects as well as clear data-driven metrics and results. We need both elements in a live event - the data and the people-focused approach!
Sarah Marshall
Head of Events at Total Politics Group
About You
Total Politics Group specialises in media events and training for government and public sector in the UK and Europe. Sarah has held Head of Events and Head of Content roles at several large organisers and has launched conferences, awards, exhibitions, and media titles globally.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
These awards are a great opportunity to showcase the outstanding achievements of young events professionals and to reward brilliant work, creativity, and excellence.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
I'm looking forward to being inspired by the endless creativity and energy of our events community.
Tony Crinion
Managing Director at Quartz
About You
Managing Director of Quartz Business Media, Quartz Business Events & Quartz Sequoia Events Ltd.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
The events Industry is full of innovation and great people. Entering the awards celebrates all that hard work.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
Innovation, passion, and dedication.
Matt Denton
President at dmg events
About You
President of dmg events Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Having cut my teeth in the UK and come up through the marketing route, I've been based in Dubai for the past 15 years. We operate over 80 shows in more than 25 countries across a broad range of industries.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Recognition is everything, it sheds light on the great activities, initiatives, and people in our industry and that benefits the industry as a whole.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
Innovation, new approaches to old problems. But equally, just well thought-out, well-executed campaigns and events, it doesn't always have to be new and innovative, farming can be as important as hunting.
Ben Wielgus
Head of Sustainability at Informa
About You
A 20-year veteran of sustainability in the business world, including 8 years within Informa, Ben helped create Informa's FasterForward sustainability strategy.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
It's a great chance to take some rare time to reflect on all the amazing work you've done, with a great team and the successes that have come from that.
What are you most excited to see in a submission?
Something that has real impact on stakeholders, from a place of genuine purpose, and treats sustainability as a business value creator as much as something that makes our products better.
Alison Willis
Managing Director - UK at Easyfairs
About You
Ali began her career over 20 years ago in exhibition sales working at Centaur, UBM & Ascential and is now Managing Director at Easyfairs UK. Like many event professionals, she has worked across numerous industries from technology to foodie festivals and aesthetic medicine. Ali is also on the AEO Board and is passionate about attracting and retaining talent to the resilient and dynamic exhibitions and event industry. A mother to two young girls, Ali is familiar with the constant juggle of work-life balance and strives to be a positive role model for working mums!
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Our community loves to come together to celebrate the fantastic achievements derived from the passion, determination, and creativity that we put into each and every event! What better way to recognise your teams' achievements than to celebrate with the industry and shout about the successes! We are a face-to-face sociable industry and the opportunity to network and celebrate together is priceless!! Even better when you win!
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
Innovation and passion!
Tom Mitchell
President at Messe Dusseldorf North America
About You
President of Messe Düsseldorf North America - the US subsidiary of one of the largest global exhibition organisers in the world.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Good work should be recognised!
Laurent Noel
Managing Director at Comexposium
About You
Laurent embarked on an international career in the world of exhibitions spanning more than 25 years. In 2017, Laurent joined Comexposium Group, where he contributed to integration and transformation projects. He took over the management of the B2B trade shows division, with a portfolio of more than 50 events addressing a dozen industries and their communities. Prior to Comexposium, he developed business expertise in general management, overseeing multicultural teams and expanding businesses into new markets at RX Global, Hyve, and Atoz Marketing Services.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
The event industry is transforming at a high pace and constantly evolving to answer and be closer to communities. Whether trade show organisers are independent or large corporations they all innovate and launch ideas and new approaches to better deliver their events and ROI to their communities. EN Awards are a unique opportunity to showcase and demonstrate the fantastic work and dedication of trade show organiser’s teams to this industry.
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Alexi Khajavi
President at Questex
About You
In his role as President of Hospitality, Travel & Wellness at Questex, Alexi leads a creative group of people who inform and connect buyers and sellers across five markets. He oversees an international portfolio of industry-leading editorial, data, research, and live event products for over 2 million hospitality, travel & wellness professionals worldwide. Have spearheaded the company's strategic partnership platform with associations and led the multimillion-dollar new launch of The Hospitality Show in partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Initiated the sourcing and investment rationale for the acquisition of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Sharing our industry's wins is a tremendous way to raise the bar for everyone and elevate the sector overall.
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
Creativity, innovation, and an explanation about the journey of how they got it done. I adore the hard work and persistence required in our business.
Alex Pratt
Managing Director at Clarion Events
About You
Alex Pratt is Managing Director at Clarion Events where he oversees the gaming portfolio of market-leading B2B events and digital products including the world’s largest gaming exhibition ICE and iGamingBusiness.com which attracts over a million users a year. Alex joined Clarion through the acquisition of iGaming Business which he built from a single print magazine to a portfolio of multiple publishing and digital products as well as the leading affiliate events for the gaming market, iGB Affiliate.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
An excellent way to tell the world about something you are proud of!
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
Genuine data and customer insight that backs up the decisions you made and in turn the success you had. We all love a fluffy story full of adjectives but lift the hood, be vulnerable and show me what really made you different.
Laura Shapiro
Portfolio Director at CloserStill Media
About You
Laura has been working for CloserStill Media for over twelve years, rising through the ranks from Sales Manager to Portfolio Director as well as, additionally, the General Manager for the Midlands office. Laura has a strong sales and marketing background with over twenty years of expertise within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries predominantly with service providers, publishers, events, and exhibition organizers. Laura is highly decorated with personal wins as Best Sales and Best Event Director at the EN Awards as well as the numerous trophies for Best Trade Show. Laura is involved with the AEO as part of several working groups and is the current Women in Exhibitions UK Chapter President.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Winning an award is a fantastic way of getting external recognition for all the hard work put into creating an event.
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
Results and how you have made a difference to your community.
Lourda Derry
COO at Easyfairs
About You
COO of Easyfairs UK & Global, Lourda oversees the strategy, delivery, and development of a diverse portfolio of national and international B2B exhibitions, publications, digital products, conferences, and awards. With over 16 years of experience in the events industry, she has been instrumental in the geo-cloning, launching, and acquisition of several brands globally.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Winning an EN award can be the perfect recognition for your team and/or brand, rewarding hard work and determination within our industry!
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
I'm looking forward to seeing outstanding results, genius campaigns, and team members that work hard and go the extra mile for an event!
Lloyd Kenyon
Head of Sales at Thorns Group
About You
Lloyd was appointed Head of Sales at Thorns Group in September 2022. With over 23 years of experience in the live events industry, working throughout Europe and the Middle East, Lloyd has a plethora of knowledge working alongside exhibition organisers, venues, associations, and suppliers to ensure their event is successful, on time, and on budget.
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
Get recognised and be acknowledged for all the hard work and effort you have put in either as an individual, team, organisation, or community this year. Be able to showcase your flair and stand out in the industry in front of your colleagues, competitors, and clients - everyone and everything deserves the opportunity to shine.
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
I appreciate submissions that demonstrate tangible results and achievements. Highlighting the positive impact your work has had on individuals, communities, or industries can make a compelling case.
Mark Moloney
Managing Director at Trade Exhibitions
About You
I'm CEO of the Professional Beauty Group. We're publishers and organisers of exhibitions and conferences in the spa, beauty, hair and aesthetic sectors in the UK, Ireland, India, South Africa and the UAE
What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for the EN Awards?
They make you run your shows better and offer strong recognition for your team.
What you are most excited to see in a submission?
To see genuine progress and innovation, no matter how large or small.
Mary Larkin
CEO Americas at ARC
About Me
I have more than 25 years of international experience in trade shows, media, and sales. I grew up in this business and know all aspects of this global industry. I’ve held progressive leadership roles at Diversified Communication, and been a board member of UFI, SISO and ECA, three leading industry trade associations. In 2020, I became the first woman elected as president of UFI.
Simon Mills
Chief Commercial Officer at ExCeL London
About You
Currently Chief Commercial Officer at ExCeL London, the international exhibition and conference centre and the host venue for a variety of events from award winning exhibitions and conferences to international association meetings, product launches, banquets, award ceremonies, sporting events and great days out.
Sandy Angus
Managing Director at Trade Exhibitions
About You
Sandy Angus is Chairman of Angus Montgomery, a privately owned 124-year-old family business, active in running trade and consumer events on 5 continents. Angus Montgomery Art specializes in events in the contemporary art market.
With more than 50 years’ experience in the event and exhibition industry, Sandy Angus has worked extensively in the contemporary arts sector since the 1980s.
