Our 2020 Judges

David Ball

CEO, Brandfuel

David Ball
CEO, Brandfuel
Amanda Barnes

Chief Executive, Faversham House Ltd

Amanda Barnes
Chief Executive, Faversham House Ltd

Amanda’s experience spans publishing, digital media, events, conferences and exhibitions. She led a management buy-out of Faversham House in December 2010 and subsequently bought out her private equity partners in 2013. With her fellow directors, she has been responsible for repositioning the company as a multi-media business information provider building on the company’s strong brands in utilities, sustainability and visual communications.
Christine Bennett

Managing Director, Taylor Bennett Partners LLP

Christine Bennett
Managing Director, Taylor Bennett Partners LLP

Christine founded Taylor Bennett in 1993 having previously been the Marketing Communications Manager for two software providers.

Over 26 years she has grown the business into a multiple award-winning agency. Today Taylor Bennett’s work ranges from major conferences to exclusive key client dinners, from parties and trade shows to immersive client experiences.

At the core of Taylor Bennett’s being is Christine’s belief that emotional memories create powerful and memorable experiences. It is this belief that has driven Taylor Bennett to enjoy year on year growth for many years. This belief that creates, designs and delivers truly innovative and inspiring event solutions for our clients.
Robin Booth

Managing Director, Emap

Robin Booth
Managing Director, Emap

Robin joined EMAP in 2018 and is Managing Director of a portfolio of construction, engineering and public sector brands. Robin was Group General Manager at Aspermont Media between 2014 and 2018 running the UK, Australia and Brazil offices of an International natural resources media company, including one of the world’s oldest magazines Mining Journal. Prior to that Robin was Group Publishing Director at Incisive Media working across a range of industry sectors – technology, legal, finance and institutional investment.
Con Bridgeman

CEO, Trinity Events

Con Bridgeman
CEO, Trinity Events
Simone Broadhurst

Managing Director - Events, Incisive Media

Simone Broadhurst
Managing Director - Events, Incisive Media

Simone Broadhurst is the Managing Director of Events at Incisive Media, an award-winning B2B information and events business. Simone has been with Incisive for over 16 years and is responsible for developing and launching hundreds of conference and awards programmes. This includes driving the development of the British Insurance Awards and the Fund Manager of the Year Awards at the Royal Albert Hall which combined attracts over 2,800 attendees across 2 nights. Simone has launched events in Europe, Middle East and the US and has worked across multiple sectors including financial, legal and tech.
Nadim Chaudhry

President & Founder, Green Power Conferences

Nadim Chaudhry
President & Founder, Green Power Conferences

I founded Green Power Conferences in 2003 after growing concerned about climate change and believing that renewables were coming of age (I was probably 10 years early). We have since successfully run over 450 conferences, exhibitions and training courses in 37 countries, spreading best practice and connecting businesses. We are now firmly focused on scaling up the size and impact of our commercially focused platforms for deal making, due diligence, project best practice and showcasing innovation. Attendees greatly value our portfolio, our attention to detail and the work of the research team and their ability to accurately map out the future contract opportunities available in the markets we serve.

I am a passionate advocate of new technology, renewable energy and the positive benefits of the transition of our transport, energy and industries into truly sustainable and highly efficient new energy systems. In 2007 we launched the Green Power Academy to provide strategic business training to equip global executives with the technical knowledge and detailed market understanding to compete in the new energy paradigm.
Nigel Clear

Commercial Director, Conferences, Elsevier

Nigel Clear
Commercial Director, Conferences, Elsevier

Nigel Clear is Commercial Director at Elsevier responsible for the growth and management of their global scientific conference business which has quadrupled in size during his stewardship. Nigel has over 30 years’ experience in publishing and events and has spent most of his career serving the information, finance and scientific sectors.
He has a strong track record in launching new events and is passionate about the customer experience and how technology, underpinned by meaningful, data-driven insights, can augment this. A strong advocate of inclusion and diversity Nigel has doubled the number of female speakers at Elsevier’s events over a three-year period, and has been instrumental in launching societally important events in areas that have been underserved, most recently the inaugural World Forum on Climate Justice.
Jennifer Davidson

Founder & Managing Director, Sleek Events

Jennifer Davidson
Founder & Managing Director, Sleek Events

Jennifer Davidson is the founder and MD of Sleek Events, a boutique events agency based in Richmond. Having worked in events for over 10 years, in 2015 she launched her company and grew it to £8million in its fourth year, making position 19 in The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 in December 2019. The team has grown to 11 supported by a group of trusted suppliers and freelancers. Sleek Events prides itself on creating bespoke, unforgettable experiences for both corporate and private clients. Jennifer says, “If we have to work every day, why not do something we love with clients who appreciate all the hard work you put in?”
Mindy Emsley

Joint Managing Director, Smarter Shows

Mindy Emsley
Joint Managing Director, Smarter Shows

Mindy became Joint Managing Director of Smarter Shows in 2017 and oversees a portfolio of industry-leading conferences and exhibitions across the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and materials industries. Mindy has over twenty years’ experience in B2B conferences and exhibitions and has led the strategy and execution of highly successful events across a range of industry sectors including telecoms, finance, banking, energy storage and oil and gas. Prior to joining Smarter Shows in 2012, Mindy held conference production and event director positions at organisations including Informa Telecoms, IQPC, TM Forum and Eurofinance.
Orson Francescone

Managing Director, FT Live

Orson Francescone
Managing Director, FT Live
Rosalind Irving

Divisional Director, Euromoney

Rosalind Irving
Divisional Director, Euromoney

Ros joined Euromoney in 2009 and is the Divisional Director for the Telecoms Division. Over 25 years, Ros has worked for IIR, Eurofinance and Risk developing events businesses in many different markets including derivatives, treasury, energy, architecture, telecoms and technology across many different event models from training courses to large-scale annual conferences and trade exhibitions. Ros has a degree in Anthropology from the University of Durham and recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Michaela Jeffery-Morrison

CEO, Founder of the Women in Technology World Series, Ascend Global Media

Michaela Jeffery-Morrison
CEO, Founder of the Women in Technology World Series, Ascend Global Media

Michaela Jeffery-Morrison is Founder & CEO of Ascend Global Media and Founder of the Women in Technology World Series; the world’s largest events series focused on women in tech and the only B2B company dedicated to improving diversity and inclusion in business. Since its creation in 2015, Maddox Events, now Ascend Global Media, has exploded in popularity. In just five years, the Women in Tech World Series, has grown from one event in London to seven globally, while attendance has risen from 300 to more than 6,000. Ascend Global Media delivers content, opportunities, inspiration and knowledge to the women and businesses that make up the technology sector through a series of live events and attracts hundreds of speakers from the world’s most innovative companies and tens of thousands of attendees from across the globe.
Colette Leong-son

Managing Director - Events, Infopro Digital

Colette Leong-son
Managing Director - Events, Infopro Digital
Dominic Lowndes

Founder and CEO, TMT Finance

Dominic Lowndes
Founder and CEO, TMT Finance

Dominic Lowndes is the Founder and CEO of TMT Finance which provides news and events for senior telecom, media, technology, finance and advisory executives globally.

TMT Finance launched in 2009 to connect the global network of executives pursuing investment opportunities, mergers and acquisitions in telecoms, media and tech globally. Since then we have established 5 leading subscription news titles and a unique global portfolio of annual events and awards.
I began my career as a business journalist in 1998 and started producing business events in 2004 including with Thompson Stanley Publishers, The Press Association and Broadgroup, prior to forming TMT Finance.
Lydia Matthews

Group Content & Customer Director, Hyve Group

Lydia Matthews
Group Content & Customer Director, Hyve Group
Jason Megson

Managing Director, George P. Johnson Experience Marketing

Jason Megson
Managing Director, George P. Johnson Experience Marketing

Jason is Vice President and Managing Director of George P. Johnson UK & Nordics. With over 17 years of diverse communications industry experience, Jason has built monumental event structures, produced large outdoor festivals, delivered sponsorship activations and managed complex multi-track conferences for some of the world’s best-known brands.
Jason’s career began in as an accomplished rigger & set builder, but he then followed a path into the communications agency world with roles at FCB, Edinburgh (Interpublic Group) and Ogilvy & Mather in both Sydney & London. In his most recent role – prior to joining GPJ – Jason ran his own boutique activation agency. He has experience working with clients that include Hertz, Standard Life Investments, Philips and The Ryder Cup.
Fiona Miller

Group Events Director, Wilmington

Fiona Miller
Group Events Director, Wilmington
Dale Parmenter

CEO, DRPG

Dale Parmenter
CEO, DRPG

Dale has been in the presentation and communication industry for 40 years. He left school with one goal to run his own business, after just 3 years the opportunity arose and Dale took it, operating at first from a small outbuilding at his parents home.

Today drpg is recognised as one of the leading integrated, full service presentation and communication companies, winning agency of the year twice in 2017. The drpg team comprises of over 300 specialists across seven locations in Worcestershire, London, Windsor, Leeds, Germany, Ireland and the USA.

drpg designs and produces communications solutions globally. Working with a wide range of clients to effectively communicate to internal and external audiences, all through award-winning film & video, events, experiential, print, design, digital, exhibition and creative solutions.

He is actively involved with key corporate clients, he works at a senior level assisting in the development of communication strategies and creating presentation vehicles.

Clients find his wealth of experience and knowledge invaluable in creating solutions that are bespoke to an organisation and are effective.

Dale is passionate about nurturing new talent and putting his people first. drpg has appears in the Sunday Times best 100 companies to work for list at number 29 and has been awarded the Investors in People Gold standard for the 10th year running. In 2015 he was presented with the events industry personality of the year and in 2016 honoured with a fellowship award for services to Communication, presented at the House of Lords.
Isobel Peck

Chief Marketing Officer, Informa Connect

Isobel Peck
Chief Marketing Officer, Informa Connect

Isobel has moved between central and operational roles for the Informa Group working across publishing, exhibitions and conferences & training before joining Informa Connect as Chief Marketing Officer in 2014.

Having managed marketing, sales and customer service functions, Isobel became the business sponsor for Informa Connect’s digital transformation programme with the objective of moving the business from a transactional outbound marketing model to a customer experience led digital inbound model.

Her role is focused around establishing a strong digital presence for Informa Connect’s events, products, services and communities and designing a 365-day engagement programme for its customers marrying valuable, rich and compelling content with cutting edge, market-driven face to face meeting and learning opportunities for high calibre decision makers.
Iain Pitt

Managing Director, Energy & Resources, Clarion Events

Iain Pitt
Managing Director, Energy & Resources, Clarion Events

Iain is currently a Managing Director at Clarion Events one of the world’s largest event organisers, with revenues of over 350m GBP. He is ultimately responsible for the global portfolio of oil and gas events within the group. Iain founded the Oil Council in 2009 which remains the world’s largest global series of conferences for the sector and now part of the Clarion group. Prior to this Iain has held a variety of management roles in the global events industry. He has managed operations in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the US, and has experience across a wide range of formats and business models in the industry.
Dominic Samuelson

CEO, Campden Conferences

Dominic Samuelson
CEO, Campden Conferences
Sandeep Saujani

CEO, Contentive

Sandeep Saujani
CEO, Contentive

Sandeep Saujani, CEO at Contentive started his career in risk management consulting at MMC group and then worked his way up to Head of Americas for Ascend, a PE backed B2B information business based in New York. After this, he joined Econsultancy to grow the B2B Enterprise subscriptions service in digital marketing. He then went on to becoming a MD at Centaur Media, a UK based media and events provider. After leaving Centaur Media, Sandeep went on to lead Contentive in 2016 where he is currently the CEO. Contentive is a global B2B media and events business that connects buyers and sellers in B2B markets. Sandeep specialises in B2B information, analytics and advisory and has an Executive EMBA from Columbia University and London Business School.
Paul Stoddart

Managing Director UK, Ireland & Benelux, CWT Meetings & Events

Paul Stoddart
Managing Director UK, Ireland & Benelux, CWT Meetings & Events
Jonny Sullens

Head of Events, Future Net

Jonny Sullens
Head of Events, Future Net
Ben Turner

Managing Director, Wonder

Ben Turner
Managing Director, Wonder

Over the last 20 years, Ben has delivered world-class events for some of the biggest brands, launching his own agency, Wonder London in 2012. Now a 42-strong team across in-house Creative, Production and Project Management, Wonder deliver events around the world for the likes of Google, PlayStation, BT, Nike, and Skoda.
Sean Willis

Managing Director, Terrapinn

Sean Willis
Managing Director, Terrapinn

As Managing Director of Terrapinn’s London business, Sean directs the creation and execution of B2B events across a range of industries, markets and geographies. He also serves on the group’s board of directors.

He joined Terrapinn as a conference producer in 1997 and has worked in production, sales, general management and has previously managed Terrapinn’s South African business, the launch of Terrapinn World Congress, and a range of events across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.
Tim Willoughby

Managing Director, Ocean Media Group

Tim Willoughby
Managing Director, Ocean Media Group

Like many Fine Art graduates, I started my career in media sales. My passion for delivering great events was born nearly 20 years ago at Informa. After this I left the industry to spend a few years ‘client side’ as a head of marketing; now I was the one buying the exhibition stands!

My career has spanned many sectors, and I have worked for a variety of companies – from FTSE 100, to VC funded, to privately owned. Before Ocean I was Director of Events at EMAP, and prior to that the managing director of a conference company.

I believe sustainable growth is built on strong products and talented people, and these are two things I strive to create through my leadership. I have considerable experience driving growth through sales leadership; new product development; and product extension, restructuring and turnaround.

With the number-one products in nearly all our markets and fabulous teams taking them forward, this is a great time to be part of Ocean. Work should be fun, and I try to combine humour with a strong personal drive and persistence. So far, so good.

I live in Weybridge with my wife and two children and at weekends I can usually be found standing on the side of a field watching my children do something sporty. When time allows I love nothing more than hurtling around the Surrey Hills on my mountain bike.
Ruth Yarnit

Co-Founder, White October Events

Ruth Yarnit
Co-Founder, White October Events

Ruth co-founded White October Events with Dave Fletcher in 2013. White October Events creates content and conferences for the leaders and changemakers in software engineering teams around the world, developing their tech, team and tools to advance their businesses. Their flagship conference brand is The Lead Developer, with events in London, New York, Berlin, Austin TX and San Francisco.

With a background in international management before founding the business, Ruth has experience across the private and public sector, and has run events around the world.
Diane Young

Co-founder and CEO, The Drum

Diane Young
Co-founder and CEO, The Drum

Diane is CEO of media company The Drum, serving marketing and media people with content around the world. She started out as the sole events manager at The Drum and built the events business with her sleeves rolled up. Everything from business planning and strategy to sponsorship sales to telesales to packing the awards entries for judging to picking up the bits of fluff on the stage before the show started were all in her remit. From one Scottish event, she built up a portfolio of awards and a team to deliver them. The Drum now organises events around the world. The biggest part is the awards portfolio but now increasingly The Drum organises bespoke events on behalf of clients and The Drum Arms pop-up pub makes annual appearances in London, New York, Cannes and Austin.
Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, TXF Media

Hesham Zakai
Managing Director, TXF Media

Hesham Zakai is the Managing Director of TXF, a leading media and events company specialising in trade, commodity and export finance, with a global portfolio of 20 conferences. He has previously worked at the Special Reports team of the Financial Times and in the Press department at the European Parliament. He is also the former editor-in-chief of London Student, and has published essays on topics ranging from the history of the Middle Easto the impact of technology on local British communities.
Yoav Zand

Managing Director, Inside Government

Yoav Zand
Managing Director, Inside Government

Yoav Zand is an experienced business leader who has extensive knowledge of the public policy landscape in the UK and its commercial implications. He is Managing Director of Inside Government and Understanding ModernGov, both part of GovNet Communications, the UK’s public policy events specialist, where he has led various departments for more than 11 years, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer.

Under his leadership, both divisions have demonstrated consistent and sustainable growth over years. Understanding ModernGov is now the leading independent B2B provider of soft skills training courses for public sector professionals. Inside Government runs award winning content-led conferences, forums and training courses designed to support best practice in the delivery of public services.

Judging Information

The Conference Awards will be judged independently by an esteemed panel of conference, event & venue professionals across a wide range of market sectors.
The scoring will all be conducted online, without any reference to other scorers and based solely on the submission of the entrant. This will ensure the scores are unbiased and judges are not swayed by the opinions of other panel members.
Each entry will be scored by at least 4 judges in total. The organisers will collate the individual scores and use the average marks given to initially decide the finalists and ultimately to determine the award winners.Where the average scores are so close that it is too difficult to determine a winner, then other judges will be asked to evaluate these entries as well in order to make a final decision.
The information provided to judges will be used solely for the purposes of assessing the entries. Potentially sensitive information will not be made public.
Judges will absent themselves from any discussions where they have a vested interest.
The judges’ decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into and no reasons given for decisions.
If you need help with your entry or require any clarification, please contact Sian Jones on 020 8788 3710 or via email sian@globalconferencenetwork.co.uk.