The UK / Northern Dev Awards have been judged by digital marketing industry leaders and experts.
Current Judges
Previous Judges include:
Head judges
Gary Young | Head of Development | Missguided
Gary started his journey as Head of Development at Missguided one year ago, previous to that he headed up the Development Team at Cheshire tech start-up TyresOntheDrive.com. At Missguided, Gary leads a growing cross-functional team of 40+ Software Engineers, Test Analysts and Scrum Masters as they re-platform away from the Magento monolith and in to a new headless, microservice architecture. Part of the remit at Missguided, alongside re-platforming, is to drive a DevOps culture and ways of working to increase throughput and quality, supporting aggressive growth targets over the next few years. Previous experience includes working with global clients such as BP, Shell, Rolls Royce and others to deliver digital products that provide value to their organisations.Judges
Chris Allwood | Head of Digital Product Design | Bloom and Wild
I'm Head of Digital Product Design at Bloom and Wild. Over the last 8 years, I have worked with the likes of Treatwell, Lyst, BBC, Boots, Sunspel, Clarks Shoes, John Smedley, and Speedo. I'm happiest where Product, Brand and eCommerce intersect — thinking about how a brands promise is expressed across digital products and touchpoints.
Alan Baker | Head of Digital and Ecommerce at Pure Collection | Pure Collection
Liam Bateman | CTO | Silverchip
CTO And software developer, Liam has over 15years experience in the digital industry, working with some of the uk’s leading companies and brands. In 2010, with his friend and business partner, he co-founded Silverchip, an award winning digital agency in the heart of Manchester City centre, boasting an impressive client list and being renowned for its bespoke software development. Liam is extremely passionate about the importance of developing a ‘real-world curriculum’ within schools and colleges, working alongside students and young people to provide opportunities and routes into the sector.Nathan Blackburn | Managing Director | Autonomous Digital
I would describe myself as digital problem solver, looking for creative and innovative solutions to real-world problems using the latest advances in technology. I’m what you might call a “gadget geek” – always finding new tech to mess around with. I’m really passionate about my work; helping businesses make more sales and become more profitable by streamlining internal processes. I’m proud of my standing and reputation in the worlds of marketing and business automation and I’ve achieved it by working successfully with clients from SMEs through to large corporate and public sector – the strategy and process is the same for all sizes of business, it is just the scale that changes.
Carlotta Bonafini | SEO Lead | Vodafone
Carlotta is leading the SEO team at Vodafone UK, where she is overseeing the development of their new digital strategy. She started her professional career in the marketing field working for Expedia in the search department. She directed many regional projects before moving into a global position where her initiatives created outstanding results whilst pioneering new processes. She supervised both creative campaigns and technical projects, and launched many impactful ideas. Carlotta graduated from London Metropolitan University and Milan Catholic University and has been living in London for over 9 years. Passionate about high-tech, she is working on improving her coding skills and is always eager to expand her technical knowledge.
Rafael Brandao | Director, Product Experience LATAM | HBOMax
Experience Design Manager passionate about Arts and Technology. For more than 15 years I’ve been working in several Advertising Agencies and Design Offices as an Interactive Art Director and UI/UX Strategist. Today, I’m the Head of Experience Design and User Studies at Telecine, a joint venture between Grupo Globo and the major Hollywood Studios. In 2012 I also concluded my Master’s degree in Design at ESDI/UERJ (Brazil) and IADE Creative University (Portugal). Alongside my current role at Telecine I’m an UX Design professor at Miami Ad School Brasil, the best creative school worldwide (Cannes 2019), a Mentor at Designed.org and AbeLLha and Vice President of the UX Committee of IAB – Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Martin Bryant | Founder | Big Revolution
Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of technology and media consultancy Big Revolution. He is also a speaker, writer, and educator in the fields of technology and media. With Big Revolution, he works to help technology companies craft a narrative around their products and business. He was previously Editor-in-Chief of international technology publication The Next Web, and Community Editor at Tech North, where he shone a light on the stories of startups and entrepreneurs in the North of England.
Rob Callaghan | Head of SEO & Web Development | PPC Evolved
Rob Callaghan is the Head of Web Development & SEO at Dark Horse, a Manchester-based digital marketing agency. With over 10 years of experience in web development and SEO, he has worked with hundreds of notable brands, including We Buy Any Car, RBS and Emirates Old Trafford. Rob’s lifelong passion is everything digital, with a focus on discoverability, and his mantra is ‘there’s no point building a great website if no one sees it’.Jon Cleaver | CTO | In The Style
Jon is the Chief Technology Officer for the high growth, social first, fast fashion brand www.inthestyle.com. Prior to that he spent 3 years leading the omni-channel transformation for Sofology as Chief Technology Officer. Jon believes in putting the customer first and building simple engaging digital journeys around their needs.
David Crawford | Director | The Digital Strategy Unit | @davecrawford
David Crawford has worked for the last 25 years in marketing and digital agencies of all shapes and sizes. He was most recently Managing Director of Branded3, one of the UK’s leading search agencies, and has also held senior positions at McCann, BJL and twenty-six. He has worked directly with clients such as American Airlines, UPS and Bentley as well as help a couple of tech start-ups develop and deliver their digital & marketing strategies. He now works with creative, digital and tech agencies as a Non-Exec Director, Board Advisor and Coach.Ross Featherstone | Head of Development | Zeal
Wayne Field | Head of Customer Data and Measurement Science | ASDA
Wayne joined ASDA as head of Customer Data and Measurement Science in 2019. A mathematician at heart, with a degree in Mathematics from Sheffield University, Wayne is never happier than when grappling with data, numbers and solving logical problems. Wayne has extensive experience in leading data science and analytical teams from a number of different industries, in a number of different countries - from Aviva and Sky Bet in the UK, through to William Hill in Gibraltar, Tel Aviv and Krakow. Wayne is now leading ASDA’s charge to transform their digital marketing capabilities, with teams focussing on Customer Analytics, Audience Targeting and Marketing Effectiveness tasked with delivering more relevant, targeted marketing to ASDA’s customers – whilst always measuring and optimising ROI. Outside of work, Wayne enjoys family life in the North Yorkshire countryside with his wife and two children.
Emma Forward | Independent eCommerce Consultant | @emmaaforward
Emma is a platform-agnostic, independent eCommerce consultant with over 10 years' experience in eCommerce. She's project managed a number of migrations and re-builds across a variety of different platforms and verticals, including fashion, luxury, lifestyle, media and heritage sectors, for clients such as Apricot Clothing, House of Hackney, Westminster Abbey and The Beano. She works to increase profitability online through eCommerce strategy, conversion rate optimisation and site auditing.
Neil Hardy | Digital Director
Neil has been involved in the digital industry since 1994 when he launched his first website for travel brand Page & Moy. He has worked for several blue-chip companies including TUI, The Co-op, Icelolly, Midcounties Co-op and more recently Shearing’s Holidays. With a strong commercial background, digital results and ROI are key focus points in any award judging. Follow Neil on Twitter @hardyneil
Jamie Hinton | CEO & Co-founder | Razor
Most people who deal in software see it in code. Jamie sees it in living and breathing opportunities – that if applied in the right way – can not just bring real value, but supercharge any organisation. Beginning his career writing scripts to automate his own job as a data uploader at one of Sheffield’s (then) largest technology agencies, it is this mindset of ceaseless innovation which gave life to Razor and its mission to always stay on the sharp edge of technology. At Razor he challenges his team to think bigger. To harness the power of AI, automation, VR, machine learning and focused design thinking to enhance business functions, experiences and intelligence beyond expectation. Jamie has worked with major brands including Alfa Romeo, Co-Operative Bank, Dyson, Pizza Express, Metro Bank, Virgin Trains, South Staffs Water and Rolls-Royce to name a few that spring to mind.
Richard Keenan-Heard | Head of SEO | Trainline | @thetrainline
Richard leads Trainline’s in-house SEO and engineering team, focusing on scaling growth through product and UX improvements at scale in markets across the world. With a growth mindset and a passion for trains matched only by his determination to help customers find the best options for sustainable travel, Richard has assembled the team from the ground up. Before joining Trainline, Richard spent five years working at Wavemaker (formerly MEC) delivering scaled, enterprise level SEO for global brands including GE, Tiffany, Michelin, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. As a result of his agency and in-house experience, Richard has a diverse background in SEO and Product bringing a wealth of experience to the judges’ panel.Mark Kuhillow | Founder | Fusion Unlimited | @
Mark is deeply passionate about client service, digital analytics and media optimisation. He founded R.O.EYE in 2004, now seen as the largest specialist in its sector, R.O.EYE counts the likes of HMV, Best Western and Jessops amongst its clients. Whether buying performance media or supplying clients with key business insights, they are obsessed with one thing; ROI. With a background in traditional direct-response media, Mark has been involved with digital platforms since 1999.
Louisa Laughton | Product Designer | Treatwell
Louisa Laughton-Scott is an interaction design specialist, focusing on helping companies effectively and efficiently design for their users. She is currently working as a Product Designer for Treatwell, Europe's largest hair and beauty marketplace. While working, she is also studying for her master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction Design. In her spare time she is Global Events Manager for UX For Change, a global initiative dedicated to bringing the UX design community together in order to tackle problems from any non-industry related fields, such as education, charities and the public sector. Follow her on Medium @LLaughtonScott , Instagram @louisatechdesign and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/llscott/ .
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.Jack Mason | Group CEO | Inc & Co
Jack is the Founder and Group CEO of Inc & Co, built to help its collective of agencies achieve their vision and aim for more: more clients, more revenue, more game-changing work. And he's always looking for more companies to join him on the journey. Jack empowers agencies and the people in them to realise their full potential. It's all about strategy, structure and - most importantly - support. He loves being able to bring out the best in people and use his experience to help agencies nail their internal processes and operations. Inc & Co agencies currently include: Fast Web Media and Cuhu.
Neil McKay | CEO | Endless Gain
For more than 15 years, Neil has been helping businesses here in the UK, Europe and USA grow their online profits. He started his career at publisher Media Ventures Group (MVG), helping to build and sell Global Media GmbH to private equity firm The Carlyle Group before leading the UK acquisition of Bigmouthmedia (now part of DigitasLBi). He later led Lakestar Media to success before it was acquired by McCann Worldgroup in 2012. Neil's latest venture is Endless Gain – a Conversion Optimisation Agency which launched in January 2016.
Paul Morris | Marketing Expert
Paul has 22 years’ experience leading Marketing, Digital & Ecommerce both Agency & Brand side. Paul was previously Director of Digital/ Ecommerce at Marshalls PLC, Head of Marketing at Tesco Bank, global Digital/ Ecommerce Director at PZ Cussons (brands including St Tropez, Imperial Leather & Original Source), led Digital marketing at the Co-op Group (Food > Funeralcare) and have through the line experience of working both client and agency side with brands including Wickes, Laterooms, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Cash Generator, Stagecoach & Silverstone.
Bhavesh Patel | Head of Web Development | Degree 53
Bav is the Head of Web Development at Degree 53 with over 10 years of commercial development experience across multiple platforms, and using a variety of programming languages. He has previously worked in the healthcare and advertising industry for Saatchi & Saatchi Health, Razorfish Healthware, as well as online financial institution, Think Money. At Degree 53, Bav has built websites for a number of key clients including Penn Interactive Ventures, never.no and Sofology. Bav is hugely interested in using the latest tech offerings from the cloud giants to deliver the most performant and scalable, products and services.
Joel Peters | Head of UX & Content | Travelodge Hotels
With 20 years in digital media and skills in user-centred research, user experience strategies, app design, interface development and functional service design layouts. Joel leads creative teams in managing scoping and collaborative workshops, developing scenario-based sketches towards final design solutions and costing through to delivery. All aligned to the needs of the user, marrying their expectations with business goals following a Lean or Agile approach.Adam Ramsden | Digital Strategy Consultant
With well over a decade's experience in the fields of design and development and marketing and digital strategy, Adam Ramsden understands what it takes for brands and companies of all sizes and in all sectors to succeed online and improve business automation. With a work history that includes leadership positions at some of the North West's leading specialist digital agencies, and a client portfolio including brands such as Sports Direct, instaSmile, ForeverUnique and Godel Technologies, Adam is perfectly placed to advise forward-thinking companies on how to scale up and grow their digital presence. Adam's most recent project is working as the technical director for a multinational eCommerce platform, where he co-ordinates teams working around the globe.
Liz Scott | Head of Entrepreneur Engagement | Tech Nation
Liz is Head of Entrepreneur Engagement at Tech Nation. After having spent more time than she cares to admit in suits and corporate boardrooms, she is enjoying looking after the UK’s tech founders on a full time basis. She leads a national team across 11 different regions of the UK who are focused on finding and supporting tech founders to rapidly grow and scale their businesses. Liz was previously Head of Digital & Innovation for EY across the north of England, where she spent 3 years working on disrupting the global professional services firm from the inside, and supporting corporate clients to do the same. She is a self-confessed tech fanatic with a particular soft-spot for retail, e-comm & a relentless customer focus.
Carolyn Shelby | Director of Search Engine Optimisation | Tribune Publishing
Daniel Tiffany | Creative & Web Manager | Fgh
Simon Wharton | Business Strategy Director | PushON
Having led PushON for 12 years, In 2017 Simon transitioned from Managing Director to Business Strategy Director where he could apply his considerable experience in digital transformation to PushONs digital consultancy service. Simon has spent more than two decades operating within the digital sector, initially in a corporate environment, before becoming embroiled in the early days of the Manchester digital community. Alongside his business partner, Roy Wilding, he pivoted PushON out of an incarnation of a previous successful digital business. Steady planned growth has seen the business gain recognition as one of the North West’s leading eCommerce agencies. The business’ expertise in eCommerce development and its particular skill with online marketing has led to a raft of peer reviewed award wins throughout the North West, UK and Europe. Simon also has a reputation for “sticking his oar in” to drive the digital sector forward. He is a council member for Manchester Digital, lectures at local universities and was a founder of SASCon, the infamously expert digital marketing conference. He speaks at events, organises events and largely keeps himself busy both in the sector and in the community. He has four children available to keep him stressed and is the gofer for a local under 10s football team. When he finds the time to go out, you’ll most likely find him seeing a loud band somewhere.