EN Indy Awards: Judging Panel

A results driven Marketing leader with over 20 years experience in B2B event marketing covering strategic planning, training and development and driving growth via customer insights and marketing intelligence.

What you are most excited to see in a submission? 

Innovation marketing approaches, techniques and engagement strategies. How to drive conversion and retention. 

A influential leader with over 20 years of B2C & B2B experience within the global media and exhibition industry.

My role at Hyve Group as Portfolio Director of Breakbulk, leading teams within business to bring together the largest gathering of new project cargo professionals across three global events ensuring we deliver game changing impact for all of our customers.

Experienced in developing & driving teams to fully reach their potential. With a focus on creating the environment for people & teams to succeed.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

New opportunities and ideas created within their business.

The 'Why' they do what they do.

Co-owner of Creative Live Limited and Creative Event Spaces ltd.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

Cases where businesses have gone "all in" and adopted an approach to their business that reflects the much changed times we now operate in.

The MTA is a not-for-profit trade association which promotes the manufacturing and advanced engineering sector

Nicola has worked there for 13 years organising their events programme and the UK's largest engineering trade show, the MACH Exhibition. She is also currently serving as the Vice Chair of the AEO Operations Working Group.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

Examples of how independent organisers go the extra mile, creating events that help people make unique connections and promote themselves. Also, anything a bit unusual - anyone who works in the events industry learns to appreciate the bizarre!

Kerry joined the events industry 7 years ago and assumed the role of Head of Content at Total Telecom (part of Terrapinn Group) in 2021. She leads on the production of the company’s flagship event, Connected Britain, and has responsibility for steering the content strategy across Total Telecom’s events portfolio.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

Some of the best innovations come from smaller companies and these awards are a fantastic opportunity for independent organisers to showcase their successes and really take centre stage. Recognition in an awards ceremony like this can be so hugely beneficial for organisers - adding prestige and recognition to their business.

Celebrating over 25 years in events, Simon has successfully launched many shows at ICHF including the Creative Craft Show March 1996 at the NEC and continues today as a series of events covering the UK. As well as many show launches, he has successfully acquired shows from independent organisers and publishing companies including Fashion & Embroidery, Makers Central and the multi-award-winning Cake International.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

Being short-listed for an award shows that you're a highly respected business acting as a seal of approval that shows that your business offers quality and is highly respected in the events community.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

I'm most excited about hearing the end results of incredible innovation that is rife within our independent organiser community.

Twenty five plus years of solid experience in frontline sales and management. A results and process driven, self motivated and resourceful individual with a proven track record to develop and strengthen sales team in order to maximize company profitability and efficiency.

A professional, hardworking, loyal individual possessing excellent communication skills and able to establish sustainable and profitable relationships with clients and stakeholders. Adapt well to challenges and always strive to be innovative at required situations.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

It doesn't matter how big or small you are as a business or individuals, it is the talent you hold and drive that makes you grow as a all rounder. 

What you are most excited to see in a submission? 

A unique thought process alongside something out of this world - what others have never done.

Oliver, a driven 26-year-old Managing Director revolutionising the event industry. With a future-focused mindset and a proven track record, he leads with precision. Supporting countless events, he's recognised by top-tier organizers. As the chair of the ESSA Future Focus board, he spearheads advancements, bridging generational gaps with passion and expertise.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

To see innovation and groundbreaking ideas. As well as expectational execution and tangible results. It is inspiring to witness the impact individuals, teams, and organisations can have in the events community. Success drives through their creativity, strategic thinking, and ability to overcome challenges.

Philippa is currently Portfolio Director at Montgomery Group and manages the suite of events that sit within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, which encompass IFE, IFE Manufacturing, PUB, HRC, Salon Culinarie and Speciality & Fine Food Fair.

Having built her career via the commercial route, her previous roles include launching a series of exhibitions in Hungary, Poland, Russia, India and America as event manager, and heading up the commercial divisions on some of the UK’s largest exhibitions.

She is a passionate advocate for the power of live events and has worked across the full spectrum of the industry including awards, conferences, festivals, corporate parties and exhibitions. She loves the team aspects of events and is a powerful force in ensuring no event sits still! She likes to keep inventing, moving forward and creating unmissable experiences with excellent teams!

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

A submission which would catch my eye would be one that reflects creativity, passion and includes some unique ideas to drive business growth. 

Julie is Content Director at Questex, where she develops the content strategy for the company’s flagship event series.

In her 20+ year career, Julie has held positions at Informa, Visiongain, the International Institute of Communications, and produced events from roundtables to large-scale confex in EMEA, the US and Asia.

What you are most excited to see in an entry?

It's always inspiring to read about companies and individuals' successes. What interests me most is to see examples of fresh ideas, new initiatives and creative ways of managing challenges.

An experienced events professional with responsibility for strategic M&A

existing product development and new product launches.

What you are most excited to see in a submission? 

In a submission, I am most excited to see the impact / overall results of an individual's efforts on an event / campaign or indeed the impact an event has had on its community.

Future is a global platform for specialist media with scalable, diversified brands. We connect people to their passions through the high-quality content we create, the innovative technology we pioneer and the engaging experiences we deliver www.futureplc.com. My role is to develop and deliver a market leading portfolio of events in the UK and US to complement the current online, print and mobile products.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

I genuinely think they can be the edge when you are looking to secure business

What you are most excited to see in a submission? 

Creativity. Different busniess models.

A passionate B2B events professional with a broad range of experience across conference, exhibition, bespoke events and M&A. A problem-solver at heart, I've been fortunate enough to have worked for start-ups, scale-ups and some of the biggest players in the industry.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

It can offer incredible exposure to the wider community, which is big enough to help develop new opportunities, but small enough that this type of exposure can lead to bigger and better things!

What you are most excited to see in a submission? 

Something different and creative. There have always been a lot of really good entries, led by talented teams and people, but something out-of-the-box and innovative will always be more eye-catching.

Managing Director at Raccoon Media Group. I work across all our UK events including The National Running Show, The National Equine Show, The National Outdoor Expo, The National Cycling Show, The Allergy and Free From Show and The National Snow Show as well as our digital platform Outside & Active.

17 years experience in the events industry working on a variety of sectors including buildings, tech and marketing. Passionate about growing events and delivering great shows.

What you are most excited to see in an entry?

New innovative ideas and fun engaging activations and marketing plans. Also seeing individuals and teams go above and beyond for their own events, showing off their passions for their events.

Responsible for sales revenue, marketing, content and delivery of Terrapinn's European Solar & Storage Live tradeshow series.

What you are most excited to see in an entry?

Concrete results, metrics, quotes. And vision - what's next?

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

This a great opportunity to reward your team and increase your profile in the industry

With a 20-year background in trade magazine publishing, David and business partner David Brown launched The Emergency Services Show (ESS) in November 2006. They sold the exhibition and its publishing arm to Nineteen Group in 2019, becoming part of the Leadership Team of the company.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?

Awards are a great way to acknowledge the hard work the team puts into each event as well as recognising the individuals who go the extra mile.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

I'd like to see passion - show me organisers and individuals who are able to demonstrate they're clearly passionate about the industries their events serve.

An experienced event operations professional with over 25 years industry experience. From working on international sporting events and concerts at Birmingham’s Arena’s to managing operations at the NEC and Clarion Events. Most recently, Gill has co-led Ways & Means Events to become the award-winning industry leaders in Event Operations they are today.

What main reason would you give to urge our community to submit an entry for these awards?:

At the forefront of the industry, the awards offer recognition and reward for the everyday brilliance within our industry.

What you are most excited to see in a submission?

Recognising exceptional individual talent and forward thinking.