Judging Panel

The Judging Panel for these prestigious awards is made up of leading figures from business, charity, politics and the public sector. We are pleased to announce that once again the Chair of the Judging Panel will be Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE.

We will be updating this page as more judges are approved, please check it from time to time to see who else will be joining our esteemed panel.

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE

Chair of Restoration Partners

Chair of Judging Panel

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE

Chair of Restoration Partners

Chair of the Judging Panel

Ken is Founder and Chairman of Restoration Partners, the boutique technology merchant bank and architects of the Virtual Technology Cluster model Ken’s technology career spans over 30 years commencing with IBM from whom he won a scholarship while at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University. In 1992, after a twelve years as a senior executive at Wang Labs in the US and Europe, Ken founded Interregnum, the technology merchant bank.

He was elected as a Fellow of the British Computer Society in 2006. He has considerable public company Board-level experience on both sides of the Atlantic. He is currently a director of Thomson Reuter. He is also on the board of The Institute of Directors as a Non-Executive Director. Ken is a Freeman of the City of London; Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists; a Director of the Thomson Reuters Foundation; Chairman of Thames Reach (for which he received an OBE in 2010); Chairman of Shaw Trust, was an original member of IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority) and Founder and Chairman of the Powerlist Foundation. In 2009, he was named the Sunday Times Not for Profit Non-Executive Director of the year.

Ken was voted number one in the Powerlist’s Top 10 most influential British black people in 2016. In 2015 Her Majesty the Queen, appointed him as her Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London. Ken was knighted for services to Business and Philanthropy in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List.

Catherine Hearn

Catherine Hearn

Director of Talent Acquisition, International Consumer

Amazon

Catherine Hearn

Director of Talent Acquisition, International Consumer

Amazon

Catherine joined Amazon in 2020 as Director of Talent Acquisition for their Consumer division in EMEA, expanding to cover Asia Pac and India geos the year after. In 2022 Catherine became the UK business sponsor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a role that supports Amazon’s efforts to build an environment where everyone is valued and inspired to do their best work. Catherine was previously Director of Resourcing & Talent for the BBC, joining the organisation in 2015 from Walt Disney where she was Head of Talent Acquisition for International. Her early career was in executive search supporting consumer organisations in diversifying their senior leadership.
Chris Reeve

Chris Reeve

London Region Chair

PwC

Chris Reeve

London Region Chair

PwC

Chris is the London Regional Chair at PwC working with some of PwC’s priority clients, local organisations and with communities throughout London. Born in Middlesbrough with a background in professional services firms, Chris has been a partner at PwC for 17 years working with Private, Listed and International businesses varying in size from startups to the worlds largest. Recently joined the board of the Community Interest Company supporting Brigade Bar & Kitchen, a Social Enterprise hub offering training opportunities to vulnerable people and those in danger of homelessness.

A sponsor of the Female Executive Mentoring programme which provides 1:1 Executive level mentoring to help women from public, private and third sectors to achieve their aspirations and build future Boards and leadership teams that reflect the diverse communities we live in. Chair of the London leadership Board of Business In The Community (BITC) working with 20 senior leaders in tackling some of the biggest challenges in London such as skills development, levelling up and Climate change.

Nick Hedley

Nick Hedley

Partner

Hedley May

Nick Hedley

Partner

Hedley May

Nick is a recognised leader in the appointment of C-suite functional leaders, with a specialist focus on General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers and Chief Risk Officers. He has worked across industry sectors and geographies on behalf of a diverse range of clients, helping them recruit talented individuals who are able to transform the impact a corporate function has on the business. Nick is a qualified lawyer who began his career in law before moving into search in 1995. He has an LLB from London University.
 Daniel Gonzalez Fuster

Daniel Gonzalez Fuster

Head of Institutional Investors client line

BNP Paribas Securities Services

Daniel Gonzalez Fuster

Head of Institutional Investors client line, UK and Middle East

BNP Paribas Securities Services

Based in London, Daniel is currently head of institutional investors client line for the UK and Middle East.

Daniel has over 20 years experience within BNP Paribas Securities Services and the wider fund industry. His previous role was as head of asset owners client line for the Americas based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. During this time he also had responsibility for asset manager product development and solutions for Latin America.

His experience spans across operational, product and project management roles in Brazil, Spain, Luxembourg, Ireland and France.

Daniel holds a university degree in Economics from Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium and two master's degrees, one in Applied Economic Analysis from Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona and one in Corporate Social Responsibility from Universidad Alcala de Henares, Madrid.

He is fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English.

David Carrigan

David Carrigan

Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing

Sky

David Carrigan

Group Director of Diversity,
Inclusion and Wellbeing

Sky

David is the Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky. He joined Sky from Live Nation/Ticketmaster, where as Director of Diversity he worked across 40 international markets.

Previously he was the Head of Equality Strategy at Citizen’s Advice, headed Legal Affairs at the Commission for Racial Equality, and lead National Policy at the Housing Corporation/Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). David has also held advisory roles to the College of Policing and served as a Board member for a Human Rights Charity.

David was the first member of his family to complete his secondary education and worked as an apprentice Gas Engineer after leaving school. He was fortunate to be able to study at night school before attending the University of Nottingham. He is an alumni of Druids Health and is a proud Brummie. He is married with two daughters and lives in Surrey.

Sarah Whipp

Sarah Whipp

CMO and Head of GTM Strategy

Callsign

Sarah Whipp

CMO and Head of GTM Strategy

Callsign

Sarah is the CMO and Head of GTM Strategy at Callsign the global pioneer of digital identification and trust. She has held global marketing leadership positions at S&P Ratings, Platts, Symantec and McAfee as well as roles as diverse as sales in Fujitsu and finance at Colgate Palmolive. Acknowledged as a global expert in Marketing and Communications, Sarah is a Trustee of the Helen Davis Family Foundation, a member of the Forbes Communication Council, sits on The Hot Topics Advisory board and is a recipient and alumni of awards for European and Global top 100 B2B Marketers in 2021. She has previously held advisory roles for CEB (now Gartner) and Sirius Decisions (now Forrester).
David Fineberg

David Fineberg

Deputy CEO

CMC Markets

David Fineberg

Deputy CEO

CMC Markets

David joined the Group in November 1997 working on the trading desk and developed the Group's multi-asset CFD and spread bet dealing desk. As a senior dealer he was responsible for managing the UK and US equity books. Between April 2007 and September 2012, he was the Group's Western Head of Trading, covering all asset classes for the western region.

In September 2012, David was appointed to the role of Group Head of Trading and in January 2014 was appointed as the Group Director of Trading with overall responsibility for the trading and pricing strategies across the Group. In June 2017, his role further expanded when he became Group Commercial Director and then in April 2019, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Carla Stockton-Jones

Carla Stockton-Jones

UK Managing Director

Stagecoach

Carla Stockton-Jones

UK Managing Director

Stagecoach

Carla joined Stagecoach in February 2020 as Regional Director for South, became interim UK Managing Director in May and took on the role on a permanent basis in October. Main priorities are to lead Stagecoach through its recovery and build a sustainable business for the future. Passionate about building an inclusive culture, developing our people and using innovative thinking to grow the business. Carla is a Yorkshire board member of Maggie’s and Chair of the Network of Women of Irish Heritage. Enjoys a busy home life and in her spare time she loves cooking, she will happily tell you that her kitchen is her playground and her family enjoy being guinea pigs for her experimental recipes!
Michael Zdanowski

Michael Zdanowski

Director

Ventures Consulting

Michael Zdanowski

Director

Ventures Consulting

Michael advises leading organisations on the transition to a Net Zero world. He is an expert on the low carbon energy transition having led projects focused on electric vehicles, new nuclear and fusion, oil and gas, hydrogen, carbon capture and solar.

He is passionate about the potential of technology to decarbonise the economy and has led international campaigns to convince complex stakeholder audiences of the benefit of that change. He is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in organisations having seen the benefits to businesses of diverse thinking.

Michael has worked for several leading international consultancies and has lived, worked and studied across Europe. He has a PhD in European history from the University of Leeds and a Masters' degree from the College of Europe in Warsaw, Poland.

Amanda Mackenzie OBE

Amanda Mackenzie OBE

Amanda Mackenzie OBE

 

Amanda sits on the board of Lloyds Banking Group NED and Chairs the Responsible Business Committee. She is an Advisory board member of the Impact Investment Institute. Amanda Chairs The Queen’s Reading Room, Queen Camilla’s new charity.
Amanda stepped down after 6+ years as Chief Executive of BITC at the start of 2023.
Before joining BITC Amanda was on loan from Aviva to Project Everyone a Richard Curtis campaign for the UN to launch the Sustainable Development Goals.

Previously Amanda was a member of Aviva's Group Executive Committee for 8 years as CCMO and has 25 years’ experience working in large companies at Director level.
She was a trustee of the National Youth Orchestra for 10 years and a member of Lord Davies Review steering group to increase the number of women on boards.
Amanda is a Fellow and Past President of the Marketing Society. She received an LVO in the New Year’s Honours 2023, OBE in 2014 and holds two Honorary Doctorates

Nic Budden

Nic Budden

Nic Budden

Nic’s executive career spans 20 years within private and listed companies across a broad range of sectors including property, digital, telecoms, utilities, and financial services. He has created significant stakeholder value through several corporate transactions including the IPO of Foxtons Group plc in 2013, which he then led as CEO for eight years.

Nic has a genuine passion for diversity, inclusion and social mobility which is rooted in his working-class background and developed further during a decade of working overseas with large multicultural workforces to deliver complex business transformation projects in USA, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America.

In 2019 Nic was ranked by Glassdoor as a UK Top 50 CEO and in 2020, his work at Foxtons won an award for diversity and inclusion at the Business Culture Awards.

Alderman Vincent Keaveny

Alderman Vincent Keaveny

Lord Mayor of the City of London 2021-22

Alderman Vincent Keaveny

Lord Mayor of the City of London
2021-22

Alderman Vincent Keaveny was Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2021/22. He is a Partner in the international law firm, DLA Piper, advising on finance and debt capital markets transactions in the UK and Europe.

In 2014/15 he served as President of the City of London Law Society. He is a graduate of University College Dublin (BCL) and Trinity College, Dublin (MLitt), holds a Doctorate of Science (honoris causa) from City, University of London and is an Honorary Bencher of Gray's Inn.

Vincent’s Mayoral theme - People and Purpose - championed a purpose led and people focused UK FPS sector. He co-chaired the Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce and currently chairs Progress Together, the financial services membership body promoting greater socio-economic diversity in the industry.

He is the senior independent trustee of the Sir John Soane's Museum, chairs the board of the vocal ensemble, Exaudi, and is a director of Actors Touring Company.

Wendy Lyons

Wendy Lyons

Managing Director

Human Assets

Wendy Lyons

Managing Director

Human Assets

Wendy is an Occupational Psychologist and a chartered member of the British Psychological Society. She runs a talent management consultancy, Human Assets, based in central London. Wendy helps organisations to access, secure and benefit from the full diversity of talent.

Wendy has worked with a wide range of organisations in private, public and not for profit sectors and has led high profile projects in government departments and the private sector where the imperative has been to increase the diversity of applicants and recruits. She has also designed development initiatives to help people from underrepresented groups progress. She has extensive experience designing and delivering bespoke assessment and development initiatives at all levels within the organisation from graduates to Boards of Directors. Wendy co-authored ‘Holding on While Letting Go: A Director’s Guide to Contemporary Talent Management’ and enjoys contributing to public debate on business issues, her comments have featured in The Times, The Observer, Sky News as well as various industry publications.”

Laura Battley

Laura Battley

Company Secretary & General Counsel PLC

Watches of Switzerland Group

Laura Battley

Company Secretary & General Counsel

Watches of Switzerland Group PLC

Laura Battley is Company Secretary and General Counsel at Watches of Switzerland Group PLC, a FTSE 250 luxury watch and jewellery retailer. Before joining Watches of Switzerland, Laura was Company Secretary and General Counsel at high street retailer New Look, with responsibility for the legal and secretariat teams as well as the wider group compliance functions across the business. Laura was also responsible for ESG at New Look (including diversity and inclusion).

Laura trained and qualified as a corporate lawyer at Magic Circle law firm Slaughter and May and later spent time at Addleshaw Goddard and KPMG, where she was seconded to New Look before joining on a permanent basis.

Steven Cooper CBE

Steven Cooper CBE

CEO

Aldermore Bank

Steven Cooper CBE

CEO

Aldermore Bank

An established CEO and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience of leading and growing UK and international banking, payments & wealth businesses; delivering transformational strategic change and large technology & digital programmes. Steven has a reputation as a leader who builds outstanding leadership teams and transforms organisation culture.

Steven is currently CEO of Aldermore Group and Executive Committee member of First Rand Group (Africa’s largest bank). He is leading a strategic repositioning of the UK based mid-sized multi-specialist financial services group. This includes a significant, multi-year investment programme, overhauling the culture, leadership, technology and target market of the organisation including inorganic activity.

Prior to Aldermore, Steven served as CEO of C. Hoare & Co. He led the modernisation of the UK’s oldest private bank. Significant growth was achieved as a result of new digital capabilities, new customers and the introduction of diversified revenue streams.

Steven spent the majority of his career at Barclays PLC; he held several executive roles including CEO Personal Banking UK & Europe. CEO UK Business Banking and CEO Barclaycard Business & global payments. During his time at Barclays, Steven developed a reputation for transforming large scale business through digital technology, cultural change and a relentless focus on customers.

Steven’s current non-executive portfolio include Cashflows (a PE backed payment scale-up business) where he chairs the RemCo, Audit and Risk committee and Chair of Experian UK PLC. He has recently stepped down from the global recruitment company Robert Walters PLC where he served for 6 years.

Steven is an advocate for greater social mobility across society; he is a regular speaker on the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups. He leads by example, creating apprenticeship schemes and opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Geoffrey Williams

Geoffrey Williams

Vice President / Global Head Diversity Equity & Inclusion

Burberry

Geoffrey Williams

Vice President / Global Head Diversity Equity & Inclusion

Burberry

Geoffrey has had a diverse career journey starting his working life in the entertainment industry then moving into health care, rail and media for the last 20 years. He has worked in Human Resources for the last 10 years of his career and has experience in Recruitment, Talent Management, learning and development, Orgnatsaional Design and Diversity and Inclusion.

He was the fromer Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Thomson Reuters , where he worked on strategy, culture and implimentation of a D&I agenda and globally launched Thomson Reuters Diversity and Inclusion index, was award EY’s National Equality Standard. As well as create programs that supported diverse communites within the Thomson Reuters business. He has been featured in the Financial Times Top 100 ethnic minority role models and DIMA 50 male advocates for equality in marketing and media for 2018.

Geoffrey is also the co-founder of RockingUrTeens.com a social enterprise that introduces young people to the real world of work & aims to connect the teens to a positive and vibrant futures. As well as sitting on the board of film production company oneumbrellaproductions.com.

Geoffrey is committed to working to change the world of work so all people feel connected and business have high performing teams that trust and listen to each other.

Nicole Dorskind

Nicole Dorskind

Chief of Staff, CEO

Capita plc

Nicole Dorskind

Chief of Staff, CEO

Capita plc

Nicole has extensive experience in advising large blue-chip organisations on consultative communication programmes enabling them to attract, engage and retain the right, diverse talent. She joined Capita in 2019 as Director of Communications for the People Solutions division and in 2021 became the Director of Marketing and Communications for Capita Portfolio, a division focused on optimising value and selling c30 businesses across a wide variety of sectors.

Nicole was previously the founder and Managing Director of ThirtyThree USA, an employment marketing and communications agency, for 10 years based in New York City

Karen Blackett OBE

Karen Blackett OBE

UK Country Manager, UK CEO

WPP, GroupM

Karen Blackett OBE

UK Country Manager, UK CEO

WPP, GroupM

Karen is a proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams, and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is U.K. Country Manager for WPP, the world’s largest marketing services group, and U.K. CEO of GroupM, the world’s leading media investment company.

As WPP U.K. Country Manager, Karen is responsible for driving growth in WPP’s second largest market of 10,000 people, through connecting operating companies to work together as integrated teams, ensuring product innovation and services development, developing, and delivering the WPP Campus strategy, developing our WPP data and technology platform to deliver client competitive advantage and growth.

Having taken on the GroupM U.K. CEO role in April 2020, Karen managed the business at a critical time during the COVID global pandemic and the subsequent impact of the killing of George Floyd. Through careful mitigating and permanent actions that put people first whilst helping clients to navigate the pandemic.

In June 2014, Karen received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours and topped the Power List, being the first woman to come in at number 1. In November 2018 Karen won the Inspirational Leader category at the Ethnicity Awards and was appointed Race Equality Business Champion by the U.K. Prime Minister. In 2019 Karen was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the U.K. Cabinet Office, and in June 2022 Karen will commence her Non-Executive Director position for Diageo.

Andy Bamford

Andy Bamford

Chief Exec

BrandPointZero

Andy Bamford

Chief Exec

BrandPointZero

Michael Turner

Michael Turner

CEO

Man FRM & Man Solutions

Michael Turner

CEO

Man FRM & Man Solutions, and a member of Man Group’s Executive Committee

Michael is CEO of Man FRM and Man Solutions, and member of Man Group’s Executive Committee. Prior to this, Michael was COO (2013 to 2017) and Head of Quantitative Research (2007 to 2013) at Man FRM. He has also held positions at Aspect Capital and Schroder Salomon Smith Barney.

Michael has been working on the Advisory Board of the Government sponsored taskforce on socio-economic mobility and has recently been appointed a non-executive director of Progress Together, a membership body focused on socio-economic mobility at senior levels in the financial services industry.

Michael grew up in a working-class background in the north of England. He studied at a comprehensive school and went on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Southampton.

Throughout his life, Michael has worked extremely hard and been fortunate to have many opportunities come his way as a result. He has always found the guidance of mentors to be critical to his journey and feels passionately that others from backgrounds similar to his should have the same support and opportunities to thrive in our industry.

Hannah Awonuga

Hannah Awonuga

Director - Global Head of DEI Colleague Engagement

Barclays Bank

Hannah Awonuga

Director - Global Head of DEI Colleague Engagement

Barclays Bank

Hannah Awonuga is a Global Director leading the DEI Colleague Engagement strategy as Head of DEI Colleague Engagement at Barclays Bank. In her role, she is responsible for global strategic oversight of DEI campaigns, communications, the global employee resource group strategy and responsible for the banks global socioeconomic agenda. Hannah a strong leadership background with over 10years leadership experiences managing remote and diverse teams across the organisation.

Hannah has been working for Barclays since she was 17yrs old and for the past 17yrs has spent time in the Retail bank, business and corporate bank before transitioning into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2019. Hannah has been named an inspirational D&I leader by esteemed professional body D&I leader’s inspirational leaders 2021 list and received an We are the city 2021 rising star award in the banking and capital category.

Hannah is an award winning DEI speaker who actively uses her voice to speak on DEI issues around Gender, race and ethnicity, social mobility and generations in the workplace. She has recently been appointed as a Non- executive director for the UK government membership body Progress Together which has been set up to increase socioeconomic diversity at senior leadership level across the UK financial services. She is also a foundation school governor at a Catholic secondary college in south London.

Joanna Hughes

Joanna Hughes

Founder & Director

Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships

Joanna Hughes

Founder & Director

Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships

Joanna is the Founder and Director of Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships. A driving force in setting up this company was to improve socio-economic diversity in the legal profession. Prior to 2022, Joanna was a solicitor for 25 years in a large international law firms and co-led the introduction of solicitor apprenticeships there. In her role as a Member of the City of London Law Society Training Committee, she is working with the Chair of that Committee to greatly increase the number of solicitor apprenticeship opportunities available in the City of London.

Joanna holds a number of Patron and advisory roles including being Patron of GROW Mentoring – a charity with diversity, inclusion and social mobility at its core - and one of the Patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. In May 2021 she was appointed to join the Taskforce to boost the socio-economic diversity at senior levels in UK financial and professional services, as a Working Group member, and was nominated by the Mayor of the City of London for the Freedom of the City of London for her work in the Taskforce.

She is also the proud recipient of UK Social Mobility Awards 2020 Mentor of the Year Award!

Jessie Burrows

Jessie Burrows

Managing Director - Customer Sales, Service & Claims

Direct Line Group

Jessie Burrows

Managing Director - Customer Sales, Service & Claims

Direct Line Group

Jessie Burrows is Managing Director - Customer Sales, Service and Claims at Direct Line Group and is a member of the Group Executive Committee. She is responsible for all aspects of personal lines and commercial lines claims; customer sales and service; and the Group’s counter-fraud activities. Jessie has been with Direct Line Group for 7 years and her focus is very much about creating value for customers and brokers by providing them with an exceptional service and value for money. Jessie is also a Board Member of the Motor Insurers' Bureau and Chair of the investment Committee.

Prior to joining Direct Line Group, Jessie was at Aviva plc for 13 years and rose to Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and Chief Accounting officer in the UKGI business, having been Head of Group Investor Relations and Director of Group Financial Reporting and Planning. Jessie joined Aviva from KPMG and is an associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales.

Joseph Lyons

Joseph Lyons

CEO

West Ham United Foundation

Joseph Lyons

CEO

West Ham United Foundation

Joseph has over 20 years’ experience working across the community sports sector, providing successful leadership and applying core values of community engagement to pioneer and create influential partnerships and projects. Since joining the West Ham United Foundation as CEO in June 2013, he has delivered an innovative approach to inspire better futures for all, particularly focusing on Health, Education and Inclusion, and breaking down social barriers for young people to achieve. Joseph’s work across East London has been an example of his multi-layered approach to building meaningful collaborations in order to tackle local need and utilise the power of elite sport for social good. With a strong understanding of the effect football has on attitudes towards learning and community engagement, Joseph has developed a number of award-winning sport-based projects in order to create environments for communities that ultimately aim to drive equality and provide life-changing opportunities.

Joseph is also the director of The Second Curve Network (C.I.C), The director of Advantage (C.I.C), and a Board of Trustee for two East London based charities: Foundation for Future London and One Newham. Joseph also volunteers for Homeless Action in Barnet, a local homeless charity that provides night shelter during the winter months.

The UK Social Mobility Awards is a fundraising initiative for the registered charity, Making The Leap.

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